Alvin Varnado

Alvin Dennis Varnado, commonly known as A. D., was born on February 14, 1900, to Howell Francis Varnado and Gennette Etta Hux in Ainsworth, Copiah County, Mississippi. He was raised in the Pleasant Hill community near Hazlehurst, Mississippi. Little is recorded of his early years, but his life would soon become deeply intertwined with the spread of Apostolic Pentecostal revival.

In the early 1920s, A. D. Varnado returned home from the Louisiana oil fields with a burden to share the Gospel with his family and community. At a time when Pentecostal preaching was virtually unknown in the region, he stepped out in faith to proclaim the message of salvation. In 1922, he married Bessie Hooper, and together they would raise six children and share a lifelong ministry partnership.

Early opposition and uncertainty gave way to open doors when Green Newell encountered A. D. and recognized his calling. Answering prayer, Newell’s wife had been asking God to send a preacher. Soon, an arbor was built at Pleasant Hill, and revival meetings began. Members of the Varnado family, along with neighbors and friends, began receiving the Holy Ghost, and word of the revival spread quickly.

Brother and Sister Varnado ministered across Mississippi in places such as McBride, Union Church, Caseyville, and Brookhaven. Services often broke out in cotton fields, cotton houses, and homes—wherever people gathered in faith. Prayer became so fervent and widespread that voices calling on God could reportedly be heard for miles. Brother Varnado would often gather crowds by beating his old drum, and people traveled by flatbed trucks from surrounding areas seeking the experience of the Holy Ghost.

As revival grew, Brother Varnado felt led to establish a church in Pleasant Hill. Through God’s provision, land was acquired from the Conn brothers, and timber was donated by the community. Brother Varnado sawed and hauled logs to be milled into lumber, and a sanctuary was built for the growing congregation.

Over the years, his ministry continued to expand. On April 4, 1934, he briefly stepped away from pastoral leadership at Pleasant Ridge, but returned in 1935 and continued serving until 1940. He later pastored in DeQuincy, Louisiana (1944–1952), and West Monroe, Louisiana (1952–1955).

With a growing burden for global missions, Brother and Sister Varnado, along with their daughter Janet, were appointed missionaries to Jamaica in September 1955 by the Global Missions Board. They arrived in Jamaica on January 23, 1956, where they labored faithfully for 11 years, establishing 13 churches and strengthening the work of God across the island.

The family returned to the United States in 1967, where they later pastored in Camp Eight, Louisiana, until retirement due to health. Their daughter Janet continued to carry a lasting burden for Jamaica and has remained connected to the work there through continued ministry visits.

Rev. A. D. Varnado passed away on October 14, 1995, entering his eternal reward. His life and ministry left a lasting legacy of revival, missions, and faithfulness that continues to be remembered with honor.