Clifford Hoyt

Clifford Hoyt (C.C. Hoyt) was born on August 25, 1923, to Theresa and Daniel Hoyt in Springfield, Louisiana. Brother Hoyt met Ladonia Inez Strahan while selling Christian Wall Plaques. They fell in love and were married on August 28, 1943. They had three children born to them over the next four years, Patsy, Larry, and Norwood (Tiny).

After marrying, he started his own logging business in Centerville, Louisiana. It was a successful business in those days. Brother and Sister Hoyt began to attend Reverend W.W. Sistrunk's church in Holden, Louisiana. (Holden United Pentecostal Church). In 1948, Brother Hoyt received the baptism of the Holy Ghost under the ministry of Reverend C.G. Weeks. In the spring of 1949, Brother Sistrunk appointed Brother Hoyt youth leader of the Holden Church.

Several months later, Brother Hoyt felt his call to the ministry. He was licensed with the United Pentecostal Church. He and Reverend Ray Hudson began to evangelize throughout southern Louisiana and Mississippi. In 1951, Brother Hoyt became pastor of Summit Pentecostal Church, Summit, Mississippi. In late 1951, he started a church in McComb, Mississippi. He established and built the first United Pentecostal Church in McComb, Mississippi.

In February of 1952, a daughter, Dianne, was born while pastoring the McComb, Mississippi, Church. In July 1953, Brother Hoyt was elected Pastor of Mount Hermon United Pentecostal Church in Mt. Hermon, Louisiana. Brother and Sister Hoyt, along with their four children, moved to Florida in 1956 to become the pastor of the United Pentecostal Church in Milton, Florida.

In 1957, Brother and Sister Hoyt moved back to Mount Hermon, Louisiana, where he was re-elected as pastor of the Mount Hermon United Pentecostal Church. Two other children were born to the C.C. Hoyt Family while pastoring the Mount Hermon Church: daughter Kathy and son Terry.

In the early 1960s, Brother and Sister Hoyt started a mission in Jackson, Louisiana. They started having prayer meetings and services in homes, later they purchased a tent and continued to hold services. Many souls came to God.

While still pastoring the United Pentecostal Church in Mt. Hermon, Louisiana, and holding services twice a week in Jackson, Louisiana, Brother Hoyt established and built the first United Pentecostal Church in Jackson, Louisiana. He resigned as pastor of the Mt. Hermon church in 1967 and became a full-time pastor in Jackson, Louisiana. He remained a resident of Jackson, Louisiana, until his death in 2002.

Reverend Hoyt’s legacy lives on through his three sons and seven grandsons, who are all preachers. Brother Hoyt’s three daughters are also involved in church ministry. His children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren are proud of the Pentecostal heritage that was passed down from Reverend and Sister Clifford C. Hoyt.