David Moore

Paul David Moore was born on February 27, 1951, to Paul and Edith Moore in Meridian, Mississippi. He received the Holy Ghost on June 22, 1961, at the early age of ten. Titus White, his childhood pastor, baptized him on June 24, 1961, at his home church, First Pentecostal Church in Meridian. He recognized his calling to the ministry in the summer of 1964 at the age of 13 while spending the summer with Pastor White.

He graduated from Meridian High School in 1969. With a call to pastoral ministry, he attended Pentecostal Bible Institute (PBI) in Tupelo, Mississippi, beginning in the fall of 1969. He graduated from PBI in 1973 with a Bachelor of Theology degree.

His first job in the ministry was Assistant Pastor to Pastor Larry Hill at his home church in Meridian. He counted this as an honor to both assist Bro. Hill and to serve the people in his home church and in his hometown. His love for Mississippi and Meridian is evident in most of his casual conversations. He is a strong promoter of the United Pentecostal Church International and the Mississippi District that he loves.

Moore served the Mississippi District as Director of Tape Ministry for 16 years, which was under the auspices of the District Home Missions Department.

He married Rita Palir of Lake Charles, Louisiana, on October 4, 1974. God blessed them with two children, Paul and Melissa, who were both called into the ministry. Paul married Stevie Moorehead of Meridian, Mississippi. They have two children, Nathaniel and Mercy. Melissa married Donnie Cash of Long Meadow, Massachusetts. They have two children, Anthony and Julia. Four precious grandkids are now Moore’s pride and joy.

The first church he pastored was First Pentecostal Church in York, Alabama. He and his wife were the pioneering pastors. They had their first service on October 12, 1975. Moore’s second pastorate was in Winfield, Alabama. The first Sunday had 13 in attendance. Over three years later, there were between 85-100 in attendance. He pastored two churches in Louisiana, Fields UPC in Fields, Louisiana, and Mt. Hermon UPC in Mt. Hermon, Louisiana. In Mississippi, he pastored First UPC of Yazoo City. While pastoring in Yazoo City, he was elected Presbyter of Section 5 and served on the Mississippi District Board. Lastly, he pastored Center Hill UPC of Meridian until declining health forced him to resign. Again, he considered it an honor to pastor in his hometown of Meridian. Many of his lifetime friends attend Center Hill UPC. For several years, he was a full-time evangelist between pastorates. He served on the Board of Aldermen for the city of Byram, Mississippi, for a few years.

After a life faithfully lived, and having touched countless souls with his gospel message and his hometown kindness, Bro. Moore passed into the presence of the Lord on October 22, 2025.