Lacy McVay

Lacy Y. McVay was born September 1, 1924, to Mr. and Mrs. Y. W. McVay of Eight Miles area of Poplarville, Mississippi. L.Y. was raised in the Eight Miles Area. In March 1948, Lacy gave his life to Jesus, and in 1949, he answered the call to preach. He began traveling with his preacher father, singing, and preaching in churches and on street corners, praying and fasting, spreading the One-God, Acts 2:38 revival message.

One of their greatest revivals began at what is now Mount Pisgah United Pentecostal Church. The revival lasted nightly for nine and-one-half weeks with people praying day and night and 75 souls (including Marshall McLeod) being saved. Brother McVay was then chosen to pastor a church in Deer Park, Alabama.

In 1950, Brother McVay returned to Lucedale and began preaching a revival. An attractive young lady came to the services and received the Holy Ghost. As the revival progressed, Brother McVay learned that the lady was Evelyn Ophelia Frye. They were married on April 12, 1950. They had one daughter Kimberly. The McVays moved to Cole Lake in the Mississippi Delta in 1952. A year later, they moved to Wagersville, Alabama, and in 1954, they moved to Pascagoula where they worked with Pastor Buford Miller.

Sister McVay became head nurse at Singing River Hospital. On January 15, 1962, their daughter, Mill Kimberly Dawn McVay was born. In 1963, they began to pastor the church at Bond, Mississippi. Beginning with a nucleus of twelve people, attendance increased to over 100 and a new sanctuary was built. God led the McVays to Oak Hill UPC in Poplarville. Forty-two people attended the first service on January 1, 1966. Revival began, and for ten consecutive Sunday nights, people received the Holy Ghost and saw miracles. A man was raised from the dead, broken bones mended, eyes were healed of the need for glasses, and a lady recovered from hepatitis. An educational facility was built, and the church auditorium enlarged. Young ministers including Daryl Harris, Louie Davis, Floyd Odom, Charles Triplett, Charles Bourn, Jerome Bourn, and G.C. Killingsworth preached their first messages and revivals at Oak Hill.

Brother McVay served as Sunday School Director and traveled widely learning teaching techniques and securing materials to promote effective teaching of children. Their Sunday School reached an attendance high of 228. In 1976, the McVays returned to establish New Life Tabernacle in Wiggins. God blessed the church, and several young men began their ministry there. Brother McVay is known in Wiggins as a friend to anyone who needs a friend. He also served on Governor Cliff Finch's staff as well as on the Mississippi State Board of Nursing.

After twenty years of laboring and pastoring New Life Tabernacle in Wiggins in 1996, Brother McVay chose to resign. Brother McVay’s earthly ministry ended on December 9, 2013 but the results of his ministry continue.