Mike Newsom

Bro. Mike L. Newsom served as Presbyter, Secretary, and Sunday School Secretary of the United Pentecostal Church. Bro. Newsom pastored the United Pentecostal Church in Batesville, Mississippi, for 33 years, alongside his wife, Jewel Newsom. He loved with all his being—his church family and those he served with in the UPC. Before moving to Batesville, he pastored for many years at the little country church at Lock Station, Goodway Pentecostal Church. He helped start the Goodway church under his first pastor, Rev. J.E. Anderson, and the pastors who followed him. It was during a pastoral transition that Bro. Newsom assumed the role of pastor. Before becoming pastor, he had served as youth director.

When you look at great ministers like Bro. Newsom, you often wonder where they came from and what kind of family shaped their lives. He was born and raised in a large family in Darling, Mississippi. His family owned a large farm, where they raised cotton and had a big pecan orchard. His mother insisted that all the children be educated, and even during hard times, they attended school and college. All the girls became schoolteachers, and the boys were expected to become professors—that was Mama Newsom’s plan. All of his older siblings fulfilled that plan except Mike. He finished high school, then went to work on the family farm before leaving for the CCC camp to earn money so he could marry his high school sweetheart, Jewel Reeves.

He and Jewel married right out of high school. They bought a few acres of rough delta land, which they had to clear of timber before building a small house. The county was sparsely populated, with people just beginning to buy the inexpensive government land. They lived out in this wilderness when Bro. and Sis. Anderson came through, built a brush arbor, and began holding services. Mike gave them an old lantern for light—the only light they had for a time. It hung on a pole under the brush arbor and could be seen for miles.

Jewel attended the revival, but Mike would not go. His family was very religious and faithful to the Baptist church in Darling, and they felt they were just fine spiritually. Mike’s brother Floyd pastored a Baptist church while also working as a school professor. The Newsom family looked down on Jewel for getting mixed up with the Pentecostals. Eventually, she convinced Mike—and later Floyd, when he visited—to attend with her.

On Mike’s first visit, Bro. Anderson preached against believing in Santa Claus. Mike was furious and said he would never go back because the preacher had “ruined Christmas.” Mike and Jewel had a baby girl, and he wanted her to have a good Christmas and believe in Santa Claus. However, he continued attending to make Jewel happy. It wasn’t long before Mike came under conviction, went to the altar, and received the Holy Ghost. Not long after, the Andersons decided to stay and start the church—Goodway Pentecostal Church, which still exists today.

The Andersons needed a place to live, so they moved into the three-room house in the wilderness with Mike and Jewel. It was crowded, but they were all happy. Many nights were spent discussing Scripture. Once Mike was converted, he was as devout and bold as anyone.

He had always been known as tough. At age thirteen, the sheriff would take him along on raids of honky-tonk establishments selling illegal alcohol. He would hand Mike a gun and have him hold it on the owners while he searched the place. Mike was never afraid. The sheriff told him, “Only shoot if you have to.”

One of Mike’s favorite sayings while pastoring was, “You have to have a backbone like a saw log.” He strongly upheld and preached the doctrines of the Bible, and he lived what he preached. He helped more people in his county than most ever knew. His car was often used by the funeral home for grieving families. He provided free rent to widows who needed a place to stay. He helped many people, regardless of their religious background.

While pastoring, he also worked at a cotton gin and farmed to help support the church. He hosted a radio program for many years and debated the Church of Christ preacher every Sunday morning. They loved each other dearly, and the debates were all in good spirit. It would be impossible to fully tell the story of Mike L. Newsom. No greater man ever lived.

When he was buried, the City Council of Batesville, Mississippi, canceled their meeting, and the procession stretched ten miles long. He never compromised the gospel, but he loved people—and they loved him back. He loved Batesville, Mississippi. He used to say, “If you visit my town and find somebody who does not know me, call me. I want to meet them.”