Oscar Lamb

Oscar Edward Lamb was born on October 1, 1915. “My first son,” smiled Annie to her husband, Edward Lamb.

During the summer of 1935, Zachary Spears conducted revival services in Attala County, Mississippi. While there, he stayed in the home of Josh and Delza Ellard, and services were held there. Zachary Spears was a One God preacher. He baptized by immersion in Jesus’ name. Twenty-year-old Oscar Edward Lamb attended these meetings.

That night the preacher preached hellfire and brimstone. He pointed that bony finger straight at me and named every sin I had been doing. I prayed a long time that first night.

The next evening, church started early, with someone singing about the judgment day and about folks needing to repent and pray. “Please, folks!” he pleaded, “I can’t stand it any longer without the Holy Ghost! Could you please pray for me?” Oscar later testified, “At the end of seven long hours of prayer, a bolt of yellow fire came through the ceiling of the room, hit my head with great force, and I was slain in the Spirit. When the Spirit hit me, I wilted to the floor. Falling flat on my back, I began speaking in other tongues as the Spirit of God gave the utterance. It was wonderful! It was glorious! I lay there, glorifying God, speaking in other tongues. I knew now that God had finally poured out on me something that was worthwhile, something that was lasting.

Oscar Lamb changed his lifestyle and married Katie Leonie Ellard in 1936. God called Oscar to preach. It took a while for him to accept the call. In 1939, O.E. Lamb quit a job with the U.S. Corps of Engineers so he could “spend more time studying and preparing for the ministry.

In the late 30s and early 40s, O.E. conducted cottage prayer meetings, pitched the tent and preached revivals in places like Kennett and Poplar Bluff, Missouri. He and his family suffered hardships, but they enjoyed victories also. God used O.E. Lamb mightily. God came through with miracles of healing, salvation of souls, and lives changed for eternity.

This old-time preacher man was fathering a growing family, so he bought a piece of property on Ingalls Avenue, in Pascagoula, Mississippi. He decided to settle down and send his kids to school. So, he pitched a tent and started a church. He built the first Pentecostal church of Pascagoula and pastored for seven years. Families brought into the church during these years were Eugene and Ruby Justice, the Bridges, Doss, and numerous other families. Those were the World War II years, starting in 1942. When the war ended, Ingalls Shipbuilding stopped production. Workers were laid off. Families headed back north, including Oscar.

O.E. Lamb bought a farm and began his evangelistic tenure. He conducted cottage prayer meetings and revivals that resulted in the nucleus of believers for churches in such places as Batesville, Locke Station (Marks), Clarksdale, Lambert, Hesterville, and Carmack in Mississippi and Covington in Louisiana.

During the fifty-five years of his ministry, O.E. Lamb witnessed many miracles. Blind eyes were opened on at least two occasions. Ears became unstopped. He rejoiced to see the crippled leap out of their wheelchairs and walk. He prayed for two comatose patients who awoke and were healed. These and many other mighty wonders and miracles were witnessed. To God be the glory.

Rev. O. E. Lamb was called to his eternal home on May 22, 1996.

Bibliography
Wallace, Mary H., Pentecostal Pioneers, “Oscar Edward Lamb,” by Edna Nation, Word Aflame Press, (Hazelwood:1992), pages 145-154.