Samuel Jackson Raper
Rev. Samuel Jackson “Jack” Raper was born on August 17, 1909, the son of Joseph A. Raper and Viola Gillentine Raper. From humble beginnings, his life would become a remarkable testimony of faith, perseverance, and unwavering devotion to the work of God.
On November 6, 1928, he married Beatrice Dean, beginning a lifelong partnership that supported and strengthened his calling. A defining moment in his spiritual journey came on August 19, 1933, when he received the baptism of the Holy Ghost. This experience ignited a passion for ministry that soon became the central focus of his life.
Brother Raper began preaching in 1934, delivering sermons in homes, brush arbors, and wherever people would gather to hear the Word of God. In 1935, he preached his first public sermon on the Court Square in Tupelo, Mississippi—an early indication of the bold, street-level evangelism that would characterize much of his ministry. He evangelized extensively throughout Mississippi and Alabama, often preaching in tents and brush arbors, and was directly responsible for the establishment of four churches.
In 1940, Rev. Raper began his first home-missions work in Richmond, Mississippi. That same work would grow into a lifelong pastoral assignment at Richmond Pentecostal Church, where he faithfully served as pastor for more than 40 years. His ministerial career spanned more than 65 years, during which time he preached 1,485 funerals beginning in 1940 and performed 636 weddings since 1941. His compassion, wisdom, and faith made him a trusted presence in moments of both sorrow and joy across Mississippi, Alabama, and Arkansas.
In March of 1974, Brother Raper preached on miracles at the Deeper Life Conference held at First Pentecostal Church in Jackson, Mississippi, pastored by T. L. Craft. He returned home to Richmond on Saturday evening. The following Sunday morning, while preparing for Sunday School, he lit a gas heater in a classroom. Unbeknownst to him, the heater had a gas leak, and it suddenly exploded. The force of the blast blew the door in half and off its hinges, hurled Brother Raper over the half door, and set his clothing on fire.
As his clothes burned, Brother Raper ran down the hallway toward the sanctuary. In that moment, he later testified, the devil began to taunt him, suggesting that people would question his faith after preaching on miracles—telling him he would suffer severe burns and be hospitalized for a long time. Though engulfed in flames so intense that even his shoelaces burned off, Brother Raper suddenly stopped, spoke aloud to the devil, and cried out to God: “Devil, you’re a liar and the father of lies. My God can heal and work miracles. Jesus! Jesus, stop this fire and heal me!”
Instantly, the fire went out. Brother Raper suffered no burns and not a single hair on his body was singed. As preserved in photographs, his charred Bible and burned suit remain powerful witnesses to what he testified was God’s miraculous intervention. Following this incident, his ministry expanded even further, and throughout his more than six decades of preaching, many testified to miracles God worked through this man of faith.
Rev. Jack Raper continued ministering until late in life, preaching hundreds of funerals and faithfully serving the Pentecostal movement he loved. He passed away on Saturday, January 6, 2001, at the age of 91, at North Mississippi Medical Center as a result of injuries sustained in an automobile accident. He was laid to rest in Andrews Chapel Cemetery in Mooreville, Mississippi.
Rev. Samuel Jackson “Jack” Raper’s life stands as a powerful testimony of faith, endurance, and obedience. His legacy lives on through the churches he helped establish, the countless lives he touched, and the enduring history of the Mississippi District Pentecostal movement.