T.L. Craft

Tommy Lynn was born on October 30, 1931, in Anacoco, Louisiana. The Great Depression was in full swing, and when he was three, his family moved to Pecos County, Texas, and helped pioneer the oil field and build the West Texas town of Iran. He began school at the age of six in Iran, Texas. When he was nine years old, Pearl Harbor was bombed, and they moved back to Anacoco.

When he was thirteen, Tommy Lynn preached his first sermonette under a tent that Rev. W.E. Gamblin had set up in Anacoco. Rev. J.J. Hennigan was his pastor, mentor, and friend. He began to mature under Bro. Hennigan’s leadership.

Upon completion of high school, he was awarded the very prestigious honor of the Legislative Scholarship to Louisiana State University, all expenses paid. He turned this honor down because of his desire to be involved in the work of God. Instead, he attended International Bible College in San Antonio, Texas, for two years. That school went into the so-called Latter Rain movement, so he transferred to Apostolic Bible College and graduated in 1953.

The first church he pioneered was in Iran, Texas. He baptized converts in the Pecos River. He was secretary of the Youth Department and preached revivals all over West Texas, New Mexico, and Colorado.

At the age of 24, Bro. Craft returned to Louisiana. He fell in love and married Mary Francis Smith, a charter member of the Pentecostals of Alexandria, on August 25th, 1956.

After evangelizing for a few years, God directed him to go to St. Francisville, Louisiana, and build a church. They rented the American Legion Hall and started building a congregation and a church building. While pastoring, he served as Youth President of the Louisiana District.

In the late 1950s, Bro. and Sis. Craft preached a nine-week revival in Jackson, Mississippi, where Rev. W.E. Gamblin was the pastor. Sherri Layne, the Crafts’ first child, was born August 20, 1958. In January 1962, Bro. Gamblin called to see if the Crafts would pray about moving to Jackson.

Two weeks before they moved to Jackson, their second child, Vonda Lynn, was born. They relocated to Jackson on July 29, 1962. Sherri Craft Grisham (Mark) and Vonda Craft Tharp (Chris) gave the Crafts five grandchildren and eight great grandchildren.

The 1960s were a marvelous time for revival. The church quickly filled to capacity and beyond. A new colonial-style church was built at 3425 Robinson Road in 1970. It wasn’t long until it was full. Then God gave an even bigger challenge to Bro. Craft. He had attended the funeral of Rev. Clyde Haney, and the Lord spoke to him about reaching his world from one place. The desire to train young men and women began to grow in his heart. Little did he realize God was preparing his future for Jackson College of Ministries.

Preceding JCM, an event occurred that changed the apostolic landscape. Bro. Craft and Bro. Kenneth Phillips were directed by God to have a Preaching and Prayer Conference. By word of mouth, over 250 preachers attended this conference. For three nights and two days they preached and prayed. What a dynamic move of God! The next year they had around 900 preachers who attended what they then called Deeper Life Conference. Conferences broke out all over the UPCI fellowship and to this day there are many similar conferences being held.

Local Music Conferences began in Jackson. An Evangelism Commission was begun after the Deeper Life Conferences.

Missions, foreign missions in particular, has been his soul’s sincere desire. He has preached around the world twice, going east to west, then west to east, preaching crusades in many countries. He would be gone many weeks at a time and come home to a church having revival. Many great revivals began overseas with these crusades.

Pentecostal Bible Institute in Tupelo, Mississippi, moved to the Mississippi campgrounds in Raymond. Bro. Craft purchased the charter and renamed the college Jackson College of Ministries in 1976. The college moved from the campgrounds to a facility in Northwest Jackson. This was the first Bible College to offer five different degrees: Theology, Missions, Music, Christian Education, and Religious Studies. He remained President of JCM until 1997.

After Sis. Mary Craft's passing, Bro. Craft married Sis. Dian Allen, and they shared many wonderful years together before he went to be with the Lord in 2022.

T.L. Craft's legacy is a testament to a life well-lived. His impact, though immeasurable, can be felt in the countless lives he touched. From his inspiring leadership to his unwavering faith, he left an enduring mark on his community and around the world. His legacy is not merely a collection of achievements, but a tapestry woven with the stories of those he inspired. The memories of his love, kindness, wisdom, and guidance will continue to inspire generations to come.