Bro. Rex Dyson

[Sam]

Bro. Rex Dyson was inducted into the Apostolic Ministerial Hall of Fame in 2008. Was he ever part of the UPC? or what organization(s) was he with?

This is the write up about him:

Joseph Rex Dyson was born March 12, 1900 in Redfield, Arkansas. It is a small town about 35 miles South of Little Rock. His father, James (Jim) Dyson and his mother, Emily (Bama) Dyson had a family od eleven children. Rex received his calling to the ministry in 1923. It was in 1926 that he obeyed the call and began preaching revivals all over the country. While preaching a revival in St. Paul, Minnesota, he met Carolyn Shaffer and thet were married. Together thay had a family of five sons and one daughter. All five sons became preachers.

One can be assured that if anyone has spent at least 30 minutes in the Rex Dyson home they have heard in no certain terms, what he believed was required to make it to heaven. When Rex obeyed the call of God in his life, there were many battles he would face along the way. When he walked off his job in the mattress making business, he had no intentions of turning around. There were many battles he would face along the way. He never considered where his finances would come from. In his first evangelistic offering he received the whole amount of fifteen cents.When he started his evangelistic journey, he had been diagnosed with a heart condition that would not allow him to eat solid food. In one of the first meetings the Lord miraculously healed him.

His ministerial journey took him many places. From Clarendon, Texas where he had a wonderful revival, to Amarillo, Texas, then Woodson, Arkansas where he conducted a brush arbor revival. Then off to Norfolk, Virginia he held a tent revival, and then to Clebit, Oklahoma for another brush arbor.

Brother Dyson has had great influence on many outstanding people throughout the country. The parents of the renown evangelist Rex Humbard named their son after him. In 1932 the Dyson family arrived in Memphis, Tennessee. At that time there was not a oneness Pentecostal church in Memphis. He faced much opposition but not being a quitter in spirit and God saying do it, who could quit? Trying to find the will of God, Bro. and Sis. Dyson were walking down Main street and heard a preacher preaching in a little building that would only hold about 50 people at the most. They went in and immediately was asked if he was a preacher. He admitted he was and Bro. Bowman asked them to sing. They sang about seven songs and started a revival that night, but soon moved to a place down the street. The crowds were so large, the policemen had to direct traffic. During that two year revival, they moved to what they called a mule barn when the weather got too cold for the outside.

In 1935 they purchased the church building with parsonage at the corner of 4th and Keel streets for the total amount of $6,000.00. From there the church at 610 No. 7th Street was built. There have been hundreds and hundreds of people saved at 4th and Keel and 7th Street churches. Many many things happened during the early years in Memphis. Rex preached on the street corners many times and Court Square was a favorite place to preach. At that time anyone who wanted to, could preach on the streets. It was during one of the street meetings that the Presley family, Vernon, Gladys and Elvis, wondered by, stopped, listened, and was stirred. They then came to the church and were all baptized in Jesus' name including Elvis. Even during his high school years, Elvis frequently attended Bro. Dyson's church.

This ministry did not stop in memphis but branched out over seas to a life long dream to preach in the Holy Land. In the early 1950's Rex established a Christian mission in Bethlehem. Bro. Dyson's zeal and innovation pioneered many of today's church programs. In the days when it was strictly taboo for christians to view movies of any kind, he would show 16 MM films of stories of Jesus. This would attract thousands to his tent meetings and church revivals.

Since it is impossible to tell all the travels, experiences of this wonderful man of God, to number the people whom he baptized in Jesus' name would just be impossible. The impact that he had on the lives of many people was phenomenal. On August 2, 2002 in Memphis, Tennessee at the age of 102 Bishop Rex Dyson rested from all his labors and went home peacefully to be with Jesus. He is a 2008 inductee into the Apostolic Ministerial Hall of Fame.

[Steve Epley]

He was a member of Lawson's The Church of Jesus Christ at one time. I can't remember all the facts but there was a question about his marriage situation that kept him out of other organizations at that time. I don't remember what it was?

[Sam]

thanks, Elder Epley.

I still wish there was some way you could put your historical knowledge of Pentecost on paper and make it available.

I've heard it said that when an elder dies it's like a library being burned down. You have been a part of the Pentecostal scene for many years and your mind and memory are a real treasury of Pentecostal history.

[Michael Phelps]

Originally Posted by Steve Epley

He was a member of Lawson's The Church of Jesus Christ at one time. I can't remember all the facts but there was a question about his marriage situation that kept him out of other organizations at that time. I don't remember what it was?

Related to Tim Dyson?

[Sam]

I remember Bishop Brock mentioning Bro. Dyson and at least one of his children. Bishop Brock was Presiding Bishop of a group called The Church of Jesus Christ Pentecostal Faith. Their headquarters were in Niles, MI at 1335 East Fort Street if I remember correctly. I was part of that organization for a couple of years in the early 1960's until I started attending an ALJC church. I heard that it (CoJCPF) later (after Bishop Brock's death in 1968) merged with one of the CoJC groups that had split off the Bishop Lawson group, or maybe it merged with what was left of the Lawson CoJC after Bishop Lawson's death. Bishop Honea mentioned that to me. I think Bishop Honea organized The First Church of Jesus Christ around that 1968 time period.

I think he (Rex Dyson) had several sons or family members in the ministry over the years.

[Steve Epley]

Originally Posted by Michael Phelps

Related to Tim Dyson?

Grandfather.

[StMark]

He's the one that they say baptized Elvis Presely in Jesus name

I think ???

[Margies3]

Originally Posted by Michael Phelps

Related to Tim Dyson?

You took the words right out my mouth, Michael. Now remind me how I know Tim Dyson? I'm remembering the name, but not remembering how I would know him.

[Michael Phelps]

Originally Posted by Margies3

You took the words right out my mouth, Michael. Now remind me how I know Tim Dyson? I'm remembering the name, but not remembering how I would know him.

He preached quite a few revivals in Owosso back in the day. He was good friends with Harold, and Tim and Jan spent quite a bit of time there.

Great preacher back then!

[Margies3]

Originally Posted by Michael Phelps

He preached quite a few revivals in Owosso back in the day. He was good friends with Harold, and Tim and Jan spent quite a bit of time there.

Great preacher back then!

Thanks! I knew there was a reason I remembered that name