Rev. Jesse Franklin Williams

United Pentecostal Church International

1927 ~ Present

The improbable path that brought Rev. Jesse Franklin Williams, Jr. to this place and people began on August 3, 1927, in the coastal town of Wilmington, North Carolina.  Family was father Jesse Franklin Sr. a building contractor, mother Anne a seamstress, and X-Ray technician, one brother, and three sisters.

Though really not a family of faith, young Jesse was sent to a Baptist Sunday School through his early years.  But at the tender age of 16, providentially, he encountered an Apostolic man and, more importantly - the Apostolic message.  Baptized in Jesus name and with the Holy Ghost in 1943, he quickly accepted an invitation from the Pentecostal pastor, and his wife, to come and live in their home.

Feeling his call, and beginning early on to preach, Bro. Williams received his first ministerial license with the Church of the Lord Jesus Christ in 1945.  Drafted into the United States Army at the end of WW II, he served as a medic and X-Ray Technician with the Occupation Forces in Japan throughout 1946-1947, and upon discharge married his sixteen year old sweetheart, Sue Collins.  Back in civilian life, and beginning his family, he continued to work as an X-Ray Technician from 1947 through 1951 during which time sons C. Patton and Michael Jesse were born.

Trained in engineering, Bro. Williams was employed by the Babcock & Wilcox Company in 1951 - served in management there until 1965 - and taught evening classes as a part-time instructor at a local Community College.  Having affiliated with the Assemblies of the Lord Jesus Christ at its inception, he served as Assistant Pastor in his home church during those years. 
In December 1965, now the father of four two sons and daughters Sue Ann and Fay Elizabeth life took an extraordinary turn, when Bro. and Sis. Williams left family, friends, and all things familiar, to go and birth a church in Fayetteville, North Carolina.  Becoming a member of the United Pentecostal Church in January, 1966 the church was planted and an entirely new era begun.

A bi-vocational Home Missionary Pastor, he was employed as Plant Engineer for Hercules Steel Company until he left their employment and became a member of their Board of Directors in 1972, a position in which he still serves.  Plunging into the work of what was then an emerging District, Bro. Williams served North Carolina as Sunday School Director, and then District Superintendent.

Various tenures as an Executive Presbyter, Assistant General Superintendent of the UPCI, and Chairman of the Board of Urshan Graduate School of Theology have marked his forty-one years of service to this great fellowship.

However, doubtless, his most meaningful kingdom contribution is a thriving Apostolic congregation in Fayetteville, North Carolina, from which over forty ministers pastors, teachers, evangelists, military chaplains, Bible School instructors and administrators at home and abroad - have flowed. 

Always kingdom minded, the Fayetteville area is now home to no fewer than five United Pentecostal Churches, and, as improbably as it all began, it promises to continue with no ending.  For now, once again full-time Pastor Williams at the age of 79 has begun another building program to construct a 1200 seat sanctuary for their still burgeoning church family.  His is a ministry thats made a difference in men whove made a difference in the kingdom, and their world.

Feeling his call, and beginning early on to preach, Bro. Williams received his first ministerial license with the Church of the Lord Jesus Christ in 1945.  Drafted into the United States Army at the end of WW II, he served as a medic and X-Ray Technician with the Occupation Forces in Japan throughout 1946-1947, and upon discharge married his sixteen year old sweetheart, Sue Collins.  Back in civilian life, and beginning his family, he continued to work as an X-Ray Technician from 1947 through 1951 during which time sons C. Patton and Michael Jesse were born.

Trained in engineering, Bro. Williams was employed by the Babcock & Wilcox Company in 1951 - served in management there until 1965 - and taught evening classes as a part-time instructor at a local Community College.  Having affiliated with the Assemblies of the Lord Jesus Christ at its inception, he served as Assistant Pastor in his home church during those years. 
In December 1965, now the father of four two sons and daughters Sue Ann and Fay Elizabeth life took an extraordinary turn, when Bro. and Sis. Williams left family, friends, and all things familiar, to go and birth a church in Fayetteville, North Carolina.  Becoming a member of the United Pentecostal Church in January, 1966 the church was planted and an entirely new era begun.

A bi-vocational Home Missionary Pastor, he was employed as Plant Engineer for Hercules Steel Company until he left their employment and became a member of their Board of Directors in 1972, a position in which he still serves.  Plunging into the work of what was then an emerging District, Bro. Williams served North Carolina as Sunday School Director, and then District Superintendent.

Various tenures as an Executive Presbyter, Assistant General Superintendent of the UPCI, and Chairman of the Board of Urshan Graduate School of Theology have marked his forty-one years of service to this great fellowship.

However, doubtless, his most meaningful kingdom contribution is a thriving Apostolic congregation in Fayetteville, North Carolina, from which over forty ministers pastors, teachers, evangelists, military chaplains, Bible School instructors and administrators at home and abroad - have flowed. 

Always kingdom minded, the Fayetteville area is now home to no fewer than five United Pentecostal Churches, and, as improbably as it all began, it promises to continue with no ending.  For now, once again full-time Pastor Williams at the age of 79 has begun another building program to construct a 1200 seat sanctuary for their still burgeoning church family.  His is a ministry thats made a difference in men whove made a difference in the kingdom, and their world.