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District Elder Walter Scott

(Pastor 1938 – 1967)

Born a great man among men, the youngest child, and only son of Alexander and Frances Scott, District Elder Walter Scott entered this world on December 5, 1874, in Natchez, Mississippi.  He was raised in St. Louis, Missouri, where he worked in a livestock exchange inspecting and upgrading animals.  Eventually he would move to Kansas City, Missouri where he married his first wife Zephyr, who preceded him in death.  Being a Black man in the days where racism and Jim Crow laws were evident, Elder Scott owned and operated an ice delivery business.

 

He heard the call of God from a gambling table one day in 1924.  Confused ad in turmoil, Walter Scott secluded himself for three days, and after having made a decision about which direction his life should take, he vowed never to return to that way of life again.

 

One day while walking along 18th and Vine, Walter Scott came upon a street meeting.  There he heard the preached Word being delivered under the anointing of the Holy Ghost by Elder John Caldwell. On that same day, he was baptized in the name of Jesus and tarried until the Holy Ghost fell upon him.

 

Brother Scott received his spiritual guidance under the direction of Elder Green Beaver of the Pentecostal Church located on 24th and Vine.  It was in 1931, when God called him to the ministry, and by 1932, he became an ordained minister at the age of 58.  Elder Scott would soon become pastor to a small congregation on 17th and Woodland, and began his role as founder of Christ Temple Pentecostal Church along with his wife, Zephyr, in 1938.

 

Together they did a great work in this ministry, and like Aaron the high priest, they had such a deep concern for God’s people.  Both Elder and Sister Zephyr Scott would continually deny themselves the necessities of life by walking, catching the bus, or a ride with saints in order to save money. As time went on, they both would continue to sacrifice in an effort to provide for the needs of the saints, but in her latter years, Sister Zephyr would take ill and was called home to be with the Lord in 1961.  Elder Scott would go on to marry Sister Mattie Gibson and together they continued to work in his ministry.

 

With a great understanding and knowledge of the scriptures, the ministry of Elder Scott was profound.  He laid a foundation in the hearts of men and women that can never be destroyed.  His teachings were according to scripture, and Apostolic without compromise was his faith.  He was constant and persistent.  Despite the criticism, opinions, oppositions, and circumstances, Elder Walter Scott was determined to do the will of God.  He built his ministry on fasting, praying, sacrificing, and self-denial.  For instance, for the first 100 days of each year, Elder Scott would fast.  His fasting cycles would sometimes consist of three days without food and water and one meal a day for a period of seven days.  He taught giving to the Saints, believing that God’s means of support for the church should come through tithes and offerings

 

Elder Scott worked actively in the Northwestern District Council and the Pentecostal Assemblies of the World, Inc.  While attending many P.A.W. conventions, Elder Scott could often times be found outdoors sitting in a chair under a tree discussing his knowledge of the Gospel.  Being an outstanding Bible scholar and teacher, he would often surround himself with many young and eager ministers who were willing to listen, learn, and discuss the Word of God.  Well respected, especially by the young ministers, this gathering became known as the, “Sidewalk Convention”.

 

These attributes speak volumes as to the kind of man Elder Scott had become.  He believed that in order to become a pastor over God’s people you must first know that you are called and chosen of God.  Secondly, you must pledge yourself sincerely and honestly to God, and sacrifice yourself to him completely.  When you ascend to this height, that is the throne of God, you then become a pastor, a spokesman for God, and a ruler for God over self.  This decision should only be made after years of consideration.

 

Following God’s will, he was described as, ”the man God used to make Christ Temple Church a reality”.

In his latter years, this “great warrior’s” work would soon take its toll on his health.  Elder Scott decided then to turn over most of the ministerial duties to his Assistant Pastor, Lee A. Tolbert, Sr. .  His final act as founder and pastor of Christ Temple Pentecostal Church was bringing forth a dynamic Bible class on December 27, 1966, entitled, “Let No Man Deceive You”.  He admonished the Saints to remember that you are a man and can deceive yourself.

 

On January 3, 1967, Elder Walter Scott went home to Glory at the age of 92.  Leaving the legacy of Christ Temple Pentecostal Church and the mantle that was passed on to Elder Lee A. Tolbert, Sr.

 

As Elder Walter Scott often said, “If you can take it, you can make it”.

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Suffragan Bishop Lee A. Tolbert, Sr.

(Asst. Pastor 1948-1967 / Pastor 1968-1989)

Suffragan Bishop Lee Andrew Tolbert, Sr., was the fifth of ten children born to Annie Hawkins and Tony Thomas Tolbert on July 23, 1916, in Tchula, Mississippi.  He, along with his other siblings grew up working the family farm.

 

His spiritual growth started in his childhood with parents that believed in a religious foundation and upbringing for their children.  The Tolbert’s were once put out of a Baptist church because his mother spoke in tongues.

 

The family left Mississippi in 1928, and traveled to Frye’s Mill then to Gilmore, Arkansas one year later.  There they joined a Holy Ghost filled church.  Yet another move took them to Island 37, Tennessee in 1933.  While attending an outdoor church service, a woman asked if they had been baptized according to Acts 2:38 in the Bible.  When the answer was, “No,” she gave them the name of a minister in Chicago to contact and he, in turn, sent another minister to baptize them.  It was there on Island 37 that Brother Lee A. Tolbert received the baptism in Jesus name and filled with the precious gift of the Holy Ghost.

 

Brother Lee Tolbert received his call to the ministry at age 17 during a service being held at the Tolbert’s family home.  Being a young man, he was unwilling to yield to the calling because his focus was on trying to make money.  His mother then told him of a dream she had about him.  She said she saw him standing as a pastor in a large church building, but her dream still did not stop Brother Tolbert from pursuing the dream of driving a truck and making money in the process.

 

The Tolbert family returned to Arkansas where one of Lee’s ultimate tests of faith took place in 1942.  He would awake one morning and find himself partially paralyzed.  At the age of 25, Brother Lee Tolbert had suffered a stroke.  The church, in those days, taught against doctors, but after several months of being bedridden, his father wanted to seek medical attention for his son.  Sister Annie Tolbert instead brought her family together in prayer and a miracle took place that day and Lee Tolbert was healed.  It was now time to yield to his call to the ministry.

 

Lee Tolbert moved to San Antonio, Texas where he went to prepare himself for the ministry under District Elder William Wilkerson, Pastor of Lincoln Park Church.  He returned home to Arkansas along with Elder Wilkerson to attend the Arkansas State Council.  Still resisting his calling, he had intentions of going to live with his brother in Chicago after the Council.  But while at the Council, Elder Wilkerson suffered a stroke and Lee Tolbert chose to return to San Antonio instead to help care for him and continue his preparation for the ministry.

 

In March 1943, Minister Tolbert met a young lady at church by the name of Sister Lorene Dibrell who would later become his wife.  He took a job in Parsons, Kansas in December 1943, but continued a long distance relationship with Sister Dibrell.  They became engaged through the mail and married on May 14, 1944.

 

Settling in Parsons, Minister Lee A. Tolbert decided to further his ministry.  He contacted Elder Walter Alford in Washington, D.C., about moving his family there, but his mother and mother-in-law told him that Kansas City, Missouri was the way God was directing him to go, so they moved to Kansas City in April of 1946.

 

While in Kansas City, the Tolbert’s chose Christ Temple Pentecostal Church at 2104 Harrison to place their membership.  Under the leadership of Elder Walter Scott, Elder Lee A. Tolbert served as his right-hand man in the role of Assistant Pastor.  His devotion to the ministry led him to serve as janitor, plumber, carpenter, bus driver, and driving Elder Scott to councils and conventions from Pennsylvania to California.  He taught Sunday School, baptized souls, served as President of Pentecostal Young Peoples Union (PYPU) of Christ Temple and he led the Young Minister’s Services on Wednesday nights.  Elder Tolbert served as treasurer for Christ Temple from 1961 until 1967.  He would travel to surrounding cities and area churches to gain experience and build his ministry.  Bishop Tolbert not only loved to preach, he also loved to sing.  He was a member of the “Gospel 5”.  A group consisting of Elder Alonzo Taylor, Elder Wilbur Taylor, Deacon Theodore Rogers, Brother Wesson, and himself.  They traveled from Plattsburg, Missouri to Leavenworth, Kansas ministering in song.

 

January 3, 1967, District Elder Walter Scott was called home to be with the Lord.  Bishop Lee Tolbert was then installed as pastor of the church now located at 4101 Agnes, where he chose Elder Wilbur Taylor as assistant pastor.

 

The ministry and the church continued to rise and strive toward higher heights in the Lord.  As Bishop Tolbert’s ministry grew so did his family over the years.  Together, he and Mother Lorene Tolbert raised six children, Lee Jr., Vivian, Wendell, Carol, Mark and Aaron.  Three of their sons (Lee Jr., Wendell, and Mark) are preachers in their own right.  Bishop and Mother Tolbert contributed this blessing to the fact that they were saved as children, workers in the church, and obedient to their parents.  “We didn’t know that God had a work for them to do, but thank God all of them finally yielded to their call.  If you are willing and obedient, you can eat the good of the land”, states Bishop.

 

The title of Suffragan Bishop was bestowed upon Bishop Lee A. Tolbert in 1990, at the General Convention of the P.A.W., but because of his health, he would officially retire from pastoring that same year relinquishing the reins to his son, District Elder Mark C. Tolbert.

 

“Without a vision the people will perish, keep the vision, stay courageous, keep the faith – be ready to answer when the call is made saying come up hither.  Well done my good and faithful servant”, Suffragan Bishop Lee A. Tolbert encourages us.

WHERE Winners
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Our Mission is to provide a place and opportunity to worship Jesus Christ and preach a message of hope and faith through God’s Holy word.  This message will develop, mature, and lead people of all ages, races, creeds, and colors to a Victorious Life through Jesus Christ.

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