2019 Lifetime Achievement Award
The year was 1930. Roger and Lucille welcomed a bouncing baby boy into their country home in Neshoba County, Mississippi. Taking the initial from each of their names, they called their new son R. L.
Fast forward to 1946 and this young 16-year-old receives the Holy Ghost. A year later R. L. feels his call to the ministry and by 1950 he is pastoring his first church. It was in 1955 at Pine Grove Pentecostal Church in Foxworth, Mississippi, that this young pastor hosted a Fellowship Meeting. The young preacher for this meeting, preaching for the first time, was none other than our Former District Superintendent Glen Ray Travis. I guess you could say that Brother R. L. gave our Former District Superintendent his start in the ministry!
Over the next 60 plus years finds Brother R. L. Tolbert very involved in the work of God. Pastoring 14 churches over Mississippi, Arkansas, and Oklahoma, he also found time to build 6 of those churches and help other pastors build 5 more. Brother Tolbert has served on the Mississippi District Board and the Arkansas District Board and has been licensed with the United Pentecostal Church, Int. for 69 years.
What can you say about a man who has given so much of his life to the ministry of the Gospel of Jesus Christ? I Timothy 5:17 tells us, “Let the elders that rule well be counted worthy of double honour, especially they who labour in the word and doctrine. Reverend R. L. Tolbert has labored in the word and doctrine for 69 years, and still loves this Gospel. Truly he is worthy of double honor and as fellow ministers of the Gospel and as friends, we salute our fellow minister Reverend R. L. Tolbert for his faithful service to the furtherance of the Kingdom of God.