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- Prior to the establishment of the First United Pentecostal Church of Okinawa, Japan, Asia Military District,
there were two groups of Oneness Jesus Name believers on the island of Okinawa. The first group was
the First Pentecostal Church, led by Mr. & Mrs. Arthur M. Jackson. The second group was the First United
Pentecostal Church of Okinawa, led by Mr. and Mrs. Jim Laughter. Both of these bodies were comprised
of military and Department of Defense men and women, and family members who sought to serve God
while stationed on Okinawa.
- Due to US Military rotation schedules and other events as directed by Almighty God, the memberships of
both existing church groups began decreasing and continued to do so until only a very minimal number
existed in either group.
- In February of 1979, the Jackson family and the Laughter family met in the Laughter’s home to discuss
the possibility of joint services. This meeting proved very worthwhile and a schedule of joint meetings was
arranged.
- The first of these joint meetings occurred on 11 February 1979 in the Laughter’s home on Kadena Air
Base. The congregation included the Jackson family, the Laughter family, the McFarland family, one single
Marine, and one visitor.
From these humble beginnings, these joint meetings formed into fellowship group. The services continued
under the teachings of Brother Laughter and Brother Jackson, and the services were rotated between the
two respective homes.
- In April of 1979, the church group began to earnestly petition God to provide a full-time missionary to
Okinawa, someone to pastor this work. In May of 1979, the group decided that since they didn’t have a
missionary on the island and they deeply desired one, they would begin supporting foreign missions. They
agreed to select a missionary family and send monthly offerings to help support them.
- During the Sunday service on 20 May 1979, the congregation agreed this would be the day they would
select the missionary they would begin to support; believing that if they helped others, God would in turn
meet their need. Each member of the congregation placed the name of one missionary in a bowl. The
names included missionaries from Japan, Korea, the Philippines, Germany, African nations, and American
Samoa. After praying for God’s will to be done, one name was drawn from the bowl. The name selected
was the Paul Dennis family. The Dennises were missionaries at Hokkaido, Japan. At this time, an initial
offering of $20.15 was received and service was dismissed. Brother Laughter would contact UPCI Foreign
Missions Division to determine how to get the offering to the Dennises.
- The next day, Brother Laughter received a long distance phone call from Brother Paul Dennis. Brother
Laughter then explained the strange ‘coincidence’ of the call, telling Brother Dennis that the church group
on Okinawa had just selected the Dennises as their first Partners in Missions, but had not yet had an
opportunity to send the money to UPCI Headquarters for distribution. Brother Dennis told Brother Laughter
to hold the money, and they would personally pick it up, because they had just been notified of their transfer
approval to become full-time missionaries to Okinawa. They were scheduled to arrive on Okinawa at the
end of June, 1979. Realizing the wonderful workings of God’s will, Brother Dennis and Brother Laughter
made plans for the Dennises’ arrival. When the church was told about the fulfilled prayers, they all
became very encouraged and praised God for His provision.
The Dennises arrived on Okinawa on the 29th of June, 1979.
Some is history and the rest is still being written............
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FUPC HISTORY SUMMATION
The FUPC has seen literal thousands come through the doors of #31 Awase
Country Club Heights. While no exact number of church members or guests
has been maintained a record of new births has. There have been 609
people baptized in Jesus Name and 473 have received the baptism of the
Holy Ghost since the first service in 1979.
More than 71 men have received their ministerial license through the Asia
Military District and the FUPC. And four missionary couples have been
raised up at the FUPC of Okinawa.
The FUPC began as a church group that desired to support missions, with
their $20.15 offering to begin support of missions; and have continued to this
day giving thousands of dollars annually to the support of taking the Whole
Gospel to the Whole World. The FUPC family has built churches in Burma
and Bangladesh, helped in building a Bible schools in Thailand, purchased
transportation for ministers to take the Gospel to out-lying villages, and has
purchased clothing for Bible school students in many countries.
Pastors:
Reverend Paul & Shirley Dennis: 1979 - 1987
Reverend Keigh & Paula Townsley: 1987 – 1991
Reverend Paul & Shirley Dennis: 1991-1995
Reverend Marvin & Lucy Elmore: 1995 – 1996
Reverend Rufus & Pamela Parker: 1996 – 2009
Reverend Fonzell & Vanencia Marsh: 2009 – Present
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This banner is
divided into 5
panels, each is
hyper linked. Enjoy
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Songs: Your Latter
is greater than
Your Past. Click
first then panel #4
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