Rev. Arless R. Glass

Arless Richie was born to Robert N. and Allie Glass on August 17, 1929, in DeRidder, Louisiana. At birth the doctor said he could not live, so they placed him in a dresser drawer and left him there. Soon a close neighbor was allowed in the room, and she asked, “Where is the boy?” Their answer was, “In the dresser drawer; he’s dead, or dying.” The neighbor took the baby from the drawer, and, detecting life, gave him to a nurse and said, “Take care of him! God has a great work for him to do!”

When Brother Glass graduated from high school, he was promised a football scholarship. He hitchhiked to the college and was about to enter the registration office when a voice spoke to him: “Why not wait until the spring semester to enroll?” The voice was so strong he turned and walked out and the first car that passed gave him a ride home. Before the spring semester, God filled him with the Holy Ghost.

After joining the Air Force on his twenty-first birthday, Brother Glass was stationed at Craig Air Force Base in Alabama. Deployed to Okinawa for two years, he baptized ninety-five people in Jesus' name. After coming back to the United States, Brother Glass married Geraldine (Geri) Gill on June 16, 1953. They became the parents of three children, Cathy, Letha, and Rich, and were blessed with six grandchildren. After forty-two years of marriage, Geri died of cancer.

Two years later Brother Glass married JoAnn Cannon, widow of Reverend Clyde Cannon. JoAnn was the Ladies Ministries president of the Louisiana District. Brother Glass inherited another daughter, Becky Davis. After six years JoAnn passed away from a heart attack. Two years later Brother Glass married Joan Carouthers, widow of Reverend Kelton Carouthers, adding another son and daughter, Mark Carouthers and Karen Jenkins.

Stationed in Alabama in 1951, an ice storm prevented Brother Glass from meeting the District Board. They mailed him his local license, and in July 1953 he was ordained at the Louisiana Camp Meeting. On October 16, 1953, Brother Glass was discharged from the military. He drove home, unloaded the car, disconnected the trailer, repacked, and left the next day to go to Alexandria, Louisiana, to begin a revival. He later earned a Bachelor of Theology degree from Texas Bible College (TBC).

In November 1956, the Glasses accepted the pastorate of the UPC of LaMarque, Texas. After nearly six years, God spoke to Brother Glass and said, “I want you in Pasadena.” For forty-six years, he has remained in the city of his calling.

Brother Glass has been involved in many programs and offices. He was the Sunday school director of the Houston section; one of the founders of TBC; district Foreign Missions director; regional Home Missions director; Evangelism Commission member; member of the TBC Board of Directors; TBC instructor; Lt. Col. CAP, auxiliary, USAF; police chaplain in the Pasadena Police Department; superintendent of education, endorsing agent for military chaplains; founder of the UPCI Chaplaincy program; organizer of the Association of Christian Teachers and Schools (K–12); and one of the founders of Urshan Graduate School of Theology. He also received an honorary doctorate in Pentecostal Studies from Apostolic Bible Institute; he received a master’s diploma in Apostolic Studies; served as a member of the Texas District Board, the South Texas District Board, the General Board, and the Board of Education; was a member of many committees, both district and national; assisted in rewriting the Judicial Procedure; was listed in Who’s Who in 1978 and Who’s Who of Executives and Professionals in 2007; and was chosen by Who’s Who to be one of the ten professionals to be featured on their web page at no cost.