J. Ellis Myers

J. Ellis Myers was born on July 13, 1935, to Jackson and Ruth Myers in Pensacola, Florida. The couple met at a Pentecostal tent revival and their wedding was officiated by D. L. Welch, but, despite these connections, the Myers did not attend church while raising their four children.

In March 1952, Ellis Myers attended a revival service in Niceville, Florida, where Evangelist Wayne Rooks was preaching. When the altar call was given, Ellis decided to give his life to God. It was a tough decision because his sights were set on a football career, but he knew God was calling him. That night, Ellis was filled with the Holy Ghost and baptized in Jesus’ name.

Months later, Ellis felt a call to the ministry and chose to attend Apostolic Bible Institute in St. Paul, Minnesota. God blessed Ellis with a great job, and he was able to pay his tuition along with room and board at ABI. Ellis loved the teaching of ABI president S. G. Norris. One year, Brother Norris invited Ellis to join his family for Christmas. During this time a bond was formed, and Ellis began to regard Brother Norris as his spiritual father and mentor.

J. Ellis Myers graduated from ABI in 1955, and that summer he received his ministerial license with the United Pentecostal Church (UPC) and began his preaching ministry. That fall he returned to ABI for a year of postgraduate classes and received another degree the following spring. Ellis then moved to Miami to assist Brother Rooks at a church in that city. Ellis soon met Margaret “Debbie” Femino, and they were married on February 23, 1957, with Brother Rooks officiating.

The newly married couple continued to assist at the Miami church, but they eventually left to evangelize. In 1958, they were asked to assist at a church in South Bend, Indiana. Their daughter, Denise, was born the following year. The Myers then returned to the evangelistic field. After a few years, they settled down to start a new church in Clearwater, Florida. The couple welcomed their son, David, into the world in 1963.

In 1965, Brother Myers and his family moved to the coastal community of Port St. Joe, Florida, to assume another pastorate. During the next six years, they worked feverishly to dig the church out of substantial debt while helping the congregation grow in faith. Brother Myers also preached on a weekly radio program. During this time he was elected to serve as youth president of the Florida District. He taught youth camps, developed ministry programs, and assisted in building projects on the campgrounds in Ocala.

In 1971, Brother Myers became the pastor of a young church in Palm Bay that consisted of just five families. The Myers knew God had called them to this community, and they began to evangelize the area by knocking on doors, holding street meetings, and teaching home Bible studies. The church grew, and eventually Brother Myers was able to work as a full-time pastor.

Once, when a young minister asked Brother Myers what it took to build a strong church, he responded, “It takes a lifetime.” Brother Myers believed the key to a strong church with continual growth was teaching the Word of God. He taught in-home Bible studies every week, and souls continued to be saved. The church went through two building programs to accommodate the growth.

In 1998, J. Ellis Myers was ordained as the Palm Bay church’s bishop, and his son, David Myers, became the pastor. As the new century dawned, the congregation moved to a newly constructed sanctuary. Bishop Myers also became a presbyter for the Florida District. The Florida District Board would later name Myers an honorary lifetime member.

New ministry opportunities opened for Bishop Myers. He preached crusades in Swaziland and Kenya and helped build a church and an orphanage in Guatemala. (One of the orphanage buildings was dedicated to Bishop Myers’ mother, Ruth, who, along with the rest of the family, had come into the church, in no small part due to Ellis’ influence.) In addition, Bishop Myers ministered in Argentina, Thailand, Singapore, the Philippines, the United Arab Emirates, Austria, Belgium, Slovakia, and elsewhere. By this time Sister Myers had earned a doctorate, and she and Bishop Myers were given opportunities to teach in several overseas Bible schools.

Brother and Sister Myers have been married more than sixty years, and their children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren are all serving God and attending UPCI churches. In 2021, the Myers family celebrated fifty years of ministry in Palm Bay. Bishop J. Ellis Myers continues to teach, preach, and minister at Eastwind Pentecostal Church, which is now one of the largest UPCI congregations in the state.