History

The Norphlet United Pentecostal Church was first established in 1923 near the railroad tracks in Norphlet, Arkansas and was called the Apostolic Church of Jesus Christ. There were only eight members in the beginning. The pews were handmade with one board to sit on and one to lean back on. Cardboard was put in the windows to keep out the cold. There were 72 members in the photo taken about 1924.

While Brother Guy was the pastor, Andrew Urshan preached a tent revival here, and several miracles took place. A man, who had been crippled for years received his healing, threw away his crutches and ran around outside the tent. A woman in a wheelchair was prayed for and got up and walked.

Brother Kayle came along and moved the church from the railroad tracks to its current location.

Between pastors Brother Vernie McGee kept the church going. He told of having to put cardboard in the windows to help keep the cold out. He played the guitar and often was the only music until his wife, Neva, became a self-taught piano player.

The church consisted of six members when Brother Cannon came to the church in 1947. The six members (Brother & Sister McDuffie, Brother McGee & Sister McGee and their boys, Charles & Gene) were huddled around the fire trying to get warm when Brother & Sister Cannon walked in. Brother Cannon told them "the Lord had sent me to Norphlet".