Now Introducing . . . Bro. Dumaresq!

Bro. D e-mailed me his bio and asked that I post it for him . . . so, here 'tis.

Pastor Says . . .
I was born in the city of Johannesburg, South Africa. As a child of four years old my parents relocated to the city of Durban located off the Indian Ocean on the east coast of South Africa. I was placed in St. Martin’s Home for boys where I was raised and educated. After leaving the boys home, I continued my education until I dropped out to pursue a job situation. Due to lack of parental influence and direction, I became loosely involved with a gang led by my elder brother. From this point things started downhill for me-trouble with alcohol, discipline, police, and authorities. The following years of my young life became dark, evil, sinful, and disappointing. One night, while standing behind a statue of the Virgin Mary in a Catholic church garden with a bottle of wine in my hand, as I lifted the bottle to drink, I became disgusted with my life, and, looking up past the face of the statue, I prayed, “God if you are able to help me – please do so."

Around 1960, God started to intervene in my life. In the midst of my hedonistic indulgences I met Karleen Sargent, a British subject living with her family in the St. Andrew’s Hotel. We fell in love and consummated our marriage on the 1 October, 1962.

We took up provisional residence in a small hotel until we could find an apartment. Several days after our marriage, we met a family that witnessed to us both and convinced us to attend their church. That Sunday night we surrendered our lives to Christ. We were later baptized and filled with the Hoy Spirit. For the first five years of our Christian walk we attended Full Gospel churches where they preached God as a Trinity. We were happy serving the Lord!

About 1967, we met Brother and Sister Carpenter, missionaries with the United Pentecostal Church International who witnessed to us about baptism in the Name of Jesus and the oneness of God. After many questions and personal research on the Godhead, we accepted the truth of God’s Word. We were re-baptized and started to attend the Oneness church.

The call of God was on my heart and I started to help preach and teach in a couple UPCI churches in Durban, South Africa. I felt the call of God to attend Bible college and further my knowledge in God’s Word. After much fervent prayer then discussion with Brother Carpenter, we settled to leave South Africa in early 1971 to attend Conquerors' Bible College in Portland Oregon.

Leaving South Africa we stopped by London, England where we worked until our flight to the USA.

Arriving in Portland, Oregon in the fall of 1971, I began a three-year course in Biblical studies. My fourth year was spent as an intern at the college. It was at this time that God impressed on my heart to begin evangelizing. With the help of God, I purchased a 26-foot travel trailer and a Chevy pick-up truck. We evangelized across the USA for about five years, experiencing God’s power and miracles. After a trip to England we arrived back in the USA and relocated to St. Louis, Missouri.

In January 1980 we were elected as pastor of The Pentecostal Church of Our Lord Jesus Christ. The church began to grow and revival fires broke out amongst the members. Home Bible studies were conducted along with all night prayer meetings that were well attended. There was a well-rounded growth in every department of the church.

About 1990 my first wife developed cancer and by 1995 the cancer had spread through her body and she passed away November 2, 1995. The next few years were years of resting in God’s love and mercy. Though I thought marriage would never occur in my life again, God had His own plan for me.

I met Irina, a Russian woman, in St. Louis in 1997, . Irina had attended an underground church whilst in Moscow and there was gloriously saved and healed. She immigrated to the USA around 1995 and shortly after began work in St. Louis. We were married 17 January, 1998. Both my present wife and I have been serving in leading The Pentecostal Church until the present time.