We seek to encourage and empower entire families to better depend on God.

The UPCI Family Ministries Council is a cooperative effort of Youth Ministries, Ladies Ministries, Men's Ministries, Children's Ministries, and the Office of Education and Endorsement. Our mission is to coordinate the efforts of the UPCI’s focused ministries to children, youth, ladies, and men in order to serve our families holistically. Our resources are intended to enrich your family’s life and faith.

 

The UPCI is a network of almost 42,000 churches around the world. UPCI World Headquarters is located in suburban St. Louis, Missouri.

 

The endorsed institutions of the UPCI include six Bible colleges, a Christian college, a graduate school, two training institutes, a children's home, a residency for troubled young men, a ministry to those addicted to alcohol and other drugs, an adoption agency with a home for unwed mothers, a chaplaincy for prisoners, a radio ministry, an agency for community educational services, and an international relief agency. 

Council Members

Dan Butler

Office of Education and Endorsement Chairman

Daniel L. Butler, DMin, is the chairman of the UPCI's Office of Education and Endorsement. Dr. Butler also is the bishop of International Pentecostal Church in Bellflower, California, where he and his wife, Pamela, served as pastors for thirty years. Dr. Butler has been an ordained minister with the UPCI for forty years and has served in many local, district, and national leadership positions. He presently serves as an adjunct professor at Urshan Graduate School of Theology and at Christian Service Training Institute. Dr. Butler and his wife are the grandparents of three adorable grandsons.

Steve L. Cannon

Children's Ministries Director

Before coming to the World Evangelism Center, Steve Cannon pastored First United Pentecostal Church in Batesville, Mississippi, for twenty-one years. Previous to pastoring, he evangelized for four years and was an assistant pastor for eight years. He and his wife, Rita, were married in 1978 and have three daughters, Vangi, Kandi, and Mauri, and eight grandchildren: McKaLyne, Kanon, Jenna, Kade, Danika, Halli Rae, Annaleigh, and Darlynn Grace. During his ministry in the UPCI Mississippi District, Brother Cannon served as youth sectional director, district youth secretary, Sunday School sectional director, district Sunday School secretary, and district Sunday School director. He was also on the Finance Committee for fifteen years and was the editor of the Mississippi TORCH for ten years. He was elected GSSD director of the year three times and runner-up seven times. In addition to his ministry, he was employed with the United States Postal Service for thirty-five years, and he served as chaplain, vice-president, and president of the Mississippi National Association of Postmasters. He attended Delta State University in Cleveland, Mississippi, and has completed fifty courses from the Harvard Business School.

Linda Gleason

Ladies Ministries President

Linda has served Ladies Ministries for forty years in various capacities. She first served as district secretary and then president in the Oregon District and for eleven years as general secretary of Ladies Ministries International. Linda Gleason brings with her a wealth of experience in all the work of Ladies Ministries. She is a sought after speaker for ladies conferences nationwide and has ministered in several foreign countries as well. She is the director of HOPE, a Connection of Ladies Ministries and has been a feature writer for Reflections magazine. Linda Gleasonís husband, Gary Gleason, has served in numerous offices of the United Pentecostal Church. She is the blessed mother of four children and grandmother of three. Linda Gleason will continue to work for the good of Ladies Ministries as she takes on this new role.

Scott Graham

UPCI General Secretary

Scott Graham serves as the general secretary of the United Pentecostal Church International. A native of Illinois, he studied at the University of Illinois and Gateway College of Evangelism before beginning full-time Christian ministry. Through the years he served local churches in various capacities, culminating with fifteen years of pastoral leadership in St. Louis, Missouri. He has filled numerous sectional, district, and general offices for the UPCI, including time in all three executive positions in Youth Ministries (formerly General Youth Division). He is both an international speaker and a published author, and serves on numerous board and committees. He and his wife Michelle have two children, Jeremy and Jessica.

Michael Thomas

Youth Ministries President

Michael Thomas joined the UPCI Youth Ministries team in January 2018 and became Youth Ministries president at the beginning of 2021. Michael is an ordained UPCI minister who is honored and excited to serve this generation of apostolic youth and young adults. He has been involved in youth ministry for nearly two decades, serving as a youth pastor, sectional director, district youth secretary, and as youth president for Alabama. Michael met his beautiful wife at a youth camp and, after many years of pursuit, convinced her to marry him. Michael and DeAnna have been married for 15 years and are parents to a blue-eyed ray of sunshine named Myla Joy and a beautiful duo named Jayla Hope and Judah Michael. Michael attended Gateway College of Evangelism and continues his educational pursuits through Hope International University. Michael enjoys running, kayaking, golfing and going on outdoor adventures.

Mike Williams

Men's Ministries President

Michael J. Williams has been the senior pastor of the Pentecostals of Apopka, Florida, for the past thirty-nine years. He is the president of UPCI Men's Ministries, and he serves as a member of the Florida District Board of Presbyters. Pastor Williams is married to Debra, his wife of forty-one years, and he is the father of two daughters, Brooke (Pamer) of Barberton, Ohio, and Rory (Hill) of Apopka. He attended Wake Forest University and Asbury Theological Seminary.

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