Bishop Clyde M. Hughes, of the Pentecostal Church of Christ, writes: Yesterday, I had the high privilege of visiting an old friend (as in length of time, not age.) The son of the founder of our Brazilian church, Duteil Ward is such an insightful person and informed me of some history of our Conference Center where he once lived that I was never aware of. He's had a rich history of serving the Lord in teaching and song.
Horace Ward, Sr. was called to Brazil in 1937 without even knowing where Brazil was. His denomination wouldn't send him to he came to us and got either $20 or $25 a month to go to Brazil. He chose a dreadfully hot region, walked many, many miles and cobbled up a few people to begin. We have on loan to us a 1920s Gibson mandolin which he owned. He preached in church and afterwards Catholic militants beat him with either a beam or rock. The mandolin was in a hard case on his back but he was hit so hard the back split down the middle. He once said the difference between edible and inedible food was 72 hours. His sacrifices were mammoth. He later called his wife-to-be (Effie Carolyn Hall Ward) to Brazil and they would have three sons (Horace, Jr., James, and Duteil). Returning home for the boys’ education, he was totally despondent. Carolyn and he fervently prayed and eventually and mutually decided he had to return to Brazil. He served as the first general superintendent of Brazil. Unlike what one would expect, his name and passion has been passed through the generations of the International Pentecostal Church of Christ throughout the 660 churches. His picture hangs in a number of their churches. Even the children know who Horace Ward, Sr. was.
My wife, Linda, and I would often visit their mobile home in Columbus, Ohio. After they moved to North Wilkesboro, North Carolina, I would visit them during my church visits there. Even after Horace passed away, we would visit Carolyn and often heard her telling of their passion for Brazil. Although Horace was absent through the teen years of the boys, a special dispensation of grace hovered over the family and all three sons remained faithful to God and ministry. For decades, I have considered Horace as one of my mentors.
Horace Junior became one of the education leaders in the Church of God, Cleveland. James also went into ministry eventually became a missionary to Guatemala with IPHC World Missions Ministries. Major James Ward, Junior, entered the ministry and is serving as a chaplain in Alaska. James Ward, III (Trés Ward), is ministering in Emmanuel College in the areas of music and recruitment.
A couple years ago I took our Brazilian delegation to visit Duteil in the hospital. I thought it would be a nice gesture, but the outpouring of respect and their thankfulness to Duteil for giving them their father was more moving that I could have imagined. I sort of felt that way last night. I received a much greater blessing than was able to give. It was the next best thing to being with his parents.
P.S. I served as Horace and Carolyn’s pastor during their later years in N. Wilkesboro, NC, and have taken the editorial liberty of filling in the information about their children. Hugh Hoyle
Horace Ward, Sr. was called to Brazil in 1937 without even knowing where Brazil was. His denomination wouldn't send him to he came to us and got either $20 or $25 a month to go to Brazil. He chose a dreadfully hot region, walked many, many miles and cobbled up a few people to begin. We have on loan to us a 1920s Gibson mandolin which he owned. He preached in church and afterwards Catholic militants beat him with either a beam or rock. The mandolin was in a hard case on his back but he was hit so hard the back split down the middle. He once said the difference between edible and inedible food was 72 hours. His sacrifices were mammoth. He later called his wife-to-be (Effie Carolyn Hall Ward) to Brazil and they would have three sons (Horace, Jr., James, and Duteil). Returning home for the boys’ education, he was totally despondent. Carolyn and he fervently prayed and eventually and mutually decided he had to return to Brazil. He served as the first general superintendent of Brazil. Unlike what one would expect, his name and passion has been passed through the generations of the International Pentecostal Church of Christ throughout the 660 churches. His picture hangs in a number of their churches. Even the children know who Horace Ward, Sr. was.
My wife, Linda, and I would often visit their mobile home in Columbus, Ohio. After they moved to North Wilkesboro, North Carolina, I would visit them during my church visits there. Even after Horace passed away, we would visit Carolyn and often heard her telling of their passion for Brazil. Although Horace was absent through the teen years of the boys, a special dispensation of grace hovered over the family and all three sons remained faithful to God and ministry. For decades, I have considered Horace as one of my mentors.
Horace Junior became one of the education leaders in the Church of God, Cleveland. James also went into ministry eventually became a missionary to Guatemala with IPHC World Missions Ministries. Major James Ward, Junior, entered the ministry and is serving as a chaplain in Alaska. James Ward, III (Trés Ward), is ministering in Emmanuel College in the areas of music and recruitment.
A couple years ago I took our Brazilian delegation to visit Duteil in the hospital. I thought it would be a nice gesture, but the outpouring of respect and their thankfulness to Duteil for giving them their father was more moving that I could have imagined. I sort of felt that way last night. I received a much greater blessing than was able to give. It was the next best thing to being with his parents.
P.S. I served as Horace and Carolyn’s pastor during their later years in N. Wilkesboro, NC, and have taken the editorial liberty of filling in the information about their children. Hugh Hoyle
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