HISTORY
SUFFRAGAN BISHOP DR. MADISON GARY COPELAND, D.D
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ow approaching an unprecedented 60th anniversary and retirement as pastor of the historic Greater Sweet Beulah Apostolic Church in Suffolk, Virginia, Suffragan Bishop Dr. Madison Gary Copeland, D.D. is a living legend and historic figure in the Pentecostal Assemblies of the World (PAW). Quite possibly, Dr. Copeland is the last surviving minister ordained by the late Honorable Presiding Bishop Samuel J. Grimes of the Pentecostal Assemblies of the World. Suffragan Bishop Dr. Madison G. Copeland, D.D. was born to the late Mr. Wilroy and Mrs. Annie Gary Copeland in Suffolk, Virginia. He is the husband of the lovely Elect Lady Mrs. Pauline Penn Copeland. They are the proud parents of two sons, Gary A. Copeland and Samuel B. Copeland and one grandchild, Gary O. Copeland. Educated in Suffolk Public Schools, Suffragan Bishop Copeland attended the Little A School and East Suffolk High School. He furthered his education at the Norfolk State College, now known as Norfolk State University. Bishop Copeland also graduated from the Roanoke Bible College in Elizabeth City, North Carolina. Suffragan Bishop Copeland was converted at the age of 9 years old, received the gift of the Holy Spirit at the age of 11, and received a license to preach the Gospel of Jesus Christ in March 1947 at the age of 15 from the late Bishop Samuel J. Grimes. In 1953, at the age of 21, Pastor Copeland was ordained as an Elder by Bishop Grimes and appointed a District Elder by Bishop Clarence Moore in 1994 by the Virginia State Council of the Pentecostal Assemblies of the World, Inc. In September 1984, Suffragan Bishop Copeland was conferred an Honorary Doctor of Divinity Degree from the United Christian College, New York City. He was further elevated to the position of Suffragan Bishop and consecrated by Bishop Clarence E. Moore, Diocesan of the 28th Episcopal District of the Virginia State Council, Pentecostal Assemblies of the World, Inc. From 1954 – 1958, Suffragan Bishop Copeland was called to minister at Tabernacle United Church of Christ and appointed pastor for two years at St. Paul A.M.E. Zion Church and Oak Hill A.M.E. Zion in Hertfort, North Carolina, from 1958 to 1960. As a result of his ministry, over 300 souls were baptized in Jesus’ name at A.M.E Zion Church.
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Bishop Copeland was then installed as pastor to Greater Sweet Beulah Pentecostal Church on March 18, 1962 by the late Bishop Samuel J. Grimes.
THE NEW BIRTH Dr. Copeland fondly recalls receiving the precious gift of the Holy Ghost at 11 years of age while attending a prayer service in the Baptist Church he attended with his family. “While in the service, I felt the presence of the Holy Spirit and began praising God. As I praised him, I began speaking in other tongues. That night I didn’t stop speaking in tongues, so they carried me home and thought something was wrong with me. One man told my father “He’s gone, he done lost his mine what a shame.” He explains “after a while a few more people in that church received the baptism of the Holy Ghost as well. So, they eventually threw us all out of the Baptist Church because they didn’t understand it.’’ It was at that point, young Madison joined the only Apostolic Church in Suffolk, VA, The Greater Sweet Beulah Holiness Church under the pastorate of the late Bishop Howard Jackson. Upon joining the Greater Sweet Beulah, young Madison was baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ. He explains: “they took me down to a muddy creek and I was baptized there. Although I had to borrow someone else’s baptism clothes, I wanted to be baptized so bad, I didn’t mind.”
GREATER SWEET BEULAH Founded by the late Bishop Howard Jones in 1934 as Sweet Beulah Holiness Church, The Greater Sweet Beulah Apostolic Church (GSBAC) is the oldest Apostolic church in Suffolk, VA.
“WALKING IN THE PROMISE OF GOD” “WALKING IN THE PROMISE OF GOD”
MARCH/APRIL 2022 MAY/JUNE 2022
