Warren McPherson: Versatile Assemblies of God Leader and Author

This Week in AG History — September 28, 1958

By Glenn W. Gohr
Originally published on AG News, 26 September 2024

Warren Forrest McPherson (1925-2017) had a long and storied ministry in the Assemblies of God. He is remembered as a pastor, AG servicemen’s representative, secretary of the Kansas district, promotions coordinator for the AG Youth Department, and director of Public Relations.

McPherson was born Aug. 6, 1925, to Sam and Jessie (Kephart) McPherson in Wellston, Oklahoma, where he grew up and graduated from Wellston High School in 1943. He was converted to Christ in the Wellston Assembly of God. A year later he received a call to the ministry during a National Youth Conference at Central Bible College in Springfield, Missouri.

In August 1943, he enlisted in the US Army Air Corps and served as a crewmember of a B-24 Liberator bomber. He flew 30 bombing raids over Nazi Europe. He was awarded the Air Medal with four oak leaf clusters, as well as many other military honors. In later years he wrote The Wild Blue Yonder, a book about his wartime experiences.

After the war, McPherson attended Central Bible College and earned a Bachelor of Arts degree. While at CBC he was a member of the Revivaltime Choir and also sang in a male quartet called the Mission-Aires. After graduation, the AG National Youth Department asked the quartet to travel for a year, appearing in rallies and conventions in 43 states, raising funds for Speed the Light. McPherson also earned a Bachelor of Science degree from Drury University and did graduate work at the University of Missouri.

On March 29, 1952, he and Betty Lou Robberson were united in marriage. They were married more than 65 years. She was a wonderful support to him in his many ministry roles.

McPherson was ordained to the ministry on May 1, 1952. He pastored churches in Stamford, Connecticut; Newport, Rhode Island; Akron, Ohio; Parsons, Kansas; and Wichita, Kansas. He served at the Assemblies of God National Office for over 10 years as the servicemen’s representative while also serving as promotions coordinator for the AG Youth Department for eight of those years, eight years as the director of Public Relations, and two years as the national chaplains representative. For nearly six years he served on the staff of the Rex Humbard Television Ministries out of Akron, Ohio, and traveled worldwide with the Humbard family in ministry.

Owen Carr was appointed as director of the National Youth Department in 1961. While there was much he didn’t know about the administrative tasks of the job, he had a lot of new ideas, which is what was needed at the time. As far as the inner workings of the department, Carr relied heavily on the knowledge and support of McPherson, who knew everything about the department and had already worked in the Youth Department for seven years at that point. Carr couldn’t have directed the department without McPherson’s help. McPherson told him about reports that were due, and how to complete them, as well as much other needed information.

Carr said, “Warren McPherson is one of the greatest men I have ever met. Any man who would do for someone, what Warren did for me, stands head and shoulders above the crowd, and I was blessed to have Warren as my friend.” Carr said that McPherson helped in the founding of Teen Bible Quiz and Teen Talent (Fine Arts).

During his ministry, McPherson also served as the New England district youth director, Kansas district administrative assistant, Kansas district presbyter, Kansas district secretary/treasurer, a General Council presbyter, and other official capacities. He spoke at many national conventions, youth camps, and servicemen’s retreats, traveling to 48 states and 30 foreign countries. He also published articles in the Pentecostal Evangel, C.A. Herald, C.A. Guide, Pulpit, Advance, and the Sunday School Counselor. No matter what task or job lay before him, McPherson was eager to do the Lord’s bidding, which led him into many avenues of ministry.

Read, “Co-laborers for Men in Uniform,” by Warren McPherson, on page 19 of the Sept. 28, 1958, issue of the Pentecostal Evangel.

Also featured in this issue:

• “The Loneliness of Sin,” by C.M. Ward

• “Commencement Exercises Behind Prison Walls,” by Chaplain Thomas M. Petty

• “Beware of Soul Erosion,” by Elva M. Johnson

And many more!

Click here to read this issue now.

Pentecostal Evangel archived editions courtesy of the Flower Pentecostal Heritage Center.

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