Bishop Samuel Myers, Sr. was the thirteenth of sixteen children. His parents were highly religious people who instilled in him a sincere desire for the deep things of God. As a teen, Bishop Myers and two of his siblings, Elizabeth and John, would visit a little holiness church in the neighborhood called Good Shepherd. The people there would praise the Lord by dancing, shouting, playing the tambourine, speaking in tongues, etc. This form of worship was strange to them. Every so often the church mother and pastor would look at them and say, Children, ya ll gonna need this. Those words had a deep and long-lasting effect on Bishop Myers. Born Again Bishop Myers father-in-law, the late Elder Van Jacobs, Sr., witnessed to him of the one and only plan of salvation. When Elder Jacobs first talked with Bishop he asked, Son is you Saved? When Bishop visited his-wife-to-be, Elder Jacobs took advantage of the opportunity to witness to him the plan of salvation according to the scripture, Acts 2:38. On one special night while visiting his-wife-to-be, her father played an album containing a sermon by Bishop Carr. The subject of that message was, Holiness or Hell. That sermon had a profound effect on Bishop Myers life. He could no longer deny that repentance, water baptism in the name of Jesus Christ and receiving of the Holy Ghost was the right way. His understanding was completely opened. In 1969, Bishop Myers was baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for remission of his sins. Shortly thereafter, he received the gift of the Holy Ghost, with the evidence of speaking in tongues as the spirit of God gave the utterance. The Calling For many are called but few are chosen. Matthew 22:14 Bishop Myers often relayed to the saints the day he accepted the call of God to go into all the world and preach the gospel of Jesus Christ. For some time, he realized that God was calling him into the ministry, but he kept ignoring the call. One night while sleeping beside Mother Myers, an awful cloud of darkness surrounded him and began to pull the breath from his body. He looked at Mother Myers for help, but she was sound asleep and totally unaware of what was happening. Bishop Myers immediately cried out to God that he would go and preach the gospel. Instantly, the darkness disappeared, and once again, he could breathe easily. Bishop Myers worked faithfully as a minister of Jesus Christ from that day forward.
The Beginning of the Ministry How then shall they call on him in whom they have not believed? and how shall they believe in him of whom they have not heard? and how shall they hear without a preacher? And how shall they preach, except they be sent? as it is written, How beautiful are the feet of them that preach the gospel of peace, and bring glad tidings of good things! Romans 10: 14-15. Apostolic Doctrine Evangelistic Church of Jesus Christ, Inc. began as a small evangelistic mission group. They started by visiting homes, hospitals, nursing homes, prisons and denominational bible studies. They also held street services and tent revivals in Elloree, Columbia, Lexington and Hopkins, South Carolina. As a result of this outreach ministry, many souls were saved. People were baptized in a pond in the back of a cow pasture, a creek and in the Santee River. Their first mission was located in a small rented building in Elloree, South Carolina. Bishop Myers, along with the evangelistic team, would hold services on street corners, at Santee State Park and any other location where people gathered. Many souls had an opportunity to hear the gospel and be saved. As the ministry in Elloree began to grow, the Lord added souls to the church body. In a prison ministry at Wateree Correctional Institute, approximately one hundred souls were baptized in the name of Jesus Christ in one day. Shortly after Apostolic Doctrine Evangelistic Church was incorporated, the church mission in Elloree moved to an old rented house in Gadsden, South Carolina, where they continued in the work of evangelism. Prior to the establishment of the mission, they had a great tent revival in Hopkins. As a result of that tent revival, there was a major increase in church membership. Later, a sanctuary was built on a piece of land donated by Mr. and Mrs. Powell Myers, Sr. (the current location of the Fellowship Hall). Then, in 1987, another church was built and moved to its current location in Hopkins. Let the work of evangelizing the world for Jesus Christ continue.
The Order of Worship Elder Pelham Myers, Jr. & Elder Albert Eichelberger, Presiding Prelude Processional... Clergy and Family Final Glimpse Until Glory... Bostick-Tompkins Staff Selection... ADECJC Mass Choir Prayer of Comfort... Elder Albert Eichelberger Pastor, True Pentecostal ADECJC Scripture Reading Old Testament... Bishop Rickie Jackson, Pastor Emmanuel Church of Our Lord Jesus Christ New Testament... Bishop J.A. Deas The Church of Our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ of The Apostolic Faith, Inc. Selection... ADECJC Mass Choir Reflections (three minutes please)... Mr. E.C. Nelson On Behalf of the Community Elder Jackie Williams Interim Pastor, Mt. Sinai United Church Apostolic Elder George Scott Pastor, Power House of Prayer Acknowledgments... Sister Rhudine Dorch Resolution... The Honorable Darrell Jackson, Sr. Senator, The State of South Carolina Solo... Johnnie Myers Bishop Myers Nephew
The Order of Worship continued Reflections (three minutes please)... Deacon Pelham Myers, Sr. On Behalf of the Family Deacon Leo Reed On Behalf of the ADECJC Family Bishop Collie L. Lorick, Jr. Pastor, Rehoboth United Church Apostolic Elder Robert Garrett Pastor, Bethel Church of Our Lord Jesus Christ Selection... ADECJC Mass Choir Eulogistic Message... Bishop David Smith Pastor, Beulah Refuge Tabernacle Church of Our Lord Jesus Christ, Orangeburg, SC Recessional Services of Commendation Committal, Closing Prayer, Benediction & Interment Earthly Resting Place Apostolic Doctrine Evangelistic Church of Jesus Christ Cemetery 1431 Dry Branch Road Hopkins, South Carolina
Psalm 127:5 states, Happy is the man that hath his quiver full of them. So, on May 18, 1948, the Lord blessed the late Boston and Evelyn Smith Myers with a precious gift, a beautiful male child. Bishop Myers departed this life to be with the Lord on Monday, April 18, 2016, at Palmetto Health Richland Hospital, surrounded by his loving family. Bishop Myers was educated in the public schools of Richland County. He was a 1968 graduate of Hopkins High School. He received a bachelor s degree in History from Benedict College and a Master in Theology from Apostolic Theological Bible College in Tampa, Florida. Bishop Myers was a man of many accolades. He was the author of two published books; I Wouldn t Have It Any Other Way and A Book of Ceremonies. He was president and founder of the End Time Choir, Chaplain of the Hopkins Community Awareness Crime Watch Association and founder of an orphanage in East Africa under the care of Pastor Abisalam Oloo. While traveling the world, he enjoyed mission work in Africa, Germany and Romania. Bishop Myers was employed with South Carolina Electric & Gas, Central Carolina Christian Academy and Richland School District One, from where he retired. Bishop Myers married the love of his life and his high school sweetheart, Mary Elizabeth Jacobs, on June 6, 1969. This union was blessed with three children: Samuel, Jr., Samson and Silas. For forty six years, he was her honey, and she was his sweet peach. Their love was inseparable. In addition to his parents, Bishop Myers was predeceased by: his beloved son, Elder Samuel Myers, Jr.; sisters, Martha L. Bush and Rebecca Cohens; and brothers, James, Richard, Leroy, Boston Jr., John, Thomas and Powell Myers. Bishop Myers leaves warm and precious memories that will forever be cherished by: his loving and dedicated wife, Mary E. Myers of the home; his children, Samson and Silas (Tiffany) Myers; a daughter-inlaw, Teresa Myers; seven grandchildren: Timothy, Shamra (Nigel), Alexis, Samuel, Silas, Hannah and Josiah and two great-grandchildren; his brothers: Lawrence (Annie Bell) Myers, Pelham (Mildred) Myers, Sr., Joseph (Queen Esther) Myers and Nathaniel (Dora) Myers; sisters, Queenie E. Myers-Shivers and Janie M. Sims; his brothers-in-law, Grice Jacobs, Randolph (Carol) Jacobs, Elder James (Gloria) Jacobs, Wesley (Betty) Jacobs, Daniel (Darlene) Jacobs and Carlos (Kathy) Jacobs; his sisters-in-law: Rosa Lee Myers, Rebecca Myers, Christine Myers, Mary T. Myers and Sarah Myers; a special aunt, Mary Sims; his church family; and a host of nieces, nephews, other loving relatives and dear friends, all of whom join the family in shared grief caused by his departure, but rejoice that he is now resting with the Lord.
Bostick-Tompkins Funeral Home 2930 Colonial Drive Columbia, SC 29203 Willie A. Tompkins, Founder (803) 254-2000 www.bosticktompkinsinc.com