This Saturday, August 12th, at 4:00 p.m., the Allen United Pentecostal Church will hold a Pastoral Installation to make the appointment of Gary Vinson as church pastor official. Conducting the ceremony will be Rev. David Shatwell, Sectional Presbyter as emcee, and District Superintendent Rev. Matthew Martin. The congregation voted on June 8th to ask Rev. Vinson to take the lead of the local church.

Raised in the Allen community, Gary is the second child of June and the late Carl Vinson. After graduating from Allen High School in 1974, he married his high school sweetheart, Debbie Little, and joined the U.S. Air Force. Even while serving his country, Gary served the Lord. While stationed at Ft. Walton Beach, Florida he was youth pastor for a local Pentecostal church and also did some preaching; stationed at San Antonio, Texas he served his church as the Sunday School Secretary.

Leaving the military in 1980, he and Debbie made their home in Duncan, Oklahoma where he started work with Davis Heating and Air. There they were also active in the church and ministry, serving on the church board and occasionally preaching.

In 2007 the Vinsons moved their home to Allen so they could be closer to his parents and Gary started his own heat and air business. Shortly after the move Gary became licensed to preach and serve the United Pentecostal Church International (UPCI).

There hasn’t been a time when Gary wasn’t involved with the Lord’s work. For the past five years, on the first and third Mondays at 8:00 am, he and a friend have held a Community Prayer Vigil at the Allen UPC. The prayer time is open to any and all who wish to attend.

Through it all, Gary has been supported by his wife, Debbie. Mrs. Vinson also graduated from Allen High School in 1974 but only attended the local school three years. She and her family had moved to Allen from Newport, Rhode Island during her sophomore year. Debbie has been employed by the Allen Schools for several years as the elementary computer teacher.

The Vinsons have two children: Christopher Vinson, who lives with his family in Norman and works as the Senior Auditor with the First Bank & Trust of Duncan; and Christina Thompson who, with her family, lives in Tuttle and works for Edward Jones. Gary and Debbie have eight grandchildren and nine great-grandkids.

Future plans for the Allen UPC include removing the current fellowship hall and replacing it with a larger building to be used for Sunday School classes as well as being a fellowship hall. The church meets Sunday mornings at 11:00 and Wednesday evenings at 7:00. A welcome is extended to all to join them for the church services.