Rev. Calvin Rigdon

Calvin Rigdon, General President of the Pentecostal Conquerors, had declared this day international Sheaves For Christ Day.
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- 1952-53: The story goes back to 1952 when Rev. Calvin Rigdon, General Youth President of the UPCI, approached the General Board with a proposal for the establishing of a fund raising drive among Pentecostal Youth. The General Board approved the plan and authorized Bro. Rigdon to appoint a committee to develop this concept.

The award is named in honor of Rev. Calvin Rigdon, former General Youth President of the UPC. He was a visionary leader in student ministry and was responsible for starting the Sheaves for Christ fundraising program in 1952.

Calvin L. Rigdon - 2005 Inductee
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Calvin Lincoln Rigdon - Biography
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Preaching was to become one of Calvin Rigdon's choice pleasures.He soon developed into an exceptional preacher of the Word.Through the years people across North America heard and remembered sermons such as "Shields of Brass," "Give Me This Mountain," "Bound to the Altar," "An Unusual Choice," "I Was Born in the House My Father Built," "You Have Not, Because You Ask Not," and "Your Altar's Too Small."It made little difference to him whether the platform was big or small.He simply loved to preach God's Word.

A general license was issued to Calvin Rigdon in 1943 by the Pentecostal Assemblies of Jesus Christ.After participating in the merger of the P.C.I. and the P.A. of J. C., he graduated from the Apostolic Bible Institute in 1946.He accepted the position of pastor in Grayville, Illinois, in 1947 and served there for two years.In 1949 Calvin Rigdon became the pastor of the church in Carbondale, Illinois, where he served until 1956, leaving behind a brand new church building that had been dedicated just before the time of his departure.

Calvin Rigdon enjoyed the privilege of occupying several positions of leadership at both the local and national levels.He served as Conquerors' president of the Illinois District for five years, from 1946 to 1951, when he was elected to be the international president of the General Youth Division of the United Pentecostal Church.From 1951 to 1956, he continued as pastor of the First Apostolic Church in Carbondale, Illinois, and also served as international youth president.From 1957-1960, he served as the first full-time international youth president.It was during his years of service as international youth president (1951-1960), and under his direction, that the Sheaves for Christ program was instituted.This visionary program, begun in 1952, was the first fund-raising ministry begun by any department of the UPCI, and it raised a total of $79,348,868 in its first fifty years.

Following the 1960 General Conference, Calvin Rigdon resigned as general youth president to become the pastor of the First Pentecostal Church in Baton Rouge, Louisiana.During his eleven years as pastor of this congregation, a new church was built and paid for.He served as presbyter on the Louisiana District Board for ten years, beginning in 1961.He was also editor of the Louisiana Challenger for more than eight years, editing ninety-nine consecutive issues.

From 1971 until his retirement in 1991, Calvin Rigdon served the organization at the World Evangelism Center, Hazelwood, Missouri, in several executive positions.From 1971-1975 he served as the Word Aflame Publications editor.From 1975-1976 he filled the office of the director of the General Sunday School Division, at which time he initiated the "Bible Reading Enriches Any Day" (BREAD) program.From June 1976 -1981, he was Editor in Chief of United Pentecostal Church International publications.In February 1982 he accepted the office of director of the Historical Center, a position he held until his resignation in January 1991.

In October 1990, he chose to conclude his letter of resignation from his final official position held in his much loved United Pentecostal Church International with these words: "Whatever future life and ministry remains, (and I hope to be contributing,) I will always remember that God and the church placed me in positions of general leadership at the World Evangelism Center for twenty-nine years.May God stay with each of us for the rest of the journey!"

Let us take a look at a rule of guidance: "So live, that in a future year, none will regret that you passed here."

Calvin Rigdon passed from this life on January 10, 1995, at the age of 68.More than one hundred ministers from many areas of North America attended his memorial service.
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In passing, Calvin Rigdon left behind his wife of forty-seven years, Virginia; his son, Dan, and wife, Gayla; two daughters, Judith Rigdon and Rebecca and husband Russell Francois; six grandchildren, Holley Rigdon, Heather Rigdon, Danielle Francois, Heidi Rigdon, Andre Francois, and Haylee Rigdon; one sister, Vana, wife of Reverend Oliver Spencer; many other relatives; and a host of friends.
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As Calvin Rigdon slipped from life into that place somewhere between this life and the next, he began to speak.At first his son thought he was being addressed by his father and made an effort to answer his dad's queries.However, he soon realized it was not to him that his father spoke so inquiringly, but to an unseen friend."What's the name of that river?"
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Calvin Rigdon

Calvin Rigdon

Calvin Rigdon