The Life and Legacy of an Evangelist

by

Ms. Barbara Ann Jefferson-Bonner, 1999

Update March 2003  

 

A Woman-Blessed-by-God is how many describe Evangelist Mandy Lee Pope-Smith-Larkins-Anderson.

Mandy was born on November 16, 1914 to the parentage of the late Thomas Luke Pope and Edith Ann Brown-Pope, in Panola County, Texas, the first of five children.  She received her education from Fairplay, Holland Quarters and Shady Grove schools in Panola County.

 

Mandy grew up in the Shady Grove area and at the early age of 12 years, she became a member of Shady Grove Baptist Church in the Longbranch Community under the leadership of Reverend Frank Simpson.  She united in Holy Matrimony on January 10, 1934 with Joe Cephous Smith and they made their home in the Dotson Community.  Mandy moved her membership to New Zion Baptist Church in that community, where her husband was already a member.

 

In January of 1935 the couple moved to Houston and six months later, on June 30, they were blessed with a beautiful baby girl.  In 1937 Mandy became a born-again Christian at Law Temple Church of God in Church through the ministry of the Reverend W.G. Law.

 

By 1939 Mandy was living the true life of a born-again Christian.  She began spreading the news of God’s love everywhere she went, speaking to more and more people.  At one time she had doubts about her role as a public speaker because of what some people were saying about her past backsliding. She knew that God had forgiven her for all of her past transgressions, yet some people still hardened their hearts and refused to forgive or forget.  In time she reached the understanding that her faith in God had become even more powerful because of both her past and present problems. Armed with this understanding, she learned to move on with her life, but always remember in prayer those who would seek to tear her down.

 

In 1955 she moved to Houston to be near she united with Sunny Grove Church of God in Christ under the leadership of Elder O.L. Eleby.

 

After a year or so she was asked to work with Mother Tessie Woods and Mother Annie Wilcots on the Mother’s Board.  She was busy serving and helping to carry on the word of God by demonstrating it thru Love, Kindness and concern for others.  In those times she was call sister or mother Larkins. Later she became a believer of the Apostolic faith and was baptized by Elder Thurman Pierce and wife Evangelist Romina Pierce according to Acts 2:38 and became a member of Holland Quarters Pentecostal Church.  Elder Pierce later passed away. The Bishop at that time told Evangelist Pierce to carry on until he said different.  But after a few years member was few and Evangelist Pierce was driving from Marshall, Texas each and every Sunday.  Evan. Pierce came to her and asked who she though would be a good Minister to call upon.  After thinking it over she came to the conclusion that Elder and Sis. Henry O. Blanton of Henderson, Texas would be a good candidate.  She was asked to contact the Blanton.  She sent word by another pastor.  This is where and how the birth of Zion Apostolic Church was established.

 

In 1978 she received her local Evangelist License from the Longview District Office through recommendation from Evangelist Romina Pierce, District Elder Noel Jones signed the License.  In 1980 she received a higher level of Evangelist License from the office of the P. A. of W., Inc.  While visiting relatives on Omaha, she met Parmer Anderson a member of Apostolic Church of the Lord Jesus Christ.  She later married Parmer and moved to Omaha after attending services she was asked by Elder Joseph P. Foster, pastor of the church to join his ministers group.  Like a good Christian she accepted and later was ask to teach the children Sunday School Class.  The church needed a teacher and she then was voted to be Vice President of the Pastor’s Aids Committee.  She was also asked to work with the Mission’s Department.  She was a former florist designer so she made flower arrangement for different groups and individuals. Most of the members and children alike started calling her Mother Anderson. Most of the parents of the children she taught told her she could do more with their children than they themselves could.

 

In 1985 she moved back to Carthage from Omaha NE, then in 1996 she moved to Livingston and united with Livingston Church of God in Christ under the supervision of Supt. Rayford A. Chimney. Evangelist Mandy Anderson is a blessing and we thank God for her.  Throughout her long years of service, her life has remained firmly focused on God. She remains enthusiastic in her commitment to spread the news of God’s love.  Despite a long list of accomplishments, she sees her life work as incomplete and remains dedicated to serving God.  I have heard it said more than once, “If her car will run, she will be there – and her car always run.”  However, I have never heard it said without a smile and the affection is obvious in the heart of the speaker.

 

Mandy is an energetic, positive, take-charge type of person.  She takes charge because she cares and because she often finds herself in situations where leadership is lacking.  The ability to lead is her gift from God.  Although some may grumble that her gift of leadership is sometimes a little too much of a good thing, none will deny that when she takes charge, it is always in the name of Jesus.

 

Mandy is a caregiver and in that role she has been a positive force in so many lives.  Because she cares, she is committed to seeking the best for everyone involved.  That commitment brings purpose and focus to her life.  Never content just talking about God’s love, Mandy has always been willing to use her own time and resources to show people just how much Jesus loves and cares for them. No one can doubt Mandy’s commitment to the church as a whole and to the Panola County churches that brought her to an early knowledge of Christ.  Whenever a need has presented itself, the children of Zion Apostolic Church have always been able to depend on “Cousin” Mandy.  If there is a special event and she gets the word, she will be there.  She will be on time whether she has to drive from as far away as her home in Livingston or as close as her home here in Carthage.  Zion Apostolic Church has her prints all over it, even back to the days when the structure was known as Holland Quarters Pentecostal Church.  She was baptized by Elder Thurman Pierce and his wife Evangelist Romina Johns-Pierce in accordance with Acts 2:38 “Then Peter said to them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.”

 

Mandy is a good Christian, a loyal friend and a contributing member of many community churches.  She is a devoted evangelist, loving mother, grandmother, great grandmother and great-great grandmother.  All you have to do is look at Mandy’s face and know where she stands on an issue and she never hesitates to let you know her purpose and goals on earth.  Mandy is a person who has not allowed age to make her an old person (she never grows old because she always had a reason to live for God).  She never looses her self-values, she always had a clear reason for being and she never sank into despair (she holds on to God love). She has worked her way through many tribulation of this world and stayed alive-vitally alive-by clinging tightly to her faith in God.

 

Mandy has invested her life in others.  Life comes as we give it away, the scripture is clear about this, Malachi tells us in the 3rd chapter, “God will pour down for you an overflowing blessing.”   That doesn’t necessarily mean that God will give us material things, but that God will give us life.

 

The nearest thing to death is when there is no meaningful purpose for which to live.  Although her life has not always been an easy one, Many have never reached such a low point that she felt her life had no meaning.  Secure in the knowledge that she is safe in the arms of Jesus, she has always had a reason for getting up in the morning with a song in her heart and for going to bed at night with a prayer on her lips.  She never hesitates to thank God for giving her His blessings of life, health and strength.  The road of life has been a long, winding one for Mandy.  It has taken her to places and given her experiences that she could never have dreamed possible when she was growing up in Panola County.  Just as a tiny acorn grows into a spreading oak tree, so has Mandy grown from a small child to a well-known spiritual leader.  And like an oak tree whose roots run deep, she has stood firm in the commitment of Christ.

In March 2003, her health is being questioned because of her age. But as she stated in a letter to me “I am feeling well, I thank the Lord for that, I know I am not physically well in my body but I am not in pain”.