Bishop Bervick A. Spell Passes Away at 92; Founded Life Tabernacle; A Life of Service

Rev. Bervick Atward Spell

Apostolic Ministers Fellowship

1930 to 2022

  Rev. B. A. Spell was born on January 7, 1930, in the small town of Eunice, LA, to Tony and Floy Spell. In 1939, at the age of nine, Bervick was baptized in Jesus’ name, and was filled with the Holy Ghost.  

His home church was the United Pentecostal Church in Richie, LA, and his first pastor was Brother Henry Dunn. Bishop Spell recalled as a child how his parents were poor, and money was scarce in those days. His father would turn out the old oil burning lamps early, in order to make the oil last as long as it could. Then he would gather his wife and children around him, and have devotions, and pray before going to bed. Things such as this instilled deep into the heart of young Bervick the desire to walk with God and to learn of His ways.

  Also in 1939, he first met a young eight-year-old girl named Dorothy Brown. They went to church together, played together, and fought as children, but on June 22, 1947, they were united in holy matrimony! Their pastor, Brother J. S. Hoyt performed the ceremony at the Richie Pentecostal Church. To this union was born seven children. Afterwards, they settled in Eunice but still attended the church in Richie.

In 1950, Brother Spell went into business as a part owner and manager of the Piggly Wiggly Grocery store in Eunice where he worked until 1953. In 1953, at the age of twenty-three he received his call to preach. 

His first sermon was from the book of Isaiah, where the prophet said, “Here am I, send me.” This historical occasion took place in Church Point, LA. 

In 1954 he was ordained by S. L. Wise at Tioga, LA. It was also during this same year that he became affiliated with the United Pentecostal Church organization.

The first church that he pastored was the First Pentecostal Church in Pine Prairie, LA. He took the church in 1953, and stayed one year. His second church was the First Pentecostal Church in Turkey Creek, LA. He held this position for five years, from 1954 until 1959. 

On November 1, 1959, Brother Spell moved his family to West Baton Rouge Parish and started the First Pentecostal Church in Port Allen. This was a home missions outreach. 

He began services in an old store-front building on Rosedale and 12th Street. In this same year, Brother Crawford Coon preached the first revival for the church, and a great number received the baptism of the Holy Ghost.

In 1965, a tremendous revival broke out as a young evangelist named Verbal Bean came to Port Allen with a burden for souls on his heart. Brother Bean felt like God was going to give him a one hundred soul revival, but he had no confirmation as to where it would take place. When the confirmation came that Port Allen was the place, God began to move. It was a mighty revival that lasted for 14 weeks. During this time, 106 people received the Holy Ghost. In 1968, the church purchased ten acres on Plank Road and built a new sanctuary and Sunday School department. That same year, Brother Spell started the Robert Livingston Academy with grades 1-12. The school enrolled 430 students and remained open until 1978.

Rev. Spell founded and faithfully pastored Life Tabernacle Church from 1959 to 2009.

From 1970 until 1972, the church experienced a series of revivals, and the congregation doubled in size. In 1979, a spacious new 1,200-seat sanctuary was built. 

The year 1968 was the beginning of the annual July camp-meeting held at Life Tabernacle. Elder Bill Buie was the first camp evangelist for this historical occasion. In 1985, another sanctuary was built. 

In 1968, he became a charter member in the formation of the Apostolic Minister’s Fellowship (AMF).

When asked the name of someone he most admired, his reply was, “The late Verbal W. Bean”. When asked why? Brother Spell answered, “Because of the impact that Brother Bean left upon my life. Brother Bean was a praying man, a dedicated warrior for God. He was uniquely different. What he said held value and depth. He was no stranger to the things of God, and he died as he lived…walking with and serving God.” 

When asked what he most wanted to be remembered for? He replied, “Mission work, both foreign and home”.

In 1960, Rev. Spell opened his first Christian bookstore and called it Lifeway Book and Gift. He went on to own and operate 9 stores. The largest one was opened in 1965 in Cortana Mall, in Baton Rouge. That same year he was elected the first president of the Merchants Association. He received a Doctorate of Divinity, a Doctorate of Philosophy, and a Doctorate of Theology. He authored his own biography “Spellbound”. He built numerous churches around the world.

He is preceded in death by Dorothy Elizabeth Brown Spell, his wife of 70 years. After serving his generation so faithfully, on February 19, 2022, Bishop Spell fell on sleep.

He will always be remembered as a model of the Apostolic-Pentecostal.  He was a “Living Legend” of the Oneness movement.

Audio and Video recordings of Elder B.A. Spell are available in the audio/video library of the Apostolic Archives International.