INTERNATIONAL USHER BOARD
HISTORY
In 1960, the idea was conceived by Evangelist Victoria Thrash of Los Angeles, California to formulate a National Usher Board for the Pentecostal Assemblies of the World, Incorporated. The mission of the Usher Board is to meet, greet, seat and accommodate the overall comfort of worshippers in the House of the Lord with the purpose of minimizing distractions while maximizing their worship experience. The objective is to work in cooperation with the Presiding Bishop during convention sessions and to secure the uniformity of usher signs globally throughout the Usher Boards of the District Councils of the P.A.W., Inc.
In 1965, District Elder William L. Smith of Los Angeles, California presented a resolution to the Board of Bishops to organize a National Usher Board. During the Jubilee convention held in Indianapolis, Indiana in 1966, the National Usher Board was officially organized. The Board began to serve during the annual national conventions which lasted up to 12 days.
The newly appointed officers were as follows:
President - Evangelist Victoria Thrash
1st Vice President - Sister Jannie Fitzgerald
2nd Vice President - Sister Vivian Williams
Recording Secretary - Sister Bernice Tombs
Corresponding Secretary/Treasurer - Sister Margaret Bryant
Chaplain - Sister Ellen Moore Hopkins
Historian - Brother Joseph Kemolt
Parliamentarian - District Elder Heron L. Johnson
Minister Representative - District Elder William Smith
Board of Bishop Appointee - Bishop William Crossley
In order for the Ushers to effectively serve, in 1967, Evangelist Victoria Thrash authored and published the first Ushers Manual for the P.A.W. that included Ushering Techniques, Illustrations and Questions and Answers along with a Leadership Study Guide for Presidents.
In 1974, the National Usher Board's name was changed to the International Usher Board of the P.A.W., Inc. and held general elections every three years. Business sessions were conducted one day during the convention and usher drill sessions were conducted daily.
The IUB held its first convention in St. Louis, Missouri in March 1976 at the Lively Stone Church of God, Bishop P.L. Scott, host pastor. Other IUB conventions were held at the Christ Temple Apostolic Church in Baltimore, Maryland where Bishop Willard Saunders, Sr., host pastor, and Christ Temple Pentecostal Church in New Orleans, Louisiana, District Elder James Tankerson, host pastor. These conventions were blessed occasions where Ushers from all over the country came together to learn how to effectively minister as Ushers.
In 1977, Bishop Crossley ended his tenure of office serving as IUB Director for 12 years. The IUB was granted permission to "glean" for offerings at the end of the nightly services to assist in defraying costs for our expenses. Also, the IUB recognized the untiring service of Brother and Sister Luther Wells and made them the first “honorary members” of the Board. Sister Ruth Wells was also appointed as “Mother-of-the-Board.”
In 1979, the IUB held its first Black and Gold Dinner. The Ushers were able to remove their uniforms temporarily and dress up to come together in fellowship. We no longer have the dinner annually but every 5 years to enjoy this auspious occasion.
In 1980, Pastor Victoria Thrash resigned as President and became Advisor of the IUB. Sister Jannie Fitzgerald became the new President.
While serving in office in 1981, President Jannie Fitzgerald died and Brother Louis Day became the interim President. It was also during this time that the IUB and Nurses joined together during the conventions to have all day training sessions and later to have joint worship services prior to the evening services.
In 1984, a permanent logo was made for the IUB and in 1988 all IUB members serving over 20 years would receive permanent gold cards and certificates. Churches that reported annually to the IUB also received certificates for their donations to the Board.
For several years during the annual conventions, we had drill competitions among the District Council Usher Boards. This was truly a wonderful sight to behold as the teams in their uniforms performed the task of serving while illustrating the 26 signs that we use. The District of Columbia, Delaware and Maryland District Council won the competition three consecutive times, and California and Ohio were also recipients of "The Great Trophy.”
The IUB has introduced several initiatives for our Ways and Means projects which include, but not limited to our donations for our Ushers’ Manuals, telephone directories, patrons’ lists, fans, breeze pins, handkerchiefs and annual city bus tours conducted by Sister Irene Bibbie. A video on ushers training was published by the Apostolic Church of God, Chicago, Illinois, Bishop Arthur Brazier, Pastor. Sister Barbara Trotter, who was the ACOG Usher's President, presented the idea that this video be sold during the conventions and the IUB would receive a percentage of the sales. This project was a tremendous success because it assisted Boards all over the country to use it as a training vehicle for ushering.
In 2002, the IUB conducted its first Academy which included seminars, drills and ushering techniques coordinated by Sister Jacquelyn B. Shaw. This has been a continued highlight during our annual conventions. In addition, we have added a workshop during the convention for Usher Presidents and Officers that will enhance in the organization and training for state and local boards.
During the annual convention held in Washington, D.C., the IUB contributed $1,000 for the million dollar march to assist in liquidating the debt for the P.A.W. Pentecostal Plaza project.
The IUB has had exemplary leaders during our inception who have helped to make this Board what it is today:
Pastor Victoria Thrash - 1965 - 1980
Sister Jannie Fitzgerald - 1980- 1982
Brother Louis Day - 1982 - 1989
Dr. Audrey D. Clark - 1990 - 1996
Brother Louis Day - 1996 - 1999
Sister Barbara Trotter - 1999 - 2006
Sister Jacquelyn B. Shaw - 2006 - 2010
Evangelist Nona Fortineaux - 2010 - 2018
We work collaboratively with the P.A.W. General Office Staff and Health Professionals. In this day of technology, we have computerized our financial reports and have a data base of over 400 IUB members. In gratitude for the support, special presentations are made to the District Councils who has the largest number of Ushers pre-registered; largest number of ushers in attendance and serving during the convention; and for the council that gave the largest financial support within the year.
The IUB is constantly striving for excellence in providing service to God and His great people and during the conventions we currently serve for over 50 services and accommodate thousands during our worship services. We have revised our Ushers Training Manual and added additional signs that can be used in communicating to the team while serving on the floor; we conduct daily drill sessions during the conventions; develop strategic floor plans to outline the best way to serve; appoint Regional Directors who assist in organizing and training Ushers throughout the country; publish a very informative newsletter with information received by the District Boards; conduct quarterly conference calls; institute programs to especially recognized those who have served faithfully down through the years; and provide training for the Youth in Action Department of P.A.W.
After diligently serving at the conventions, we celebrate with a "Grand March" joining with the Health Professionals during the evening offering followed by taking a group picture. For the first time and our most recent achievement is that we completed our Usher's Certification Program sponsored by Aenon Bible College and President Evangelist Nona Fortineaux was the instructor. We held our first graduation ceremony during the 2015 100th PAW celebration in Detroit, Michigan.
Elections were held in Atlanta, GA during the 103rd PAW Summer Convention. The new officers are:
President: Sister Hazel A. Lucas
Vice President: Evangelist Nona C. Fortineaux
Secretary: Sister Cassandra Freed
Treasurer: Sister Jacquelyn B. Shaw
It has been a privilege and honor for the International Usher Board to have served this great organization untiringly for over 50 years. We serve with a smile and the expectation that God will one day reward us for our service and say, "Well done good and faithful servant; thou has been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy lord."
Sister Jacquelyn B. Shaw
IUB Historian