Greater Life United Pentecostal Church

Darryl Wilson

Pastor Darryl Wilson was born again of the water and of the Spirit more than 40 years ago. He was baptized by immersion in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ in January of 1980, and was later filled with the baptism of the Holy Spirit, speaking in other tongues, in February of 1980. He received his call to the ministry a couple of years later. Laboring almost exclusively at the Apostolic Church in Belleville, Illinois, Darryl served in many capacities for over three decades. During his tenure at the Apostolic Church, he performed a host of duties, from clean-up crew to teaching adult and teen Sunday school, preaching, teaching, leading praise and worship and serving as both a deacon and a trustee. Darryl was given great liberty and support while serving under two of Belleville's distinguished pastors, Rev. G. E. Switzer, and Rev. George Szabolcsi. In 1986, Darryl completed the A.C.T.S. class, a 12-month, ministerial training program that featured coursework from Jackson College of Ministries. Later, Darryl went on to assume the role of facilitator of the A.C.T.S. class, and taught the next couple of waves of the Belleville church's aspiring ministers in two subsequent iterations of the program. After ministering in various offices for more than a quarter century, and upon receiving the encouragement of the sitting-pastor of the Apostolic Church, Darryl sought and received his Local License with the United Pentecostal Churches International in November of 2009. Almost three years later, he took the next step and was granted a General License with the UPCI in June of 2012. Pastor Wilson holds both a B.A. in Advertising and Marketing Communications, and a Certificate in Web Development from Webster University. He graduated with departmental honors from the Webster School of Communications, and was one of four graduates singled out for special recognition at the commencement ceremony. Darryl is also a commercial artist, having worked in the graphics and advertising industry for more than 30 years. Pastor and First Lady Patricia Wilson were married in April of 1979, and just celebrated their 40th anniversary in April of 2019. They are the proud parents of four + two adult children, and have been blessed with eight natural grandchildren, three non-blood grandchildren that they enthusiastically claim, and one great-grandchild. In early 2014, the pre-pastor Wilson, accepted the invitation to come and minister to the flock at Greater Life Church in Alton, IL. In August of 2014, after a few months of preaching, teaching and strengthening the hand of Pastor Robert L. Bolinger, Rev. Wilson was voted in as associate pastor by the membership. Following the retirement of the venerated pastor Bolinger, Pastor Wilson assumed the pastorate of Greater Life Church, and began serving in January of 2015.