Leon Otto Stewart was born December 5, 1929, in Pineville, Florida. He went to be with the Lord at age 94 on Saturday morning, November 2, 2024, in Atmore, Alabama.
Leon was one of four children born to John Wesley and Susie Ann (Allen) Stewart. His father was a pioneer pastor who joined the Alabama Conference of the Pentecostal Holiness Church in 1932. His siblings included two brothers, Curtis Odell and Robert Alton, and one sister, Ruby Nell, all of whom preceded him in death.
Leon accepted Christ as his Savior on October 31, 1947, at the Pentecostal Holiness Church in Enon, Florida. Two years later, at the River Springs Campground in Alabama, he received God’s call into the ministry. He was licensed as a minister in 1950 and ordained in 1952.
Besides earning a Bachelor of Theology degree from Holmes Bible College, Greenville, South Carolina, Leon Stewart was awarded an honorary Doctor of Letters from Bethany Nazarene College (now Southern Nazarene University), Bethany, Oklahoma. He was also presented several other honorary doctorates from various institutions. He was the “first graduate of Holmes to head the church.”
While a student at Holmes, Leon met Donna Marie Dooley, a Virginia girl who would become the love of his life. They were married in September 1952 at the Pentecostal Holiness Church in Piedmont, Virginia. Besides his commitment to Christ, his second devotion was always to “Miss Donna.” When asked what he would do without her, he was heard to reply, “I would go find her.” She preceded him in death on March 4, 2023, in Mobile, Alabama.
The Stewarts have two daughters, Dianne and Denise, two granddaughters, Karen Marie and Lara Noel, and three great grandsons, Ben, Eli, and Ash.
Though Leon Stewart was visually impaired for most of his adult life, the constituency of the International Pentecostal Holiness Church (IPHC) recognized and honored his spiritual insight and leadership skills by electing him to both conference and general offices. The Stewarts served the Alabama Conference as pastor, Christian Education Director, and Conference Superintendent from 1952 to 1969. During that time, he also served as Assistant General Lifeliners (youth ministry) Director (1959-1969).
Delegates to the 1969 General Conference elected Leon Otto Stewart as Assistant General Superintendent and Executive Director of Evangelism. In 1977, he was selected as Vice Chairman of the denomination. Then, in 1981, he was elected as the movement’s eleventh General Superintendent. He served in the office as Bishop–the church’s highest elected position––for eight years (1981-1989), which was the maximum period allowed by the Statute of Limitations.
“The administration of Leon Stewart was one devoted to making long-range plans for growth and development in the United States and around the world.” In his first term as General Superintendent, he launched a denominational church growth plan known as Target 2000, making the IPHC the first Pentecostal denomination with concrete goals for the year 2000. He also commissioned Mrs. Lila Isaac, former Women’s Ministries president, and his wife, Donna Stewart, to develop a mission statement for the IPHC.
In his second term as General Superintendent, Bishop Stewart started periodic, eight-hour prayer meetings with conference officials, which, he says, was one of the most meaningful actions he took as General Superintendent. These prayer meetings led to the launching of a churchwide emphasis on intercessory prayer called the “World Intercession Network” (WIN).
Other significant accomplishment during Bishop Stewart’s administration was the revitalization of the Children’s Center in Bethany, Oklahoma, and the reinstatement of Administrator Albert Gray; the establishment of Men’s Fellowship (later renamed Men’s Ministries) as a functioning department for laymen; and the withdrawal of military chaplains’endorsements from the National Association of Evangelicals. In its place, Bishop Stewart formed an IPHC military chaplains’ endorsement program.
Following his retirement from general office, Bishop Stewart served for a year as president of Southwestern College (now known as Southwestern Christian University). Then the Stewarts returned to Alabama and accepted the pastorate of the Pineview PH Church, which he deems as his “most meaningful and fulfilling ministry.” He retired from the pastorate in 2003, but he continued to preach for years by invitation.
Leon Stewart authored three fiction works, including Too Late (Advocate Press, 1958), The Preacher (AmErica House, 2001), and The Betrayal (Xulon Press, 2006). He also served as editor of Prep, a Sunday school teaching magazine; Witness, an evangelism magazine; and served as editor in chief of the denominational journal, The International Pentecostal Holiness Advocate (1981-89).
Bishop Leon Otto Stewart’s life motto was simply, “Live for Others.”
https://www.johnsonquimby.com/obituary/leon-stewart
