Dr. Lonnie R. Rex. Dr. Rex has served the International Pentecostal Holiness Church and the Pentecostal community at large for his entire life.
In 1958, Lonnie Rex was the first investor into the IPHC Extension Loan Fund, purchasing a 100 dollar certificate (pictured below). From that initial investment, the Loan Fund has grown to assets of 55 Million Dollars and has helped over 950 churches purchase land and church facilities.
Lonnie Royce Rex was born in Caddo, Oklahoma, on May 11, 1928, to Robert L. and Lennie Cordie Rex. Robert L. turned 18 years of age two days before Lonnie was born so they both felt they grew up together and always had a very close relationship. Not long after Lonnie was born this young family moved to Oklahoma City and then Enid where his dad took his first fulltime pastorate. While in Enid, at the age of nine, Lonnie contracted polio in one leg. The struggle to recover from polio was intense and he eventually had to have the one leg shortened which left him with a permanent limp. He later stated that he felt this experience with polio helped to shape his life and ministry. It gave him the concern and compassion needed for the many humanitarian works he accomplished.
In 1981, Lonnie formed the David Livingstone Missionary Foundation and through this organization he worked in almost every country establishing schools, hospitals, orphanages, feeding programs, and disaster/humanitarian relief to name a few. He connected with world leaders such as Pope John Paul II, Mother Teresa, Mikhail Gorbachev, Presidents George H. W. Bush and Ronald Reagan, John Osteen, Vladimir V Putin, to name a few.
Following retirement Lonnie and Betty moved to Spring, Texas where they became involved with Glorious Way Church. Lonnie also became involved with the Independent Christian Churches International and became Bishop Emeritus. He was instrumental in other ministries including the formation of Moms Against Hunger and the Community Bible Institute. He was also serving as a board member of the Oral Robert’s Evangelistic Association.
Lonnie is survived by his wife, Betty Louise, and three children: Royce DeWayne Rex, Patricia Louise Carnes (David), and Debra Kaye Parker (Cliff). They have 10 grandchildren: Ryan Rex, Greg Rex, Summer Rex, and Steve Rex (Nikki); Patrick Carnes (Angel); and Mitchell Bowen, Garrett Bowen (Jilliane), Connor Bowen, Cory Parker (Amanda) and Philip Parker (Kymberly) plus twelve great grandchildren. A sister, LaDonna Scott, also survives with three children: Kimberly Rice (Stephen), Kristen Welch (Jerry), and Kyle Scott (Anitra) and eight great nieces and nephews.