Reverend Evelyn E. Scroggs
On November 19, 2004 the Church of God Theological Seminary inducted Reverend Evelyn E. Scroggs as the first South Carolinian lady minister into the Hall of Prophets. Her legacy of a Holy Ghost filled prayer warrior and revivalist with a supernatural ministry will be carried on by the many who God calls to His Harvest under the same Pentecostal anointing.
Evelyn E. Scroggs was born on May 2, 1928, daughter of James and Effie Edgar and the youngest of 11 children. Converted at an early age, she felt a call from God to preach when only 19. Early one morning, in a small house in Utica Mill Village, while seeking God’s direction and will for her life, Evelyn made a commitment to accept whatever God’s calling would be upon her life and to go wherever He might lead. Little did she know those words of commitment would propel her on a lifelong journey in God’s footsteps, nor did she realize the sacrifice and rewards that journey would bring to her life and the lives of her family. While asking God to speak to her through His Word, she opened her Bible to the book of Jeremiah, chapter one, verses 4 through 10. As she read God’s words of direc tion and assurance to this prophet, she felt the Hand of God touch her brow, and instantly knew she would preach the gospel as long as she had a voice to speak.
Evelyn Scroggs received her Exhorters License in the Church of God on August 7, 1953, and her Ordained License August 11, 1954. She was married for 56 years to Samuel Thomas Scroggs and God blessed their home with two daughters, Phyllis and Marcia, and one son, Gregory. They have one daughter-in-law, Marilyn, and two son-in-laws, Duane Harrell and Bill Durham. There are five grandsons: Matthew Kyle, Brandon Duane, Andrew Paul, Weston Thomas, and Daniel Kyle.
Although actively involved in her local church with ladies ministries and as a Sunday School teacher, fundraiser, personal counselor, musician, and community servant, Evelyn Scroggs’ heartbeat was evangelism and reaching the lost for Christ. In an evangelistic ministry of 55 years, she held revivals in over 150 churches in South Carolina, as well as congregations in Florida, North Carolina, Georgia, and Tennessee. She preached 3,634 sermons, had 2,656 converted, 1,298 sanctified, and 897 receive the Holy Ghost baptism. A woman who preached the Word with fervor and power, her sermons often centered on the themes of holiness, the Holy Spirit and fire, the cross, and God’s mercy, love and grace. Evelyn’s favorite scripture passage was John 3: 16 – “For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life.”
After 55 years of ministry, the voice that reached countless souls was silenced by ALS. Although her voice was gone, her lips never ceased to praise the Lord, and the joy of the Lord burned even more brightly in her radiant eyes. Evelyn Scroggs went to be with her Lord and Savior on March 10,2003.
Faithful servant, loving wife, devoted mother, proud mama, loyal friend, dedicated minister.
