Rev. Daniel Larry Cress

Brief Life History

When Daniel Larry Cress was born on November 2, 1942, in Tacoma, Pierce, Washington, United States, his father, Harry Elton Cress, was 35 and his mother, Thelma Maybelle Strong, was 30.

When he was 20 years old, He married Doris Jean Harrison the daughter of James Elven Harrison and Dorothy Mae (Barnard) Harrison on February 16, 1963, in Riverside, California, United States. Daniel and Doris were the parents of 4 sons and 2 daughters: James Daniel, Travis Elton, Kari Jean, Nathaniel Lee, Danette L, and Daniel Elton Cress.

Sometime before December 2, 1990 (Records haven't been found yet), Daniel and Doris divorced.

When he was 48 years old, He married Shawn Clarise Beauman on December 2, 1990, becoming stepfather to her son and 2 daughters: Roy, Cyndi, and Jennie Wheeler. Daniel and Shawn had no biological children together.

He preferred the name Danny, and his youngest son also named Daniel would go by Danny Boy.

Danny served in the United States Air Force at March Air Force Base in California before he married Doris. While serving in the Air Force, he became a Oneness Pentecostal Christian. Later he became a pastor and started many Oneness Pentecostal churches while working bivocationally.

Danny was also a painter, butcher, and owned an antique store. He had a knack for finding great undervalued treasures and turning a profit in his store. It has been said that he would sometimes fund family trips by "antiquing" along the way.

Danny loved the Lord and would often be found reading his Bible under the light of a lamp or passionately praying and interceding for family and friends behind a closed door with such intensity and volume that he could be heard throughout the house. One of his favorite times was reading the Christmas story to all his children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren.

His home was always furnished with beautiful antique furniture. He lived for many years in an Elizabethan style home in Boswell, OK before he moved to Antlers, OK in his later years. 

Daniel Larry Cress died on April 8, 2016, in Oklahoma, United States, at the age of 73, after his health declined rapidly following a stroke. He was buried in Boswell, Choctaw, Oklahoma, United States at Dill Family Cemetery.

Testimony Transcription

of

Rev. Daniel Larry Cress

(Nov 2, 1942 - Apr 8, 2016)

At a family gathering for Christmas in December 2014, Daniel, known affectionately to his grandchildren as Papa Danny, shared his testimony to his family. A transcription of his testimony is below as transcribed in 2023 by his grandson, Nathaniel James Cress, who was not present for this testimony but received it from videos shared on Facebook by his step-grandmother, Shawn Beauman Cress.

Testimony of Rev. Daniel Larry Cress

Everyone of you were mostly born on the pews. The most important thing in life is to serve the Lord Jesus and put Him first in your life. He will always bless you. You’re going to go through trials and tests, and the reason is to mold you into that vessel of honor that He chose you to be.

One thing about our God is He’s so patient. I’ve found out through all these years. He’s very long-suffering far more than what we give Him credit for. And I’m so thankful that He's not really a judgemental God. He doesn’t look at the outward appearance. He looks in the heart. God is a worthy God. I appreciate Him. I appreciate His mercy.

I was born in a sinner’s home. Nobody went to church. Nobody knew God in our home that I knew of. We had a Bible on the coffee table, but never, not one time was that Bible ever opened up and read.

I began to have all these dreams at 5 years old (about 1947-48). Visions of the end of the world. I hated to go to bed at night because I knew I was going to have the same dream of burning in a lake of fire. I was 5 years old dreaming that. It’s a wonder I didn’t have a nervous breakdown. I’d wake up screaming. I didn’t know anything about hell, but whatever that place was I hated to go to bed at night.

As the years went by, my dreams changed. I ran out on the porch when I was about 15 years old or maybe a little older. I ran out on the porch and the sky would be on fire and the earth would be shaking. I’d say, “Mom and Dad, it’s the end of the world! Jesus is coming!” I kept having the same dream over and over and over.

Then I went into the Air Force when I was about 18 or 19 years old (about 1960-61), and they gave us a New Testament. That’s when I began to read that New Testament while going through training. To show you how powerful the Word of God is, I could hardly wait for the night… There were 150 of us airmen in the platoon barracks. We all had these little cot beds. I got so interested in that New Testament, the Word of God, that I got my flashlight. They’d have the lights off, and I’d get under the cover and read the Word of God. I didn’t know anything about God. I didn’t know hardly anything about church.

God really began to get a hold of my heart. I remember one night I woke up and that bed was just a shaking, and I thought, “What’s wrong with me? I’m a man now. Why am I shaking like this?” I got up out of my bed and got on my knees, and I said, “God, I don’t know you, but if you’ll show me the way, I’ll live for you for the rest of my life. If there’s a real God, I’ll serve you.”

It was almost two years later (likely about 1962), I was at March Air Force Base in California (Near Riverside). I had already bought a suit. I thought you had to have a suit to go to church. Isn’t that something? I had new shoes that I had hung in my locker. On the weekends, I told God that I was going to go to some church. I didn’t know what church. Instead my friends said, “Come on, Cress. Let’s go out.” We’d go out on the weekends and get drunk. Every weekend we got drunk, and I got so convicted about it that I told myself that I’m not going to go anymore and get drunk, so I started saving my money.

Three or four months went by, and I had over $100. Now I know that may not seem like a whole lot. Back then it was. My friends in the platoon would say, “Come on. Let’s go out and drink.” I’ll never forget it. That night we had such a hangover. I remember I was so drunk, I had it coming out of my nose, and I was on the ground. I woke up the next morning. I don’t know what happened. I told myself, “God, I’ll never do that again!” I was always telling God that I’d never do that, but you know, the flesh is weak at times.

I was at the Air Force Base in California, and that’s where I got saved. This Airman was carrying a duffle bag and was on medical leave. His mom and dad were very sick. I was helping him carry his duffle bag and suitcase. I didn’t know him. I asked him where he was going. He told me he was going home. He told me about his family. He said, “Dan, I’ve got a few minutes. Let’s go get a cup of coffee.” That night I was going to see this movie, “Gone with the Wind” at March Air Force Base.

About 2 months prior to this, I saw a lady get into a 1966 yellow Cadillac. (I assume he was incorrect about the year of the Cadillac as it couldn't have been any later than 1963, and it seems he hadn't yet married Doris which was in February 1963. The lady mentioned here is not Doris, but an older married woman.) I looked at her, and I don’t know why. She just stood out, and I said, “God, whatever religion she is, that's what I want.” Never met her in all my life. That shows you the hand of God. 

Well now it’s 3 months later, and I’m walking with this guy, and he said, “Do you drink coffee?” I don’t know how we ever got on the subject of religion. He said, “If you ever get into the church that I’m in, you won’t want any other kind.” In my head I’m thinking, “Yeah, they all say that.” He said, “I’m getting out to see my folks, and I can’t go, but they’re having church tonight. Would you like to go?” It was such an experience. It was like somebody took their fist and just hit me in the chest. I opened my mouth to say, “Well, I’m going to see this movie.” The words came out of my mouth and shocked me, and I said, “I will go. I will go.” Just like that, and I said, “Well, I’ve got a suit.” He said, “I’ve got a few minutes.” We went to my room, and I got dressed. He said, “I can’t go, but there’s a woman on this base. She’s married to Major Buckland. She and her two daughters go. He’s not saved, but they go. He said, “I’ll take you over. It’s about two blocks away.” I got dressed up, and we ran over there two blocks away, and it was the same lady that I had seen several months prior, but I didn’t recognize her. He introduced me and told them I wanted to go to church. The church was about 20 miles away.

We pulled in. I heard beautiful singing. I couldn’t believe what I was hearing. The church seemed like an old barn or something. It just looked horrible on the outside. The singing was beautiful. We walked in, and I couldn’t believe it. They had a kids choir with about 30 kids. I couldn't believe they were singing like they were singing. I was looking around thinking, “What kind of people are these?” They were sitting on wood benches. The place was packed out. Then we found a place to sit. Service was already going. I can’t even remember what the sermon was about, but I felt this warmness come over me. I don’t even know what went on in the service. Of course there was a lot of shouting. The people were raising their hands and singing. Kids were laying all over the floor.

Well then the service was over. I went back out to that yellow car and it finally hit me that this was that lady I saw in the parking lot 3 months earlier. She said, “Danny, would you like to go to church tomorrow?” I said, “Oh yeah, I’d love to go!” I could hardly wait until the next night. We were there again. We barely found a place to sit. I was sitting there in that service and I felt that warmness come over me again. I thought to myself, “God, is this what you want me to have? I want it.” There it was. The preacher hadn’t given an altar. It was like if you put an ocean clamshell to your ear and you can hear. I could hear something and it was going around my heart. It was going up and down like heat. It was like an ocean. All of a sudden, I raised up. Can you imagine an Air Force guy rising up in church like that? I was raised up off that seat, and it felt like fire. It was going up and down. I could hear it around my chest. I ran down the aisle, and this thing came out of my mouth, and I began to speak in tongues. I didn’t know hardly what it was all about. Back in those days, they called us holy rollers. Well I fell on the floor, and rolled all over the front of that church speaking in tongues. I was so drunk for over two hours. That’s how I (got saved and) got the Holy Ghost. About three weeks later I was baptized in the wonderful name of Jesus. It was a turning point in my life back then. I took a lot of the Air Force guys with me. They got the Holy Ghost. Within 5 years, that church was well over 500. It just grew by leaps and bounds. Now, of course, it’s over a thousand. It’s in Riverside, California.

So that’s how I got saved, and that’s how you guys are all involved.

Then God called me to preach. I was just a young man. I couldn’t believe it. I mean, “Who am I?” I was just 20 something years old. Finally, I said yes Lord, I’ll obey you. Of course after a while I went back home (Washington state) and started a church there and baptized several hundred people. God just moved. Back in those days we saw healing; we saw miracles.

I’ve lived a wonderful life. What I’m telling y’all tonight is, “Live for God. No matter what you’re going through, a hard trial, a test, still live for and have faith in God.” He’ll bring you through it. God is faithful. He will supply your needs. The Bible says we have not because we ask not. Remember to ask God. Don’t be afraid to ask God. I’ve asked God for many things. I’ve asked God for houses. I’ve asked God for cars. I know that’s material things, but you know what? God loves you so much, he’ll give you the desires of your heart, and He knows if it’s for good or if it’s for evil. One thing I can honestly say to all you children is, “Know about Jesus Christ.” He said, “I’ll never leave you or forsake you.” I’m thankful for a God who is so true. We live in a world that’s so different. Keep serving the Lord. He’ll take you all the way.