The House of Peace Worship Center International held appreciation services for Apostle Linda Sweezer-Rowster and First Man Timothy Rowster Friday night in Rolling Fork, celebrating 29 years of service and the celebration will continue Sunday.

With Friday’s pre-celebration service dubbed “A Night of Praise and Worship,” the celebration service itself – “A Day of Appreciation and Celebration” – will kick off Sunday at 2 p.m. at 1301 Holly Street in Vicksburg with guest speaker Pastor Miachel Jackson of Christian House of Prayer in Jackson.

Sweezer-Rowster is the founder and senior pastor of the House of Peace Worship Church International. In April 2022, she became an executive producer and filmed a movie, “Grace Wins.” The movie is now completed, and she has an accompanying book, “Poetry from the Movie Grace Wins.”

She is married to Bro. Tim Rowster, and has two children, Prophet Anthony Sweezer and Prophetess Ann Sweezer Rogers. She is the grandmother of Harmonie Sweezer.

Born the youngest child in a family of 10 to the late Bessie Dillard and the late Alfred Dillard Jr. in Vicksburg, she was saved at the tender age of 10.

She was called into the Gospel ministry on February 5, 1995; ordained in 1997; and ordained again in 2006 by Bishop T.D. Jakes of Dallas at The Potter’s House International. She was called to pastor and founded The House of Peace Worship Church in December 2001. It is known as “the Church Where the Holy Spirit is in Charge.” In May 2006, she was led to extend the church to the Rolling Fork area, and in 2015, the church was again extended to Atlanta.

On July 23, 2011, she was affirmed and consecrated as an apostle. She holds a doctorate degree in theology. A playwright for more than 38 years, she has written, produced and directed 16 major productions, as well as authored the book “Eating Along the Way! A Survivor’s Guide for People Who are Serious About Hearing God’s Call.”

Since 2015, Sweezer-Rowster has been operating Grace Through Faith School of Ministry. It is a school of theology where her teaching gift of the five-fold ministry gifts flows freely, church members said. The school operates year-round, is open to the public via video conferencing, and offers various levels of degrees, from certificates to bachelor’s degrees to doctorate degrees. She is the former co-owner of Christian Books and More, the CEO of The Peace Place Counseling Services, the former director of the House of Peace Feeding and Tutoring Program in Vicksburg and Rolling Fork, and former owner of the Peaceful Place Daycare and After School Program.

In November 2018, she received the Women Empowering Communities Ministry Leader Award by Mountain of Faith Ministries. In 2017, she was awarded the Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. “Pioneer of the Dream Award” and is one of the Founding Members (33 years) of the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial Day Committee.

Other achievements include recognition by the Honorable Rep. Benny G. Thompson, and being listed in the Congressional Record and proceedings of the 114th United States Congress; appointed board member of the United Way of West Central Mississippi (2011-2014); former director of The House of Peace Substance Abuse Prevention Program; appointed to the Election Commission from 2005-2020. Sweezer-Rowster is a member of the Mission Mississippi Pastoral Alliance; two times appointed to the City of Vicksburg Civil Service Commission; a licensed social worker for 16 years; chosen by the Ivyettes of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc. as one of the Religious Role Models; Outstanding Young Women of America; Woman of Excellence Award in Art and Literature; honored as a Local Recipient of 100 Black Women; recognized as a Distinguished African-American by St. Mark Freewill Baptist Church; nominated as one of the 50 Leading Business Women of America; a scholarship was given in her name by Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity at the Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Breakfast; appointed to the
Vicksburg Warren School District Advisory Council. She is a former member of the Board of Directors for WWISCAA (Warren Washington Issaquena Sharkey Community Action Agency). Sweezer-Rowster was elected case manager for the Municipal Domestic Violence Court and elected to the Board of the Mississippi Coalition Against Domestic Violence. Most recently, she was awarded “The Voice” award and the “Celebrate Her” award.