The Dayton forum. [volume] (Dayton, Ohio) 1913-1949, 1938-10-14
JR

other Radio Preacher is looming
large on Harlem's spiritual horizon
and is winning souls on the air.
Bishop r. G. Lawson, pastor of the
Refuge Church of Christ Of the
Apostolic Faith, 56 West l33d
street, III the heart Of the "slums',
has nearly 5000 members, and goes
on the air twice weekly, Sunday at
s.s5 r. M. and Monday morning at
q A. M. over WBNX. These broad
casts bring in huge stacks Of fan
mail, and recently white woman IN
N rtf Carolina was converted over
the air.
Sunday night services find the
main auditorium of the church,
which seats 900, filled to overflow
ing, the basement rooms packed and
large crowds stand in the street
where they can hear the services
over loudspeaker. Bishop lawson,
q dynamic preacher with a powerful
voice, brings u message of every day
living to his flock. He teaches
thrift. business and work He in
cludes this rrac ical training with
his spiritual teachings.
I,ooleirr over the audience q visitor
sees some professional and business
men and women, while the majority
Of the eager faces are those Of plaln
working people, Of the honest ana
fearless type. The wide-eyed, neu-
rotic. and fanaticaI type Is obviously
not part If the following Of thls
magnetic leader,
Bishop Lawson explains his success
by saying that he breaches the
world Of God, III that teach people
how best s I've every day None Of
my people g, hungry, or get sick
without attention, or have 70 beg
money 10 bury their dead. We heir
those who are il need, bat we also
teach them how to be self-support
inp.'
TO support this practical concep-
ton, there is u sewing room for wo-
men, where every phase Of sewing is
taught at the church, including pow
e. machine work. There is print
shop, where all the literature Of the
church IL printed; there Is grocery
store, beauty parlof, d funeral home
and life insurance protection. AL
building, repairing and renovating,
and even skilled work Is done by
members Of the church, who are
given standard wages.
Bishop Lawson Il pastor 81 two
churches, the second it 254 Green
avenue, Brooklyn. There i to be
an old fashioned revival service al
both churches this week, with Rev.
]. N Tolbert of Boston preaching
at the Harlem church, and Rev. G.
H. Bennett III the Brooklyn church.
There are four ehoifs in the Har-
lem church, gwo Oh which sing on
Sunday nights An orchestra also
plays during the services, although
there is 4 $4,000 pipe organ il the
church The theme song Of the
church as II goes on the air ii Cheer
the Weary Traveller" Expenses Of
the broadcasts are donated by listen
ers from All sections. Special mes
sages are sent cut oyer the ether
waves 70 shut ins and those who are
unable to attend services.
Plans for onlarging the church
have begun with the acquiring Of
the property IN the rear, where there
is now 4 low-cost cafeteria owned
by the church, This viii be torn
down and i regular addition to the
church built.
There is school IN connection
with the church program, the Indus
trial Union institute and Training
School Of Southern Pines, N. G.,
where children are boarded and
taught for $4 per week Students
from 6 to is are taken in for train
ing.
Bishop Lawson .akes pride in the
fact that his new prominence over
the radio finds him with a regular
church program in full swing, 50.
that all who flock to his banner can.
march along with others who are
already doing things for the im-
proyement Of the practical as well as
+. l,fa