The McDowell times. [volume] (Keystone, W. Va.) 1904-1941, 1938-10-21
New York, Oct. IL (C.)-An-

4NCW AOihs OCI. Il \O.)-AH-
other Radio Preacher" is loom
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,
Sc West 133rd street, in the
heart Of the slums, has nearly
5000 members, and goes on the
tir twice weekly, Sunday at 9:45
P. m. n d Monday morning at
900 a. M, over WBNX. These
broadcasts bring in huge stacks
of fan mail, and recently a
white woman in North Carolina
was converted over the air.
Sunday night services find
the main auditorium of the
church, which seats 1000, filled
to overlooking, the basement
rooms packed and large crowds
stand in the street where they
can hear the services over a
loud-speaker. Bishop Lawson, a
dynamis preacher with a power
full voice, brings a message of
everyday living to his flock. He
teachers thrift, business and
work. He includes this practic-
al training with his spiritual
teahings.
Looking over the audience a
visitor sees some professional
and bushes men and women,
while the majority of the eager
pople, of the honest and fearless
faces are thos of plain working
typn. The wide-eyed neurotic
and fanatical type is obviously
not part of this magnetic lead
er.
Bishop Lawson explains his
success by saying that he
breaches the word of God, in
that l teach people how best to
live every day. None of my
people go hungry, or get sick
without attention, or have to beg
money to bury their dead. We
help those who are in need, but
we also teach them how to be
self-supporting."
To support this practical
conception, there is sewing
room for women, where every
phrase of sewing is taught at
the hurch, including power ma
chine work. There is a printing
shop, where all the literature of
the church is printed; there is a
grocery store, beauty parlor, a
funeral home, and life insurance
protection. All building, repair
ing and renovating and even all
skilled work is done by MEMBERS
of the church, who are given
standard wages.
Bishop Lawson is pastor of 2
Churches, the second at 254
Green ave, Brooklyn. There
is to be an old fashioned revival
SERVES at both churches this
week, and Rev. J. M. Tolbert, of
Boston preaching at the Harlem
church, and Rev. G. H. Bennett
at the Brooklyn church.
There are four choirs in h e
Harlem church, two of which
sing on Sunday nights. An or
chestra also plays during the
services, although there is a
$4,000 pipe organ in the church.
The theme song of the church
as it goes on the air is "Cheer
the Weary Traveller" Expenses
of the broadcasts are donatde by
listeners from all sections.
Special messages are sent out
over the ether waves to shut ms
and those who are unable to at
tend services.
Plans for enlarging the church
have begun with the acquiring
OF property in the rear, where
there is now low cost cafeteria
owned by the churh. This will
be torn down and regular adj
dition to the church built.
There is a school in connec-
ton with the Church, The In
dustrial Union Institute and
Training Schools of Southern
Pines, N. c., where children are
boarded and taught for 81 per
week. Students from 6 to 16 are
taken in, for training.
Bishop Lawson takes pride in
the fact that his new promin-
ence Ger the radio finds him with
a regular church program in full
swing, so that all who flock to
his banner can march along
with the others who are already
l~s.,-- ILL ~