Robert C. Lawson
| Robert Clarence Lawson | |
|---|---|
| Born |
May 5, 1883 New Iberia, Louisiana, USA |
| Died | July 2, 1961 (aged 78) New York City, USA |
| Other names | Robert C. Lawson |
| Education | Howe Institute in Louisiana |
| Spouse(s) | Carrie Fields Lawson (1914-her death) , Evelyn K Lawson Beards, ( ? -1961) |
| Children | Nathaniel, Robert Jr., David; Meatta, Jepthalyn |
| Parent(s) | Rev. William Lawson and Clara Lawson |
| Church | Founded the Refuge Church of Christ which became the Church of Our Lord Jesus Christ of the Apostolic Faith |
| Ordained | Pentecostal Assemblies of the World |
|
Congregations served
|
Church of Christ of the Apostolic Faith, Columbus Ohio; Refuge Temple, Harlem, New York |
| Title | Bishop |
Robert Clarence Lawson was born on May 5, 1883 in New Iberia, Louisiana. His parents died when he was very young and he was raised by an aunt, Peggy Fraser, during his early childhood.
Lawson had no plans to enter the ministry, he did have plans to become a lawyer and businessman. After attending Howe Institute in Louisiana, Lawson traveled throughout the United States, becoming a cabaret singer and gambling and hustling when he had the chance.
In 1913, Lawson was stricken ill while in the Midwest and was diagnosed with tuberculosis. At that time, this diagnosis was tantamount to a death sentence, and doctors felt that nothing could be done to save his life.
While in the hospital, Lawson was ministered to by an elderly woman whose son was hospitalized in the same room. A “Holy Ghost Woman”, as he described her, who urged him to start praying. She belonged to the Apostolic faith Assembly pastored by Elder G. T. Haywood.
In later life, Lawson enjoyed telling the story of his call of God to the ministry: “As I was kneeling beside the bed saying my prayers, suddenly there entered the room the presence of God in a whirlwind. This presence enveloped me while I lay upon my bed, and the voice of God Spoke out of a whirlwind in words I distinctly heard, saying, ‘Go preach my word, I mean you…I mean you…I mean YOU. Go preach my word’.”
A short time later, the frail young man was healed and followed his divine orders by heading the Apostolic Faith Assembly in Indianapolis and becoming baptized.
When Lawson first became “saved”, he belonged to a Pentecostal church.
That year Lawson founded the Refuge Church of Christ in 1919, after the members of a prayer band in Harlem welcomed him and turned their meetings over to him. That small church grew and became known as Refuge Temple, and, later, the Greater Refuge Temple. At its height, the enterprise on 133rd Street contained a grocery store, a bookstore, record and radio shop, and daycare. In the basement of the church was a complete printing office where many tracts, booklets, and songs were published.
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Wikipedia