[Congressional Record Volume 155, Number 70 (Thursday, May 7, 2009)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1093]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]


PAYING TRIBUTE TO THE CHURCH OF OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST OF THE APOSTOLIC 
               FAITH OF HARLEM ON THEIR 90TH FOUNDERS DAY

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                         HON. CHARLES B. RANGEL

                              of new york

                    in the house of representatives

                         Thursday, May 7, 2009

  Mr. RANGEL. Madam Speaker, it is with great honor and enthusiasm that 
I rise to congratulate Chief Apostle Bishop William L. Bonner and the 
Church of Our Lord Jesus Christ of the Apostolic Faith of Harlem for 
organizing its 90th Pre-Centennial Founders Day at the Greater Refuge 
Temple in honor of founder, Bishop Robert Clarence Lawson.
  To speak of the Church of Our Lord Jesus Christ as an organization is 
to speak of its illustrious and dynamic founder, the late apostle, 
Bishop Robert C. Lawson, D.D., LL.D. We can safely say that God made 
His choice to use this dedicated man to work His divinely inspired plan 
for this great organization. For it was by his Herculean effort and 
prolific preaching and the mastery of the inspired scriptures that 
Bishop Lawson, with tenacity and determination hewed from the villages, 
cities, towns and hamlets, the dynamic organization known as the Church 
of Our Lord Jesus Christ of the Apostolic Faith Inc.
  It was in the year of 1914 when Mr. Lawson accepted the word of God 
and was baptized in the name of Jesus and received the Holy Ghost. A 
supernatural event took place in his life, namely the miraculous 
healing of his body from consumption. This occurrence was stamped 
indelibly upon him and played a major part in the shaping of his 
inspired faith healing ministry.
  By his own testimony we learned that Bishop Lawson was divinely 
called by the Lord through a whirlwind, hearing the voice of God saying 
``Go Preach My Word! I mean you! I mean you! I mean you! Go preach My 
Word.''
  The Church of Our Lord Jesus Christ had its inception in the year 
1919. Bishop Lawson, then Elder Lawson was invited to a prayer meeting, 
which was in progress in a basement in the 40th Street area of New York 
City. So energetic was his service to the Lord, that his fame spread 
abroad and reached the ears of Mr. and Mrs. James Burleigh and Mr. and 
Mrs. Edward Anderson. These two blessed couples opened their homes to 
Elder Lawson and their home today is affectionately thought of as the 
``Cradle of the Church of Our Lord Jesus Christ''.
  Within a short period of time, the congregation outgrew its place of 
worship, having approximately 200 members, and larger quarters had to 
be sought. Bishop Lawson purchased the site at 52-54-56 West 133 Street 
and relocated his thriving church. It was there that his vision was 
enlarged and the Lord laid upon his heart to conduct a tent revival and 
great numbers were added to the church.
  The clarion call for our illustrious leader came on Sunday, July 2, 
1961, and Bishop Lawson a prince of preachers, the Bible Answer man, 
God's shining star departed this life. The words of our famed pioneer 
and Apostle are still resounding in our ears: ``Add Thou To It, Add 
Thou To It,'' and the answer comes from the Church of Our Lord Jesus 
Christ, we will, we shall, we have.

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