• About Us
  • Paper Locations
  • Contact
Hispanic News || Shirley Ann Flower Shop || RS Deer Ranch
March 20, 2023
MEDIA KIT
African American News and Issues
63 °f
Houston
  • National
  • Local
  • Opinion
  • Sports
  • Education
  • Health
  • Politics
  • Announcements
  • Afram TV
  • Events
  • Entertainment
No Result
View All Result
African American News and Issues
  • National
  • Local
  • Opinion
  • Sports
  • Education
  • Health
  • Politics
  • Announcements
  • Afram TV
  • Events
  • Entertainment
No Result
View All Result
African American News and Issues
No Result
View All Result
  • AframNews Media Kit
  • About
  • Paper Locations
Home Lifestyles Arts

Living Legend: Rev. Lawson

aframnews by aframnews
May 12, 2019
in Arts
0

photo credit: Wheeler Church

74
SHARES
1.2k
VIEWS
Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
FacebookTwitterPinterestLinkedIn

HOUSTON – William A. “Bill” Lawson is Pastor Emeritus of Wheeler Avenue Baptist Church in Houston’s, Third Ward.

You might also like

Jack and Jill Preserving Black Cultural History

Art By Nato

Kelly Rowland participating in Disney Dreamers Academy’s landmark 15-year celebration

Lawson was born in St. Louis, Mo., and reared by Walter and Clarisse Lawson Cade in Kansas City, Kansas, where he graduated from Sumner High School in 1946. He earned a Bachelor of Arts in Sociology at Tennessee A & I State University of Nashville in 1950. He returned to Kansas City to attend Central Baptist Theological Seminary, which conferred upon Bachelor of Divinity and Master of Theology degrees.

While in seminary, he married Audrey Hoffman Lawson of St. Louis. The Lawsons have four children, two grandchildren, and celebrated their 61st wedding anniversary in January of 2015.

He came to Houston after graduation from seminary to serve as director of the Baptist Student Union and Professor of Bible at the new, Texas Southern University. He served in that position for ten years, also becoming director of Upward Bound, a pre-college program for high school students on the TSU campus.

During his years at TSU, a number of residents of the neighborhood persuaded the Lawson’s to establish a church near the university.

Wheeler Avenue Baptist Church was established in their home in June, 1962. The congregation has grown to over 12,000 members, with many outreach programs, and is much respected in the community.

Since the church was born and lived its infant years during the Civil Rights Movement, Lawson has been deeply involved in advocacy activities for African-Americans, Hispanics-Americans, women and the poor.

In 1996, his 50th anniversary of being a minister, the Houston community honored him with the creation of a non-profit advocacy agency called WALIPP, the William A. Lawson Institute for Peace and Prosperity. That agency has gone before public officials and bodies on behalf of the underclass, and now has established two single-gender charter schools for boys and girls. WALIPP has also constructed 50 units of apartments for seniors in Houston’s Third Ward.

Finally, the agency is pulling together community development groups, churches, civic clubs and local governments to redevelop the Third Ward, so that aggressive real estate development will not expel all who need affordable housing.

He has received honorary doctorates from Howard Payne College in Brownwood, the University of Houston and Texas Southern University. He is the author of a book of meditations called Lawson’s Leaves of Love.

Prior to Audrey’s passing in 2015, she and Lawson always worked in close partnership with the Baptist Student Union at TSU, the church during his tenure there and now with WALIPP. Rev. Lawson will celebrate his 91st birthday in June.

He retired from Wheeler Avenue Baptist Church in 2004, but remains its Founding Pastor Emeritus.

Source: Wheeler Avenue Baptist Church

Share30Tweet19
aframnews

aframnews

Recommended For You

Jack and Jill Preserving Black Cultural History

by Crystal LaShan
January 15, 2023
0
Jack and Jill Preserving Black Cultural History

Legacy, tradition, brilliance, beauty, pride, and joy are a few words that come to mind when experiencing a Jack and Jill Debutante Ball. Many people believe this tradition...

Read more

Art By Nato

by Chelsea Davis-Bibb, Ed.D.
April 29, 2022
0
Art By Nato

By Chelsea Davis-Bibb, Ed.D. Photo Credit: Renaissance Phototgraphy Recently, Douglas James, also known as Art By Nato, participated in an art show hosted by Eternal Light Entertainment. The...

Read more

Kelly Rowland participating in Disney Dreamers Academy’s landmark 15-year celebration

by aframnews
March 5, 2022
0
Kelly Rowland participating in Disney Dreamers Academy’s landmark 15-year celebration

LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. – Four-time Grammy Award-winning singer, songwriter, actress and television executive producer Kelly Rowland is among the well-known celebrities participating in the landmark 15th year of Disney Dreamers Academy,...

Read more

Celebrate NYE with Quinton Sampson + Unbiased Live Band at B’s Wine Bar

by aframnews
December 13, 2021
0
Celebrate NYE with Quinton Sampson + Unbiased Live Band at B’s Wine Bar

Celebrate 2022 in style at B's Wine Bar, and though magnificent on any night, the art-filled luxurious wine bar will be the stage for performances from Quinton Sampson...

Read more

The Southwest Art Fest featured Frank Frazier’s Visual Arts Collection in Killeen

by aframnews
October 17, 2021
0
The Southwest Art Fest featured Frank Frazier’s Visual Arts Collection in Killeen

By: Elisabeth Treadwell, Texas Metro News The 2021 Southwest Art Fest (SWAF) hosted by Endeavors Performing Arts & Special Events Venue in Killeen, TX featured the artistic works...

Read more
Next Post

Accountability Part IV: Clergy

Latest Articles

HSPVA Black Alumni Network presents….The Wiz Emerald City Experience

HSPVA Black Alumni Network presents….The Wiz Emerald City Experience

March 18, 2023
Houston Family Arts Legacy

Houston Family Arts Legacy

March 18, 2023
HSPVA’s The Wiz

HSPVA’s The Wiz

March 18, 2023

NEED PAST ISSUES?

Search our archive of past issues Receive our Latest Updates
* indicates required
  • Local
  • National
  • Community
  • Education
  • Politics
  • COVID-19
  • Entertainment
  • Lifestyle
  • Sports

ARTICLES

  • Local
  • National
  • Community
  • Education
  • Politics
  • COVID-19
  • Entertainment
  • Lifestyle
  • Sports

CONNECT WITH US

  • Home
  • Advertise With Us
  • Contact

OTHER PUBLICATIONS

  • Hispanic News
  • Shirley Ann’s Flower Shop
African American News and Issues

African American News & Issues
6130 Wheatley St
Houston, TX 77091
(713) 692-1892

Subscribe To Our Newsletter

Copyright © 2023. African American News & Issues. All rights reserved. Private Policy | Terms of Use |

No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • National
  • Local
  • Opinion
  • Sports
  • Education
  • Health
  • Politics
  • Entertainment
  • Announcements
  • Events
  • Afram TV
  • Contact

Copyright © 2023. African American News & Issues. All rights reserved. Private Policy | Terms of Use |

Are you sure want to unlock this post?
Unlock left : 0
Are you sure want to cancel subscription?