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Dr. Mattie McGlothen Library I Museum
'"The law of truth was In his mouth and Iniquity was not found In his mouth." Mai 2 6     "Ye shall know the truth and the truth shall make you free." John 832
VOLUME XXIX, NO. I
C.O.G.I.C. HEADQUARTERS, MEMPHIS, TENNESSEE
JANUARY, 1992
PROGRESS IN LEXINGTON
For sometime the vision of a new multi-purpose
building being constructed on the campus in
Lexington, Mississippi, was a hope in the heart
of Bishop Louis Henry Ford. Now the site under
construction is alive with activity and progress
The hill has been leveled off and the building's
deep basement toretells the grand aspect of the
developing structure. The vision is being
constructed during the mild winter days of central
Mississippi's Holmes County.
Bishop Ford's aggressive plan for building the
Patterson-Mallory building in Lexington.
Mississippi is currently paying big dividends
Work crews are busy working with sure
professionalism and according to project designs
To date 759^ of the basement walls are in place
and 35% of the retainer walls are completed. The
building which sits atop a hill, is quickly taking
shape in the Mississippi horizon. It is becoming
a symbol of our Church's forward progress and
Bishop L.H. Ford's determination.
The Presiding Bishop has been travelling back
and forth to Lexington from Chicago There is
hardly a time that he is in close proximity to the
construction site that he fails to visit. He has
made four trips since the Holy Convocation. He
is concerned that every aspect of the work is
carried out properly The bishop was recently in
Memphis, Tennessee and stated, "I hope that
everyone understands how very important the
building of the multi-purpose building is   The
Church Of God In Christ is and must be involved
in ministry on all fronts. We have the commitment
in both brick and mortar as well as spiritually."
Thus far. Bishop Ford is pleased with the work
and has spent much time walking up and down
the hills on the Lexington campus in order to
inspect the work and encourage those who labor
on the project.
The near future should bring completion of the
roof and later in the spring and early summer,
the interior should be completed. The chief buyer
of materials. Elder Norman Jamison commented
about the builder's progress in very positive
terms. "Things are running as smoothly as
possible The crews are attempting to stay with
the schedule. If the supplies and necessary
materials can be purchased as hoped, then we
can put this building up as the Presiding Bishop
desires." said the Kosciusko, Mississippi pastor.
He has total confidence in the design which
architect, Oscar Bacon designed and the
contracting expertise of his brother Pastor Steven
Jamison, chief contractor.
The building will be a total of 49,000 square
feet. The basement area is 175 ft. by 50 ft . and
has two wings which measure out at 145 ft. by
27.6 ft. each, When the construction is finished,
the building will feature a basement which will
serve as a cafeteria, a main floor with a multipurpose hall, offices and class rooms
Elder Jamison said, "We need a lot of prayers
in order to bring everything together. This
building will be the focal point of the campus.
Bishop Ford has a grand idea and the crew
working here is inspired." Many of the persons
working on the building are members of the
Church Of God In Christ and believe totally in
the goals of the Presiding Bishop   95# of the
workers are black and this makes another social
statement. On the site itself, there seems to be a
healthy blend of skill, enthusiasm and mission
on the part of workers.
When completed, the building will have an
estimated cost of 1.5 million dollars which reflects
a substantial savings as a result of prudent
practices during construction. This shall be a
building worth much more than what it cost to
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build Architect. Brother Oscar Bacon of
Columbus. Ohio and Elder Steven Jamison are
men of skill, but the Presiding Bishop had the
vision Working with Presiding Bishop L. H. Ford
are Bishops T T. Scott, W Winders, Roy L.H.
Winbush, W L. Porter and Elder A. Z. Hall.
HOME OF LOVE AND HOPE EMERGENCY SHELTER
The old Linden Motel was officially declared
by Bishop Louis H. Ford as the next major project
the general church would undertake The
abandoned motel w ill be converted into the Home
ot Love and Hope Emergency Shelter. The
building which is located in downtown Memphis,
Tennessee will serve many of the homeless
individuals who live m the downtown area.
Memphis has a large transit population and
numerous impoverished persons who need
temporary housing or food and clothing The
ministry would be a first for the national
organization and is expected to serve as a model
for the many jurisdictions around the country
Bishop Ford made the announcement during
the 84th International Holy Convocation at a news
conference. During the Founder's Day celebration
he informed the new mayor of Memphis, Dr
WW Herenton of his goals. The news was well
received by the mayor and the massive aggregate
of saints in attendance The official offering was
collected after a rousing appeal for the shelter
was made, and nearly a million dollars in money
and pledges were received. Bishop Ford hopes
that local Memphis congregations will take an
active role in making this ministry to the homeless
successful.
In December of 1991. the Presiding Bishop
and many members of the general leadership
visited the premises. Bishop Ford was heard
sharing his ideas with the contractors and
consultants who would desire to renovate the
building and put the ministry into action. Their
assessments are being reviewed and Bishop Ford
w ill take the best course. He is known in Chicago
and around America as a champion of the poor
and needy. In his opinion, the national
organization should have a ministry which reflects
a philosophy relevant to the issues of the day.
For Bishop Ford, the issue is always one of
people. The immediate goal is to have the
homeless shelter in operation for the coming
November's International Holy Convocation.
Soon to be a shelter far the homeless.