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Bishop Harvey Lee Lewis was born
August 5, 1929 in Nash County, North Carolina to Mr. and Mrs. Willie and
Hazel Lewis. He was educated in the Nash County Public Schools and
continued his education in Washington, D.C., receiving a Bachelor of
Arts Degree in 1979 from the Washington Bible College, and a Certificate
in Pastoral Counseling from the Christian Counseling and Educational
Foundation in 1991. On August 2, 1948, he was united in Holy
Matrimony to Gloria Fontaine Gaylor also of Nash County. In September of
1998, they celebrated their 50th Wedding Anniversary culminating with the
Ceremony of Renewal of Vows. God blessed their union with four
children: Gloria Marie, the late Elder Harvey Lewis, Jr., Winona and the
late Yolanda Patrice. The Lewises also boast in the Lord for His gift of
five grandchildren. Bishop Lewis received Christ as Savior and
Lord in 1953 under the Pastorate of the late Bishop Samuel Kelsey. He was
ordained an Elder in the Church of God in Christ in 1955. Since his
conversion, his services within the church and community have been
astronomical. He has served as:
- Local and District Y.P.W.W. President, under Bishop Samuel
Kelsey
- President, State Y.P.W.W., COGIC, Washington, DC
Jurisdiction (1956-1974)
- Founder, State Youth Congress Scholarship, Washington, DC
(1960)
- Secretary, Second Precinct Clergyman's Association,
Washington, DC (1960-1965)
- President, Samuel Kelsey Bible Institute (1968) -Served also
as Institute Instructor
- Coordinator and tour guide for three pilgrimages to the Holy
Land and Rome, Italy
- Superintendent, Third District, COGIC, Washington, DC
Jurisdiction (1974-1995)
- Administrative Assistant to the Bishop, COGIC, Washington,
DC Jurisdiction (1988-1995)
Bishop Lewis also organized the first Church of God in Christ
Day Care Center in the Washington, DC Jurisdiction in 1967 (later renamed
The L.D.S. Child Development Center) which served the Washington, DC area
for over 19 years. He presently serves as:
- Pastor of Star of Bethlehem C.O.G.I.C. (since 1960)
- Charter Member, Samuel Kelsey Bible Institute (since 1974)
- President, Living Daily with the Scriptures (L.D.S.)
Outreach Ministries (since 1980)
- Under Bishop Lewis' guidance and direction the LDS Outreach
Ministries have grown to encompass the following:
- LDS Housing Ministry with the Fourth Presbyterian Church
- LDS People that Love Center (Free Food & Clothing
Ministry), the "Share" Food & Volunteer Program
- LDS Counseling Ministry (Pre-marital, martial and family) in
addition to Family Seminars
The LDS Radio and Television Ministries, LDS Prison Ministry,
LDS Scholastic Motivational and Drill Team Ministries
Since his
appointment as Pastor of The Star of Bethlehem COGIC, Bishop Lewis has
served untiringly on the Local, District, State and National level in an
effort to reach the lost and strengthen the saved for Jesus Christ. Bishop
Lewis has served or is presently serving in the following capacities:
- Member, Executive Board, General Assembly, COGIC (since
1989)
- International Chairman of Rules Committee for General
Assembly, COGIC (since 1992)
- Recipient of International Sunday School Department, COGIC
Teacher's Award (1997), for raising the greatest class offering for more
than 10 consecutive years in our Annual Holy Convocation.
- Interim Leader, Rhode Island Jurisdiction, COGIC,
(April-November, 1998)
- Bishop Designee, Rhode Island Jurisdiction, COGIC, (November
1998- March 1999)
- Jurisdictional Prelate, Rhode Island Jurisdiction, COGIC,
(March 1999 to present)
Mother Gloria F. Lewis, Bishop Lewis' wife of more than 51
years, along with his children and grandchildren all have been active
participants in the Ministry of the Church of God in Christ. God be
praised for His blessings upon the work and life of our very own Bishop
Harvey Lewis, Sr. |
