Biography of Gilbert Ablorh Lawson

Humble Beginnings of The Divine Healer's Church

• Bro. Gilbert Ablorh Lawson, the founder and 1st Leader of The Divine Healer's Church, was an executive officer in the Gold Coast Post and Telecommunications Department and an Anglican by denomination.
• He had an encounter with the Holy Spirit on a night in December 1953 at the forecourt of the James Town Mantse's Palace in Accra, during a crusade organized by the Latter Rain Movement from the United States of America.
• He was baptized by immersion and converted into the Apostolic Church.

The Early Ministry of Bro. Gilbert Ablorh Lawson

• Bro. Lawson received the gifts of healing and discernment of Spirits at the Teshie Convention in 1954, where he was momentarily blinded and saw the glory of the Lord Jesus Christ descend upon him.
• He established a Healing and Prayer center known as "The Divine Healer's Temple" under the auspices of the Gold Coast Apostolic Church in 1954.
• Bro. Lawson broke ranks with Pastor James McKeown and the Apostolic Church in 1958, primarily over the establishment of an assembly at Nsawam, and renamed his prayer and healing center to "The Lord is There Temple".

Attestation of the Young Ministry

• The ministry of Bro. Lawson was legendary, and people came from far and near to attest to his special gifts and marveled at his works.
• Some of the great men of God who came to see him at work and attested to his gifts were:
  • Rev. Duplex Cee, who was sent by the Holy Spirit to find Bro. Lawson and attest to the world about the genuineness of the power of God on him.
  • Rev. Nancy Porter, an American Missionary, who came to Africa and dipped into the storehouse of the new world acclaimed man of God.
  • Bishop Benson Idahosa, the founder of All Nations for Christ International Bible Institute, who came to Bro. Lawson as a young enthusiastic Nigerian Pentecostal and Charismatic Church Leader.
  • Billy Graham and A.A. Allen, renowned International Evangelists, who found time off their busy schedules to look for Bro. Lawson and to have very insightful interviews with him.

Style of Church Administration

• Bro. Lawson's style of administration in the early years of the church was "MOSAIC" Leadership, where he was the founder and spiritual leader of the church, and people looked up to him for directions, advice, and even reprimands.
• The first secretariat consisted of his personal self, Sisters Helena Owoo, and Gladys Attram.
• He formed an "INNER CIRCLE" group in 1955, which was a hard-core faith-tested men and women of God who met regularly for prayer and deliberation on the need and aspiration of the church.

Position on Titles

• Bro. Lawson did not clamour for any ecclesiastical title, and simply preferred to remain a brother in the service of God.
• He branded persuasions unto him to take the title of a Bishop, Apostle, or Reverend Minister as worldly.

The Manning Committee

• The Manning Committee was formed in 1963, and it was the foremost administrative body of the church.
• It was responsible for the decentralization of the administrative structures of the church.
• Members of the committee included Bro. Gilbert Ablorh Lawson, Sis. Comfort Lawson, and others.

The National Executive Board

• At the twilight of his ministry, in 1987, Bro. Lawson's wife, Sister Comfort Lawson, temporarily took over the leadership of the church, dissolved the Manning Committee, and set up The National Executive Board.

Early Groups and Meetings

• Bro. Lawson taught and mentored many people who rose to become Pastors and administrators of the church through an early organ of the church known as "THE BOMBING GROUP".
• The "Move Girls" group, which later metamorphosed into the Women's Fellowship Movement of the church, was led by Sis. Comfort Lawson and assisted mainly by Sisters Anni and Marian Aboagye.

Bro. Lawson's Personal Life

• Bro. Lawson was born on 11th November 1908, to Joseph Lantei Lawson and Mary Adochoe Lawson.

• He was well-loved by relatives and strangers, and had an aura of luck around him.

• He started school at the age of eight at Accra Government Boys School, and was sent to live with his elder brother Albert Odartei Lawson.

• After the death of Albert, Bro. Lawson came to live with his uncle James Myers Hansen of the Gold Coast Police C.I.D. to continue his education.### Early Life and Spiritual Experience

• Bro. Lawson, an Anglican, attended a crusade at the forecourt of the James Town Mantse's Palace in Accra, led by Dr. Thomas Wyatt from the United States.

• During the crusade, Bro. Lawson had several spiritual experiences, including visions, and was endowed with the gift of divine revelation.

• He became baptized by immersion in the sea and his spiritual gifts increased, allowing him to see visions of people's past and present lives.

The Advent of the Divine Healing Gift

• In February 1954, Bro. Lawson received the baptism of the Holy Spirit with the gift of Divine Healing at the Teshie convention of the Gold Coast Apostolic Church.
• He was momentarily blinded and saw the glory of the Lord Jesus Christ descend upon him.
• He began to heal people instantly, and his gift of healing spread quickly.

The Establishment of The Divine Healer's Temple

• Bro. Lawson's ministry grew, and he needed a new location to accommodate the crowds.
• His cousin, Bro. Nathaniel Allotey, offered him a house on Lees Road, Korle Gonno, Accra.
• The Divine Healer's Temple was established in February 1955, and it became a large and spacious temple with powerful loudspeakers and fluorescent fittings.

The Early Days of the Ministry

• Bro. Lawson's ministry was assisted by converts who had received deliverance at the Temple and had offered their services as a form of gratitude to God.
• The abundance of grace he received from God had an enabling effect on those giving helping hands to his ministry.
• The foundation members of The Divine Healer's Temple included Bro. Francis Kpakpo Addo, Bro. J.A. Tackie, Bro. C.P. Johnson, and others.

The Blessed Water and Handkerchiefs

• In the early days of Bro. Lawson's Healing Ministry, small-sized blessed handkerchiefs were distributed to the congregation to assist them in obtaining recovery and their heart's desire.
• The blessed water was also used in his ministry, and it had the divine power of healing diseases.
• However, the use of blessed water and handkerchiefs was eventually discontinued due to reports of unscrupulous persons selling them and making money from poor people.

Mode of Worship

• The mode of worship at The Divine Healer's Temple followed the practice of the Apostolic Church.
• The clapping of hands, use of tambourines, banjos, stringed instruments, drums, and cymbals accompanied by graceful dancing formed an integral part of the service.

A Typical Day's Worship

• Bro. Lawson would return home from his workplace at the General Post Office (P& T) at 5 p.m. and meet with people who had come to the Temple.
• He would then emerge onto the platform, preach the word of God, and request that all new persons at the Temple accept the Lord Jesus Christ as their personal savior.

The Decline of the Church

• Five years prior to Bro. Lawson's transition, the signs of decline became clearer.

• He stopped attending annual Easter Conventions, and the Wednesday meetings became a monthly affair.

• The monthly church council meetings were shifted to a quarterly program, and almost all duties were delegated to other pastors.

• Bro. Ablorh Lawson's health declined, and no workable succession plan was in place.### Bro. Lawson's Health Status and Leadership

• Between 1985 and 1988, there were rumors about Bro. Lawson's health status, and Sister Lawson and the Manning Committee administered the church on his behalf.

• Bro. Lawson lost his power of speech two years before his passing.

• Despite advice that the Ghana Pentecostal Council would not accept the church under a woman's leadership, Sis. Lawson decided to take up the mantle.

Transition of Leadership

• Apostle Aflah Armah was recalled to Accra in early 1988 and assigned to the founder's office to take care of the ailing Head Pastor.
• Bro. Gilbert Ablorh Lawson passed away on 16th August 1989.
• His funeral was held at the Mamprobi Indafa Park, and he was interred at the Osu Cemetery in Accra.

Church Leadership Log

National Executive Board (N.E.B)

• Apostle Isaac Kwabena Adade - General Overseer
• Apostle Maxwell Aryeetey Foster - Deputy General Overseer
• Apostle Kenneth Ashaley Addo - General Secretary
• Apostle David Narh Nyabu - Deputy General Secretary
• Rev. Emmanuel Okoe Lamptey - Financial Controller
• Apostle Daniel Mensah Atakpah - Pastoral Council Chairman
• Apostle Emmanuel Acquaye - National Youth Chairman
• Apostle Mrs. Ernestina Tekpetey - National Women's Fellowship Leader
• Apostle Mac Davids Torto - National Men's Fellowship Chairman

Pastoral Council Executives

• Apostle Daniel Mensah Atakpah - Chairman
• Apostle Daniel Dotor Quarshie - Secretary
• Rev. Emmanuel Tetteh - Assistant Secretary
• Apostle Mrs. Felicia Bonaparte - Treasurer
• Apostle Mrs. Dora Edith Osekre - Financial Secretary

Church Trustees

• Elder Nii Klortey Boi II - Chairman
• Apostle Mac Davids Torto - Secretary
• Apostle Daniel Mensah Atakpah - Member
• Apostle Aaron Amanor Tetteh - Member

This quiz is about the life and ministry of Gilbert Ablorh Lawson, a prominent figure in the history of Christianity. It covers his early life, education, and spiritual experiences.