Irene, Kenneth, Erma, Dereatha, Shellie, Luther Howard
My grandfather, L S Howard, summarized his early life in a song book they wrote in 1949. Following is a part of that book:
Was born at Spring Lick Ky. August 29, 1903 and was converted at the age of 12 years and received the Holy Ghost in July one month before my 13th birthday and about 3 years later at the age of 15 God came down and spoke to me in plain words and called my name and I answered, and He said, 'Go and preach my Word.' I was young but heeded that command and as I begin to prepare myself for this great work and to preach every time I had the opportunity, mostly near my home and in my father's meetings as he was a minister and in March of 1921 my father and I were holding services and one of my old school mates Shellie F. Fentress came to the meeting and as we began to talk of our school days and of the happy days we spent in school. So then I went home with her and told her how the Lord could save her soul so during the next week she was converted and about three weeks later she was healed through the power of the Lord. A few months later she received the Holy Ghost and on the 20th of May 1922 we were married and I preached every time I had the privilege. In September 1922 we went to Muskegon Michigan and preached this great gospel and in June of 1923 we came to Louisville, KY, and preached the gospel there. On January 4, 1924 we came to French Lick, Ind. to pastor a church here and on August 16th 1924 God sent a dear son to bless our home. Kenneth H Howard was born at Spring Lick, Ky. Three weeks later we returned to French Lick to carry on the work of the Lord. In June 1928 we went back to Muskegon Mich. where we were when God blessed us with a lovely daughter on April 3, 1929, Erma L. (Howard) Jones, who is with us on the radio. In May 1929 we came back to French Lick and built a new church and we have pastored the church ever since. On July 1934 the Lord gave us another dear daughter, Anna Dereatha Howard who is now 14 and sings on our program over WITZ, so this makes a souvenir from Ky., Mich. and Ind. In 1947 the Lord gave me the wonderful gift of healing and in the last two years we have been in a number of states to pray for the sick and hundreds have been healed. We have seen sugar diabetes, TB, arthritis, blind receive their sight, the lame walk goiters, cancers, heart trouble, spinal meningitis, polio, ulcers of stomach and many others have been healed through our prayers. In Feb 1948 wife and I started a fast and we fasted without food for 21 days and nights, no fruit juice, no milk or any food and we have seen great results in our services. We go to all churches for healing services and we do not make any charge for praying for the sick. Any church that would want us to come we will come: a free will offering will be accepted, to help us in our great work. Through your support is the way we carry on. Brother Howard was in services 335 nights and over 65 day services which is a total of over 400 sermons in 1948, also prayed for over 3000 sick people from all churches and at the present rate '49 will be a greater year. Many weeks I preach to more than 1000 different people. So we covet your prayers and your friendship and I invite you to our church 350 Adams St French Lick Indiana (also over WITZ every Sunday morning at 8:30. Elder Howard and wife, Roscoe and Erma Jones and Dereatha Howard are all filled with the spirit. Our only son Kenneth lost his life in 1944 in Belgium in the service of his country, which is a treasure that has gone on but some day we will meet again where no wars ever come.
May the dear Lord bless you.
Elder L. S. Howard
My grandfather continued preaching on the Radio and after the Salem, WSLM, station went on the air, he switched the program to it. I continued the program after his death in 1981 and it can still be heard from 8:00 - 8:45 on Sunday mornings. It is one of the oldest radio programs in the country.
My grandfather had heard the message about the baptism of the Holy Ghost from a preacher named George Taylor. In 1920 he was ordained a minister of the Holy Bible Mission Workers at Louisville, Kentucky. He served in many capacities including vice-president of the organization for several years. But upon the death of the president, the organization was dissolved. My grandfather and other ministers felt a need to form a new incorporation in Indiana since most of the ministers associated with the former organization lived there. In 1954 an organizational meeting was called and a new incorporation was formed under the name 'The Pentecostal Church of Zion, Inc.' Elder Howard was elected president. During December 1964 he was elected Bishop of the Pentecostal Church of Zion, Inc.
The book, 'GOSPEL SINGERS RADIO SPECIAL,' written in 1949, contains the following song. This is the most common song I heard my grandparents sing.
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You can play a RealAudioŽ recording of Brother and Sister Howard singing this song, by clicking here.
NOTE: If your computer doesn't recognize the sound file, click here.
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