Chief
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Chief Bishop Melvin L. Crawford was born to Leah and Mose Crawford in Clarksdale, Miss and what a glorious day that was. Bishop Crawford came to Chicago on the back of his sister’s Douvvie Gonzalez’s truck with one suite and a belief that things were going to get better. His father, who died when he was four years old, gave a good example of entrepreneurship by being the owner of “Crawford’s Grocery” and a farm. At the age of fourteen, while other children were out playing, he worked and saved up money to buy his mother a house.
Bishop Crawford met and married a beautiful maiden who loved God all of her life, Beatrice Crawford. Beatrice Crawford was honored enough to have read for the great Bishop Mason of the COGIC. She went on to finish college with honors. What an example of a help meet she was and still is for their children and others. Education is extremely important to Bishop Crawford. He attended Miller’s Business College and Culinary School. The knowledge from this education was used in his many business ventures. Bishop Crawford kept that same will as his father, and with his wife, Beatrice Holmes-Crawford, he purchased a grocery store and tastee freeze from his sister. God told him one day to be the sewer, and he, his wife, and children began to serve at 1738 W. 67th Street. This was no easy task. Bishop Crawford took money out of the family savings as a down payment on the church because at this time there were no other members. His sister Cora and her husband joined with their family, and later came Sister Mary Ingram and family, Sister Tennie Bryant and family, Mother Shirley Scott and family, Mother Crawford and family, and many more members in need of a spiritual home. He is known for always being there to help whoever is in need. He has helped the homeless and touched and given jobs to drug addicted individuals who are now workers in the church. He has sat and ate with kings and queens of the royal priesthood. He has traveled from England to Korea. His name is held high because of his sincerity, honesty, and dedication to the work of the Lord. Chief Bishop Crawford served in WWII in the medical unit behind enemy lines. He and his wife taught their children to fear God and keep His commandments. “If you save you shall have, but if you spend you will have nothing”. His dear sister Cora and brother Booker, who is with the Lord, shared many happy days and will never be forgotten. After the death of his loving wife of 50 years, Bishop Crawford remained faithful to God and the Church of the Living God. Bishop Crawford’s steps are ordered by God. He has gone through the ranks of choir member, deacon, trustee, Minister, to now be the Chief Bishop of many Churches of the Living God from Chicago to California. God gave him a vision and blessed him to start the World Wide Div. Corp., which is well known throughout Chicago. And later he became the President of the Jericho Walk which his daughter, Pastor C. Bansa developed after a vision of God to bring all creeds, nationalities, and races together for world peace. As a senior in politics and community awareness he is a member of Englewood Ministries, the Mayors Counsel for World Change and many more organizations. God blessed him to have a street named after him and his late wife on the corner of 67th and Hermitage “Bishop Melvin & Beatice Crawford Street” (at the corner of the church).Bishop Crawford is very proud of his children, nieces, nephews, grandchildren, and siblings, especially those of you that were called into the ministry. We thank God for the life of this great man of God. |
