G. E. Lowman
G. E. Lowman | |
|---|---|
| Born | November 16, 1897 |
| Died | January 18, 1965 (aged 67) |
| Spouse | Minnie Anna Wagner |
| Children | Elmer, Ruth, Edna, Doris, Vernon, Darlene |
| Parent(s) | Oliver Lowman and Annie Perkins |
Congregations served | Baltimore Gospel Tabernacle (1930–1959); International Gospel Broadcasters weekly radio program (1930–1965) |
Guerdon Elmer Lowman, more familiarly G. E. Lowman (November 16, 1897 - January 18, 1965) was an American Christian clergyman and a radio evangelist.
Lowman was born in Baltimore, Maryland, and became a successful businessman, starting one of the first supermarket chains and a commercial electrical contracting company in the 1920s.[1] He later began preaching at local Methodist churches and started using a bus to hold evangelistic rallies on Baltimore street corners.[2] So popular was his preaching that he founded the Baltimore Gospel Tabernacle on October 19, 1930, and began a weekly radio broadcast from the church, which eventually was broadcast worldwide from flagship station WBAL (AM) until his death on January 18, 1965, of acute leukemia.[1] In the late 1950s, the program was also carried on the Mutual Broadcasting System network in the U.S.
He authored several books in the series, Prophecies for the Times. Unusual for its time, his ministry was interdenominational. He wrote, "Many claims are made by certain religions. But no one denomination can rightfully claim that it is the only one. The true church of our Lord and Master is made up of born again people. It is not what we belong to on this earth; it is what we are in Christ".[3]
The weekly radio broadcast originated from the Baltimore Gospel Tabernacle until December, 1959, when the program was moved to a studio in St. Petersburg, Florida. The broadcasts were also noted for the music, featuring daughters Ruth, Edna, and Doris as the Lowman Sisters Trio, singing the theme song, "Search Me O God", ending each program.[4]
In honor of his church's ministry to visiting service personnel during World War II, G. E. Lowman was presented with the Key to the City of Baltimore, Maryland, by then-Mayor Theodore R. McKeldin on September 14, 1943.
References
- ^ a b Thomas H. O'Connor, Baltimore Broadcasting from A to Z, Baltimore, Md. (1985)
- ^ Jacques Kelly, Baltimore Neighborhoods in Focus. Baltimore, Md.: Pratt Library, 1986 (ISBN 0-910556-23-7)
- ^ G. E. Lowman, Prophecies for the Times, Baltimore, Md. (1961)
- ^ "G. E. Lowman memorial website". Retrieved October 29.
{{cite web}}: Check date values in:|accessdate=(help); Unknown parameter|accessyear=ignored (|access-date=suggested) (help)