Thurman Lawrence Faison

Thurman Lawrence Faison was born on February 17, 1938, in Texarkana, Texas to Lois Artilla Hopkins (Mother) and Paul Lawrence Faison (Father). When Thurman was very young, he and his mother Lois left Texas and relocated to Los Angeles, California, where he was raised. He attended Manual Arts High School but left early to join the Air Force in 1956, at the age of 17. While a member of the Air Force, he obtained his GED, attended radar school and worked as an Aircraft Control and Warnings Operator. He eventually received a station assignment in Morocco. In addition, because of his hard work and dedication, he earned the “Airman of the Month” award while serving with the 655th Aircraft Control and Warning Squadron, at the Watertown Air Force station in Northern New York State. He served honorably for four years.

After receiving a call to the ministry, he decided to pursue his theology studies at Eastern Pentecostal Bible College in Peterborough, Ontario Canada. He graduated as valedictorian of his class earning a degree in theology and ministry. He continued his education, further earning a Bachelor of Arts in Bible and Pastoral Studies from North Central Bible College in Minneapolis, MN.

He began his ministry work in the early 1960’s in New York City with David Wilkerson, the founder of Teen Challenge, a drug outreach center for troubled youth. He later pastored in Harlem, New York and helped to form the Harlem Revival Center. During this time, he met and married his first wife Dolores Banks and started a family. He left for Chicago in 1969 to pastor Southside Tabernacle on the south side of Chicago. During the early years of his ministry, Thurman tirelessly promoted the need for social justice, racial reconciliation, and the importance of the Pentecostal church to be present within the inner cities. In 1965 he addressed the General Council of the Assemblies of God and in 1971, he spoke at the Pentecostal Fellowship of North America.

After completing his time on the south side of Chicago, Thurman relocated to Southern California, where for a short period of time he was engaged in Evangelistic ministry and traveled to the Caribbean. He later accepted the position of Director of the Chicago Teen Challenge Center and returned to Chicago. From Teen Challenge, he went on to WCFC-TV (Channel 38) Christian television in Chicago to share in the on-air ministry. Later in his career, he went on to earn his Master of Arts in Adult and Continuing Education from National Louis University in Evanston, Illinois. At various times throughout his ministry, Thurman also worked in insurance, and prior to retiring, worked as an Assistant Director in the Admissions Department of the Illinois Institute of Art in Chicago.

Thurman and Dolores raised seven children together. They welcomed twelve grandchildren and one great-grandchild. Thurman later married Constance (Connie) Rodgers and through that union embraced two daughters, three sons-in-laws, three grandchildren and two great-grandchildren.

Upon retirement, Thurman and Connie lived sometime in Jamaica, and Florida then settled in Georgia. He enjoyed traveling, and he and Connie took many trips in and around the Caribbean together. He enjoyed reading, wrote several books, was an avid swimmer, and dedicated sports fan who loved watching both football and basketball. Thurman and Connie enjoyed many happy years together and remained married until his passing.

Thurman will be fondly remembered for his kindness, his faith in God, his good nature, his caring, his thoughtfulness, his intellect, his quiet strength, and for being a supportive and loving father, grandfather, and husband.