GA/PP Heritage Trail

Last updated:
October 12, 2008

Church of God	2030 Georgia Ave
Simone Chukwuezi

The Church of God and its patron, Elder Lightfoot Solomon Michaux, have had a positive impact on the community. Michaux and the Church of God have provided Washington, D.C. as well as its surrounding areas with religious as well as various forms of communal/familial support. Evangelist Elder Lightfoot Solomon Michaux was born on November 7, 1883 in Buckroe Beach, Virginia. As a child, he was actively involved in his family’s seafood and grocery business. By 1917, Michaux had become a thriving businessman, procuring large government contracts to furnish food to defense organizations.

Michaux’s preaching career began in a church that he built himself. The church was called Everybody’s Mission Church and it was located in Hopewell, Virginia. Later on, Michaux and his wife moved to Newport News, Virginia, where they began holding church meetings in a tent on the corner of 19th and Jefferson Avenues. During these meetings, approximately 150 people accepted Christ as their Lord and Savior. Along with Michuax and his wife, these 150 people became the founding force behind the Gospel Spreading Church of God. Michaux established ten branches of the Church of God in: Newport News, Virginia (1919), Hampton, Virginia (1922), Baltimore, Maryland (1923), Washington, D.C. (1928), Edenborn, Pennsylvania (1930), Philadelphia, Pennsylvania (1930), New York, New York (1930), Union Bridge, Maryland (1934), Richmond, Virginia (1950), and Kinston, South Carolina (1950).

In 1928, Michaux moved to Washington, D.C. and founded the Church of God, Washington, D.C. chapter. The Church of God was then located in a storefront property opposite Griffith Stadium. The church that currently stands today at 2030 Georgia Avenue, NW, Washington, D.C. was completed in 1958. Prior to the building of this church, Michaux gave his sermons in tents all around Washington, D.C.. He also used Griffith Stadium, the city’s main sports stadium, for mass baptisms and sermons. The Elder Michaux’s accomplishments during this time can be summarized as follows:

Michaux was the first African American Evangelist to regularly appear on network television on WTTG-TV.
Michaux started a radio ministry in 1929 which he named after one of his famous slogans “Willingly Jesus Suffered for Victory” (WJSV). This broadcast continues to air today on the same station, now named WTOP.
Michaux published a religious newsletter, “The Victory Cry” which was the introductory stage of his religious newspaper “The Happy News.” Today this newspaper is a 12 page tabloid that has worldwide circulation.
In 1942, in collaboration with Jack Goldberg, Michaux helped to produce a commercial film entitled “We’ve Come a Long, Long Way.” The film was a short black and white documentary about African American history.
Elder Michaux was reported to be the first black man to get a $3.5 million U.S. loan [to be used for the construction of the Mayfair Mansion and Paradise Manor Apartment complexes]. The value of the total project at one point was calculated to be more than $15 million.”
He established the Happy News Café at 1727 Seventh Street, NW, which is at the southwest corner of Seventh and T Street.
He completed the Mayfair Mansion in 1946 which housed 594 units and it was one of D.C.’s earliest garden complexes. He also created the 671 unit apartment complex known as Paradise Manor Apartments.
At the southwest corner of Seventh and T streets NW, Michaux also opened up a home/shelter for families who were evicted from their homes.
During the days of segregation, Michaux created an all black amusement park which was located on Colonial Parkway in Williamsburg, Virginia.
Despite the racism of the time, Michaux ties to President Truman, President and Eleanor Roosevelt, and President Eisenhower. He was said to have been extremely influential in the election of Franklin Deleanor Roosevelt.