The Refuge Church of Christ was founded in 1936 by the late Bishop R.C. Lawson establishmentarian of the Church of our Lord Jesus Chirst of the Apostolic Faith Inc.

In July 1936, Bishop Lawson entered a tent on Atlantic and Utica Avenues in Brooklyn, New York.  Many souls were saved during this tent crusade, which lasted through October 1936.  Until a church building could be found, Refuge worshipped in the house of the late Deacon Joseph Moore, who would later become Bishop Moore, founder of The Greater Bibleway Temple in Brooklyn, N.Y. where the current pastor is Bishop Huie L. Rogers.

Over the years, Refuge was pastored by many great men of God, one of which was Bishop William L. Bonner who is now the chief Apostle of the Church of our Lord Jesus Christ Inc. and pastor of the Greater Refuge Temple located in New York City.

Refuge has a great legacy of preaching and teaching, which continue to this day.  In 1958, at the National Convention of C.O.O.L.J.C. held in Philadelphia, PA, Elder Christopher Dobbins was appointed Pastor.  Elder Dobbins pastored Refuge until August 1996, when he was called home to be with the Lord.  Under Elder Dobbins, the current edifice was erected in 1964 with a large sanctuary, fellowship hall, classrooms, and offices.

Bishop G Bernard Coach Sr. is our current Pastor.  Refuge continues to grow through our Destiny Bible Institute, Youth Church, Senior's Ministry, Drug Deliverance Ministry, Family Life Ministry, Outreach department and other vibrant ministries.  In 2004 Bishop Coach founded the Refuge Church of Christ East in Baldwin, Long Island.  There is a Pre-School and Before and After program housed in Baldwin.  Bishop Coach is also the founder and Presiding Prelate of Destiny International Fellowship where he covers other Pastors and churches throughout the U.S., South America and Grenada.

We believe that salvation comes only through the Lord Jesus Christ, who is the only begotten Son of the Father, conceived of the Holy Ghost, and born of the Virgin Mary, that Jesus was crucified, buried, and raised from the dead, and that Jesus ascended to heaven and is today at the right hand of the Father as our intercessor.

We believe that all have sinned and fallen short of God's glory and that repentance is required by God and is necessary for the forgiveness of sins.

We believe that water baptism by immersion must be in the Name of the Lord Jesus Christ for the remission of sins.

We believe that holiness is God's standard of living for His people.

We believe that speaking with other tongues as the Spirit of God gives utterance is the initial evidence of the baptism of the Holy Ghost.

We believe that divine healing is provided for all in the atonement. We believe that the Lord's Supper should be commemorated.

We believe that the resurrection and rapture of the true church of God is imminent.

We believe that Jesus is God incarnated in the flesh.

We believe in the Final Judgment of the living and dead and the final establishment of a new heaven and earth wherein dwelleth righteousness.

Refuge Church East

Bishops Consecration Banquet 2008

Men's Conference 2007