Elder C. Shawn and Evangelist Krista Tyson

Cleophus Shawn Tyson was born June 1, 1965, in Canton, Ohio, the youngest of five siblings born to Bishop James E. Tyson and Lady Evelyn Haynesworth-Tyson.

At an early age, young Shawn was exposed to some of gospel music’s finest, beginning with his mother, Lady Evelyn, who was an accomplished directress, singer and musician, and the founder of the world-renown Word Records recording artists, the Mount Calvary Pentecostal Church Concert Choir of Youngstown, Ohio.

Young Shawn was strongly influenced by these great Gospel legends, all of whom were amazingly members of one of the five churches Shawn’s father has pastored.  Just to name a few: Geraldine Thompson, Earnest Andrews, Jr., Professor Arnold Wagner, Bishop Norman L. Wagner, Timothy Carpenter, Dr. Fredrick Stevens, Christine Tyson-Scott, Gary Brantley and Tyrone Reed; all comprised the Canton/Youngstown connection.

After the family moved to Indianapolis, Indiana in 1971, Shawn came under the musical influence and the musical expertise of Mother Annetta Dawson, Ezra Bufford, Jeanette Sprowl, Steven Coleman, Rev. Jeffrey Brandon, T. Garrett Dodson, Mother Rose Golder-Morris and Rev. Donald Golder.  Last, but certainly not least, Shawn’s greatest musical influence was and remains his natural brother, Rev. L. Craig Tyson.

In 1980 at the age of 15, Bishop Tyson prayed for Shawn to receive the gift to play the organ under the anointing of the Holy Ghost. God heard the Bishop’s prayer, which began the anointed ministry of sacred music rendered by C. Shawn Tyson, which has blessed the hearts of millions around the globe.

In June of 1983, Shawn preached his first sermon to a jam-packed audience of nearly 500 who waited anxiously to see the tradition of power-packed Gospel preaching handed down to the next generation of Tyson preachers.

Almost immediately, Minister Tyson began to preach across the country while also serving as the director of the Tyscot Recording artist and nationally renown, Christ Church Radio Choir. This choir has traveled the length and breadth of this country with their pastor, Bishop James E. Tyson, and has appeared on the nationally syndicated Bobby Jones Gospel Hour three times, as well as being named the recipient of the GEM award as Best Contemporary Gospel Choir in the city of Indianapolis three times.

In 1985, Minister Tyson enrolled at Aenon Bible College and Indiana University where he was an honor student before being directed by the Holy Spirit to enter full-time evangelistic ministry  in October 1988.

During his five years of full-time evangelism, hundreds of souls were saved, healed and delivered as the potent combination of anointed music and soul-stirring preaching proceeded from the soul of Rev. C. Shawn Tyson.  Also, during this time, Elder Tyson met and married his lovely wife Evangelist Krista Dawkins-Tyson and to this union was born James Edison Tyson II.

In October of 1993, Elder Tyson returned to his native home of Canton, Ohio to assume the pastorate of the Apostolic Faith Assembly. The church began to explode and dozens of souls were being baptized in Jesus' name and filled with the Holy Ghost. In three years, more than 275 souls were baptized in Jesus' name and more than 150 received the Holy Ghost.  During Pastor Tyson’s tenure at Apostolic Faith Assembly, he established:

  • The Barbara J. Winn Child Care Center

  • The live Sunday night "Latter Rain Broadcast".  This broadcast attracted hundreds of people to the church every Sunday night and was the most listened to religious broadcast on radio station,  WGTR
  • The first live choir recording entitled, "Get Ready For the Next Move of God."  (The title cut is one of Elder Tyson’s many great original compositions.)
  • Annual citywide ecumenical fellowship services and concerts

In 1996, with great prayer and contemplation, Elder Tyson accepted his father’s invitation to return to Indianapolis and serve as his Assistant Pastor of the great Christ Church Apostolic, Inc. in Indianapolis. Working with his father has been one of the greatest joys of Elder Tyson's ministry.  He feels it is a privilege to contribute something to the ministry of the man and the church that gave him everything.  He continues to serve as a much sought after evangelist, teacher and psalmist. 

Other ministries and community affairs that Elder Tyson is involved in:

  • Serves as Christ Church Apostolic's Minister of Music

  • Serves as one of Christ Church Apostolic's Youth and Young Adult Ministry advisors
  • Co-Producer of the Christ Church Apostolic "Light in the Evening Time" weekly telecast
  • Serves as the International Pentecostal Young People's Teen Convention coordinator of the Pentecostal Assemblies of the World, Inc.
  • Member of the Church Federation of Greater Indianapolis
  • Member of the Interdenominational Ministers Alliance of Indianapolis
  • Board member of the annual city-wide reconciliation celebration entitled "Faithfest"
  • Spear-headed the first Co-op in Washington Township of Indianapolis between Christ Church Apostolic and Westlane Middle School
  • Founded the first Gospel choir at Westlane Middle School

Education:

  • Doctorate of Music - International Apostolic University - Dayton, OH

  • Master's of Divinity - International Apostolic University - Dayton, OH
  • Bachelor's of Theology - International Apostolic University - Dayton, OH
  • Courses - Indiana University - Bloomington, IN
  • Courses - Aenon Bible College - Indianapolis, IN

 To God be the glory for the things HE has done!!!