During the summer of 1947 under the leadership of Brother Arley E. Moore the Cawson Street Church of Christ decided to evangelize the black community.  This was done by conducting a tent revival in the Davisville area of Hopewell, Virginia.  The leaders of the Cawson Street Congregation invited Brother John R. Vaughner of St. Petersburg, Florida, to preach.  Brother Vaughner had earlier preached a revival at the Mosque in Richmond, Virginia.  Brother Vaughner consented to preach and Brother Raymond Dunwood of Orlando, Florida, led the singing each night.  They spearheaded a canvassing effort in the neighborhood prior to the revival services.  A tent was constructed on Terminal Street, directly in front of Union Baptist Church.  Services were held for two weeks--September 14-26.  An article written by Brother Moore indicates that the tent was donated by the 14th Street Congregation in Washington, D.C.  In addition to the 14th Street  Congregation and Cawson Street, the congregation at Pike Road, North Carolina invested $800 in the meeting.

The results were overwhelming.  According to an October 9, 1947 Gospel Advocate article, 146 blacks and one white  were baptized.  Other accounts have the total number as high as 156.  That number included a Baptist preacher and most of his congregation.  This new congregation known as the Davisville Church of Christ was then a third larger that the white congregation at Cawson Street, and at that time was as large or larger than any congregation-black or white- in Virginia.

The Baptist preacher who was converted was Wilton Cook.  Some said it was during this tent meeting that he made a statement to the affect of, "all who want to go to Heaven, follow me.  I am going across the street to the big tent and obey the gospel".  It was a historic day as several were baptized in Jones Lake. (Arlington Road Church of Christ, History Page)