Organize to Evangelize

During the ministry of Pastor Harold L. Cleveland at Glenville Seventh-day Adventist Church, the need to provide a church home for the growing membership of those who lived on the southeast part of Cleveland became apparent. Pastor Cleveland became President of Allegheny West Conference and with God’s guidance his dream became a reality. In May, 1974 Southeast was organized. Sister Ann Robinson said it best when she coined the phrase, “Organize to Evangelize.”

The church rented St. Paul United Methodist Church as their first place of worship. On our first Sabbath at St. Paul there were 119 applications for membership, and by June, 1974, Southeast had a total of 166 charter members. The membership grew so fast that we soon outgrew St. Paul. Aldersgate United Methodist Church assisted Southeast by providing our next temporary church home.

The decision to build the first black Adventist Church in Cleveland was voted by a majority of members in June, 1975. The corner of Tarkington and Lee Road was the selected site. A ground breaking was held on January 9, 1977.  

Pastor Donald L. Burden, with God’s inspiration and support from the members of Southeast, brought the dream of mortgage burning to fruition on May 20, 1995.

Since our inception in 1974, Southeast has been blessed by a group of God inspired men;

Pastor King Solomon Smallwood

Pastor Gerald D. Penick

Pastor David Trusty

Pastor Gilbert Anderson

Pastor Edgar T. Mimms

Pastor James Doggette Jr.

Pastor Donald L. Burden

Pastor Alfred Booker, Sr.

Pastor Bryant Taylor

Pastor Jerome M. Hurst  

Pastor Stan Hood (current pastor)

Interim Pastors

Pastor Henry Wright

Pastor John Smith

Pastor Stephen T. Lewis

Pastor James T. Lewis