Faith Cumberland Presbyterian Church in America
16705 Euclid Avenue, Cleveland, Ohio 44112
(216) 692-0016
Email: faithcpca@gmail.com
Rev. Dr. Anthony Johnson, Pastor
Elder Greg Scruggs, Church Clerk
(216) 692-0016
Email: faithcpca@gmail.com
Rev. Dr. Anthony Johnson, Pastor
Elder Greg Scruggs, Church Clerk
FAITH CUMBERLAND PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH IN AMERICA
History
Historian: Elder Bertha Carter
February 2023, forty-five years will have passed since the beginning of “Save The Youth Mission,” founded by Elder Harriet Scruggs, and what is now known to be Faith Cumberland Presbyterian Church In America. With sincere determination and a strong will to succeed, a handful of members, after meeting in homes and in the chapel of Martin Funeral Home, ventured out to find a place that could be called “home.” This home, located at 14444 Euclid Avenue, was the first under the name of Faith Cumberland Presbyterian Church, after being organized as a church in 1978 by the Cleveland Ohio Presbytery Moderator, Rev. Andrew West of Chicago, Illinois.
Many blessings were bestowed upon Faith—generous contributions by members and friends. Because of this and hard work and determination by church members, the mortgage, held in the names of the late Elder LeMon Scruggs (a non-member at the time) and Sis. Harriet Scruggs, was paid off in a short period of time. It was such a joy, and members began working hard toward their next goal—a new church.
Faith continued to receive many blessings, the majority being on file—however, too numerous to share at this time. Many of the blessings stemmed from well-wishers who were not members at the time, such as the late Elder LeMon Scruggs, the late Sis. Lois Watts, Brother & Sister Gregory Groves, Bro. Greg Scruggs and Bro. & Sis. Louis Thomas—just to name a few. Some of these well-wishers later became members of Faith.
While it was a good feeling to have no mortgage, members expressed a desire to have more suitable facilities for attracting souls to Christ. Being a realtor, at the time, Sis. Harriet Scruggs, Church Clerk and Secretary, searched and found a location for Faith’s new home. Through skillful negotiations and donating a portion of her commission, the cost to Faith for the new home was very attractive and affordable through hard work and “belt tightening.” These were words used in his presentation, when Bro. Charles Moore made a proposal to the membership describing how to purchase this property and construct an addition to the existing building, which is now the sanctuary.
Because funding would be a major issue, Bro. Moore’s determination and his strong personal financial backing allowed Faith to undertake this major project. Volunteers who responded to the request of making loans to the church were Pastor & Sis. Charles Burks, Bro. & Sis. James Carter, and Elder and Sis. LeMon Scruggs. Many of the members responded when the session asked each to donate $1,000 to the Building Fund, which was originated by Pastor Burks and continues to be a major factor today.
After the loans and donations, the difference, which was substantial, was loaned by Bro. and Sis. Charles Moore. In addition, some of the members increased their weekly offerings. The blessings continued to flow, and visitors and well-wishers continued to step forward with generous contributions, adding Bro. & the late Sis. Hays Thomas to the list.
Recognizing a need of more than funding for the new site, Sis. Harriet Scruggs and Bro. Charles Moore worked closely with the contractor and coordinated the completion and furnishing of the new structure to ensure member satisfaction on their move-in date, which was August 2, 1992. In September, 1992, Faith was dedicated to God. The late Rev. Virgil T. Rice of Chicago, Illinois and Moderator of the Cleveland Ohio Presbytery, officiated.
Debt and expenses grew as two properties were maintained—old Faith and new Faith. Bro. Hays Thomas, not a member at the time, offered his services to work with a team to put together a workable plan that would eliminate the debt in a shorter period of time than the scheduled 15 years. The session accepted the gracious offer and appointed a committee, comprised of Sis. Bertha Carter, Sis. Delores Moore, the late Elder LeMon Scruggs, and Sis. Harriet Scruggs, to work along with Bro. Thomas.
The plan which would be annual pledges—supported by a payment plan, was accepted by the session; proposed to the membership; accepted and implemented. Demonstrating a strong commitment to the plan, Bro. Thomas and his family participated and followed through to and beyond completion. Bro. Thomas stressed that in order for the plan to be successful, 100% participation—no matter what the pledge—would have to be expected. Self-directed pledges ranging from $5 to $100 and more per month were to be determined based on how members felt they were being blessed. Members and friends of Faith are appreciated for their efforts to follow through with their commitments.
In addition to the successful Pledge Plan that was in place, members of the Missionary Society and its supporters worked diligently with fund raising, and made substantial gifts toward the reduction of the debt. The final payment was made and celebrated with a mortgage burning banquet on October 19, 1996 (Four years after moving to their new home).
In 2001, Bro. Thomas again offered his services and presented the Pledge Plan to be run in conjunction with the Building Fund to address major maintenance problems that the membership would likely face as the building continues to age. He requested and gained the support of a Building & Building Fund Team comprised of Bro. James Carter, Bro. Charles Moore, Elder W. George Smith, Sis. Ruby Smith, and Elder Bertha Carter. The plan would be to grow the Building Fund that would allow major expenses to be covered. We have been blessed to be in a position to complete major building projects with the efforts of Bro. Hays Thomas, Bro. James Carter, Bro. Charles Moore and Bro. Alphert Hardy, who joined the team in 2012, without having to make a direct call upon the membership. The Committee remains focused to that end. While Bro. Carter is no longer officially on the team, he continues to willingly lend a hand when needed and Bro. Leon Adams has joined the team.
Factors contributing to Faith’s historical marks consist of the ordination of its first three female elders, and the later addition of two more female elders in 2013; the installation of an assistant pastor, Rev. Dr. Anthony Johnson, who was elected to serve as Faith’s Pastor on May 18, 2014.
Faith is blessed to have a Sunday School which is well attended; an inspiring and committed choir; an Usher Board in its continued growth stage; a strong Missionary Society with an outreach program to help the sick, needy, and the bereaved; The Servants For Christ, an outreach ministry to nursing homes and a heavy focus on the homeless; and supportive officer boards, comprised of elders and deacons enhancing all of these operations.
Those serving as leaders have been: The late Elder Luther Moore (Teacher), 1975; Rev. J. L. Williams, 1975 – 1977; Rev. James H. Stephens (Pastor), 1978 – 1987 and 2002 – 2008; Rev. Dexter R. Hazzard (Pastor-Elect), 1987 – 1988; Rev. Charles L. Burks (Pastor), 1989 – 2001; Rev. Leonard L. Rowe (Pastor), 2009 – January 5, 2013; Rev. Dr. Anthony Johnson, (Supply Pastor, Pastor Elect, Pastor), 2013 – 2014; Rev. Dr. Anthony Johnson, 2014 – Present (Pastor).
History
Historian: Elder Bertha Carter
February 2023, forty-five years will have passed since the beginning of “Save The Youth Mission,” founded by Elder Harriet Scruggs, and what is now known to be Faith Cumberland Presbyterian Church In America. With sincere determination and a strong will to succeed, a handful of members, after meeting in homes and in the chapel of Martin Funeral Home, ventured out to find a place that could be called “home.” This home, located at 14444 Euclid Avenue, was the first under the name of Faith Cumberland Presbyterian Church, after being organized as a church in 1978 by the Cleveland Ohio Presbytery Moderator, Rev. Andrew West of Chicago, Illinois.
Many blessings were bestowed upon Faith—generous contributions by members and friends. Because of this and hard work and determination by church members, the mortgage, held in the names of the late Elder LeMon Scruggs (a non-member at the time) and Sis. Harriet Scruggs, was paid off in a short period of time. It was such a joy, and members began working hard toward their next goal—a new church.
Faith continued to receive many blessings, the majority being on file—however, too numerous to share at this time. Many of the blessings stemmed from well-wishers who were not members at the time, such as the late Elder LeMon Scruggs, the late Sis. Lois Watts, Brother & Sister Gregory Groves, Bro. Greg Scruggs and Bro. & Sis. Louis Thomas—just to name a few. Some of these well-wishers later became members of Faith.
While it was a good feeling to have no mortgage, members expressed a desire to have more suitable facilities for attracting souls to Christ. Being a realtor, at the time, Sis. Harriet Scruggs, Church Clerk and Secretary, searched and found a location for Faith’s new home. Through skillful negotiations and donating a portion of her commission, the cost to Faith for the new home was very attractive and affordable through hard work and “belt tightening.” These were words used in his presentation, when Bro. Charles Moore made a proposal to the membership describing how to purchase this property and construct an addition to the existing building, which is now the sanctuary.
Because funding would be a major issue, Bro. Moore’s determination and his strong personal financial backing allowed Faith to undertake this major project. Volunteers who responded to the request of making loans to the church were Pastor & Sis. Charles Burks, Bro. & Sis. James Carter, and Elder and Sis. LeMon Scruggs. Many of the members responded when the session asked each to donate $1,000 to the Building Fund, which was originated by Pastor Burks and continues to be a major factor today.
After the loans and donations, the difference, which was substantial, was loaned by Bro. and Sis. Charles Moore. In addition, some of the members increased their weekly offerings. The blessings continued to flow, and visitors and well-wishers continued to step forward with generous contributions, adding Bro. & the late Sis. Hays Thomas to the list.
Recognizing a need of more than funding for the new site, Sis. Harriet Scruggs and Bro. Charles Moore worked closely with the contractor and coordinated the completion and furnishing of the new structure to ensure member satisfaction on their move-in date, which was August 2, 1992. In September, 1992, Faith was dedicated to God. The late Rev. Virgil T. Rice of Chicago, Illinois and Moderator of the Cleveland Ohio Presbytery, officiated.
Debt and expenses grew as two properties were maintained—old Faith and new Faith. Bro. Hays Thomas, not a member at the time, offered his services to work with a team to put together a workable plan that would eliminate the debt in a shorter period of time than the scheduled 15 years. The session accepted the gracious offer and appointed a committee, comprised of Sis. Bertha Carter, Sis. Delores Moore, the late Elder LeMon Scruggs, and Sis. Harriet Scruggs, to work along with Bro. Thomas.
The plan which would be annual pledges—supported by a payment plan, was accepted by the session; proposed to the membership; accepted and implemented. Demonstrating a strong commitment to the plan, Bro. Thomas and his family participated and followed through to and beyond completion. Bro. Thomas stressed that in order for the plan to be successful, 100% participation—no matter what the pledge—would have to be expected. Self-directed pledges ranging from $5 to $100 and more per month were to be determined based on how members felt they were being blessed. Members and friends of Faith are appreciated for their efforts to follow through with their commitments.
In addition to the successful Pledge Plan that was in place, members of the Missionary Society and its supporters worked diligently with fund raising, and made substantial gifts toward the reduction of the debt. The final payment was made and celebrated with a mortgage burning banquet on October 19, 1996 (Four years after moving to their new home).
In 2001, Bro. Thomas again offered his services and presented the Pledge Plan to be run in conjunction with the Building Fund to address major maintenance problems that the membership would likely face as the building continues to age. He requested and gained the support of a Building & Building Fund Team comprised of Bro. James Carter, Bro. Charles Moore, Elder W. George Smith, Sis. Ruby Smith, and Elder Bertha Carter. The plan would be to grow the Building Fund that would allow major expenses to be covered. We have been blessed to be in a position to complete major building projects with the efforts of Bro. Hays Thomas, Bro. James Carter, Bro. Charles Moore and Bro. Alphert Hardy, who joined the team in 2012, without having to make a direct call upon the membership. The Committee remains focused to that end. While Bro. Carter is no longer officially on the team, he continues to willingly lend a hand when needed and Bro. Leon Adams has joined the team.
Factors contributing to Faith’s historical marks consist of the ordination of its first three female elders, and the later addition of two more female elders in 2013; the installation of an assistant pastor, Rev. Dr. Anthony Johnson, who was elected to serve as Faith’s Pastor on May 18, 2014.
Faith is blessed to have a Sunday School which is well attended; an inspiring and committed choir; an Usher Board in its continued growth stage; a strong Missionary Society with an outreach program to help the sick, needy, and the bereaved; The Servants For Christ, an outreach ministry to nursing homes and a heavy focus on the homeless; and supportive officer boards, comprised of elders and deacons enhancing all of these operations.
Those serving as leaders have been: The late Elder Luther Moore (Teacher), 1975; Rev. J. L. Williams, 1975 – 1977; Rev. James H. Stephens (Pastor), 1978 – 1987 and 2002 – 2008; Rev. Dexter R. Hazzard (Pastor-Elect), 1987 – 1988; Rev. Charles L. Burks (Pastor), 1989 – 2001; Rev. Leonard L. Rowe (Pastor), 2009 – January 5, 2013; Rev. Dr. Anthony Johnson, (Supply Pastor, Pastor Elect, Pastor), 2013 – 2014; Rev. Dr. Anthony Johnson, 2014 – Present (Pastor).