T
HE AZUSA STREET Pentecostal revival in Cali-
fornia in 1906 was led by an African-American,
William J. Seymour. Ten years before the
California outpouring of the Spirit, the infant
Church of God movement experienced the
baptism in the Holy Spirit at the Shearer School House in
North Carolina. Color barriers faded on both sides of the
country as God poured out His Spirit on His people.
SEAFORD, DELAWARE
Three years after the Azusa revival began, A.J. Tom-
CLARENCE STREET CHURCH OF GOD
linson, at Durant, Florida, credentialed the first black
The Clarence Street Church was organized by Allan
ministers in the Church of God when he licensed
Stanley in 1933, and began with 65 charter members as
Edmund and Rebecca Barr. Edmund was advanced to
an outreach of the Church of God in East New Market,
ordained minister in 1912, and by 1913 there were 11
Maryland. East New Market was the first African-American
credentialed black ministers, although the listing of
Church of God in Delmarva-DC, carrying the file number
ministers made no reference to race.
606. With the ultimate demise of the East New Market
Black ministries in the Church of God began with
Church, Clarence Street inherited the distinction as the
Edmund and Rebecca Barr’s return to their native
oldest continuous black Church of God in Delmarva-DC.
Bahamas, and have been an integral part of Church of
Affectionately regarded as “the mother church,” more than
God ministries since that time. The phenomenal growth
30 congregations have been planted by the Clarence Street
of the Church of God in the Bahamas and surround-
Church, and more than 50 ministers have been set forth by
ing islands led to the same in the United States—first
this body. Membership today is just over 250.
in nearby Florida, and then across the nation and the
Several former pastors have been outstanding leaders in
world. Strong leaders emerged from these ministries,
the Church of God. Among them are Isaac Brunson, N.S.
and vibrant local churches were established. Churches
Marcelle, and H.G. Poitier, who served as general director of
led by black pastors now dot the landscape of the
black ministries for the Church of God, and is a relative of
Church of God around the world, and in some places, a
the famous actor Sidney Poitier.
Church of God with a predominantly African-American
Carlton L. Cannon Sr. is the current pastor. Under his
membership is the largest Pentecostal church in town.
leadership, extensive expansion and remodeling of facilities
As the senior editor of the Evangel, I have sought to
has taken place. The only native son of the congregation to
make this publication inclusive of all of the Church of
return as its pastor, Cannon is a proponent of cooperation
God. As part of that effort, each February we provide a
among all ethnicities and has guided the church into min-
Black History Month feature. This year we are focusing
istries of community involvement. Pastor Cannon serves
on three congregations as representatives of the hun-
as an elected member of the Board of Education for the
dreds of African-American churches and their thousands
Seaford School
of members in the Church of God. One of these church-
District and is
es is in the suburbs of a major U.S. city, another is in a
very involved
small Southern farm town, and the other is the oldest
in rehabilitat-
continuing black Church of God in its region. We wish
ing former
we could elaborate more on each, and we wish we had
prisoners. Six
space to tell of others. We hope, however, that these
former inmates
three accounts will give our readers a deeper apprecia-
who have been
tion for the faithfulness and loyalty of our many con-
led to Christ
gregations in the minority communities of the Church
and nurtured
of God. It has been my privilege to sing and preach in
through Pastor
many of our African-American churches, and I appreci-
Cannon and
ate the difference they are making in their communities.
the Seaford Church are now in active ministry. The church
boasts three certified institutional chaplains, one of whom
was led to Christ while in prison.
Bishop Cannon serves as chairman of the Delmarva-DC
Ministerial Examining Board, as an alternate member of the
Regional Council, and as a member of the Historical Com-
▲ ▲
mission for the Church of God in Delmarva-DC.
EVANGEL • FEB 2010 17
Page 1  |  Page 2  |  Page 3  |  Page 4  |  Page 5  |  Page 6  |  Page 7  |  Page 8  |  Page 9  |  Page 10  |  Page 11  |  Page 12  |  Page 13  |  Page 14  |  Page 15  |  Page 16  |  Page 17  |  Page 18  |  Page 19  |  Page 20  |  Page 21  |  Page 22  |  Page 23  |  Page 24  |  Page 25  |  Page 26  |  Page 27  |  Page 28  |  Page 29  |  Page 30  |  Page 31  |  Page 32