From 1956 to the present…. The history of Restoration Ministries of Greater Cleveland, formerly “Covenant Baptist Church…”
Covenant Baptist Church, the early years…
Covenant Baptist church was established in 1956 as an American Baptist Church in Wickliffe, Ohio. It was organized by a group of community conscious believers desiring to bring an American Baptist Christian witness to the Wickliffe area. The founding Pastor was The Reverend Otto Loverude.
Covenant Baptist Church was established out of a dream to provide a Christian witness with an American Baptist identity to Wickliffe and the surrounding communities. Our church was organized in 1953, and we received our charter in 1956. Before the building was erected, worship was held at the Wickliffe City Hall. Meetings were held in individual homes. In the spring of 1957, ground was broken to begin construction of the present church building. During that year, the Wickliffe City Schools used four of our classrooms as the “Ridge Road School.” The second section of our church was built in 1962. We added two new offices, a crib room, three more classrooms, another furnace room, a parlor, two lavatories, and a large social hall with a small kitchen. In the fall of 1963, nine of our classrooms were being used by the Wickliffe City Schools. In the winter of that year, the 250 students and their teachers were able to move into public school facilities. In 1974, we were able to build our own baptistery. A model was constructed to show how the proposed remodeling would look.
The Lord provided shepherds to lead the congregation over the years…
- The Reverend Otto Loverude (1955-1966)
- The Reverend Ronald Kelder (1967-1974)
- The Reverend Dennis Stull (1976-1979)
- The Reverend Lee Edward Prong (1980-1986)
- The Reverend G Reed Taylor (Interim) (1986-1988)
- The Reverend Kent Harrop (1988-1994)
- The Reverend James McMullen (Interim) (1994-1995)
- The Reverend David Chapman (1995-2001)
- The Reverend Thomas Olcott (Interim) (2002 -2004)
- The Reverend Wesley Toles (Interim) (2005-2006)
God’s Word declares, “But they that wait upon the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint.” (Isaiah 40:31 KJV). On January 15, 2006 the Lord led the congregation of the Covenant Baptist Church to extend the call to the Reverend Christine A. Smith to serve as our 7th pastor. Upon acceptance of the call, Reverend Smith became the first female pastor in the history of the Covenant Baptist Church and only the second female Baptist pastor (of a mainline denomination – American Baptist Churches, USA) in the Greater Cleveland area.
After having experienced many transitions due to the death of elders, changes in membership and increasing difficulties with the physical structure, in 2013, the Covenant Baptist Church Congregation voted unanimously to place the property at 28930 Ridge Road, Wickliffe Ohio on the sales market. The last official Sunday that the congregation worshiped at that location was April 27, 2014. The following Sunday, Covenant members joyfully and by faith began worshiping at Quality Inn on Euclid Avenue in Wickliffe for approximately 6 weeks. In late June, 2014, Covenant Baptist Church began a long-term lease agreement with St. John of the Cross Parish in Euclid.
The arrangement included space in St. John’s former school building: a large classroom as Covenant’s worship space, a main office, pastoral office and a shared private bathroom space. The church also leased another classroom for small fellowship gatherings and meetings. Access was granted to the larger gym area, industrial kitchen and additional bathrooms. By faith, Pastor Smith cast the vision for Covenant to continue to cultivate a strong, vibrant, evangelistic and disciple making ministry. On July 30th, 2019, Covenant Baptist Church finally completed the sale of its Ridge Road property. On September 6th, 2019, Covenant Baptist Church made the long awaited transition to officially change its name to “Restoration Ministries of Greater Cleveland, Inc.” By faith” a “remnant” of members continue to serve and support the ministry as it moves forward into the future ordered by the LORD!
By FAITH, doing GREAT THINGS in the name of the LORD!!!
The following individuals served as the Charter Members of Restoration Ministries of Greater Cleveland, Inc., September 2019:
- The Reverend Dr. Christine A. Smith, Senior Pastor
- Bro. Aristide Smith, Jr., 1st Gentleman
- Junior Deacon, Aristide Smith, III
- Bro. Caleb A. Smith
- Sister Aris C. Smith
- Rev. Kathryn R. Johnson, Church Treasurer and Associate Minister
- Rev. Ramona Guadalupe, Associate Minister
- Rev. Nadean Shopbell
- Deacon Kevin R. Johnson, Deacons Ministry
- Deacon Juanita Jett
- Deacon Ruby Houston
- Sister Vera Wilson
- Sister Helen Jackson
- Sister Wanda Brown
- Sister Gladys Brown
- Sister Kristen Smith
- Bro. Matthew Smith
- Sister Tyler Smith
