Our journey began on February 12, 1931 when a small group of former members from Triedstone 
Baptist Church met in a small building at 6411 Quincy Avenue. With the support of Rev. Jordan of the National Foreign Mission Board, and the Rev. B. J. Glover, former pastor of Mt. Herman Baptist Church of Cleveland as Moderators, the small group of 40 stepped out on “mustard-seed faith” to create a new church.
On Sunday, February 16, 1931 our first service was held in the above building with Rev. C. John preaching our first sermon.Our first church meeting was called on February 17, 1931 to organize our auxiliaries and to select officers.
Hoping to bring more of the light of Jesus Christ to the Cleveland community, the fledgling congregation adopted the name, New Light Baptist Church. All were welcome to join and hear the truth about the Savior. Thus began a church, dedicated to addressing the full needs of humanity, in accordance with the commands of Jesus Christ. Our next consideration was a pastor. The Reverend A. W. Nix of Chicago, Illinois was offered as a candidate. On August 3, 1931, a call was extended to Rev. Nix. With everything finally in place, New Light Baptist Church began its journey. On December 28, 1931, the church had its first revival conducted by Rev. T. E. Brown of Chicago, Illinois. Over a two-year period, the church grew from the original 40 members to 150. Despite this great start, after some unfortunate happenings, the church found itself without a pastor. This placed the new congregation (which had no support from her sister churches) in a very difficult situation.
Hoping to bring more of the light of Jesus Christ to the Cleveland community, the fledgling congregation adopted the name, New Light Baptist Church. All were welcome to join and hear the truth about the Savior. Thus began a church, dedicated to addressing the full needs of humanity, in accordance with the commands of Jesus Christ.
Our next consideration was a pastor. The Reverend A. W. Nix of Chicago, Illinois was offered as a candidate. On August 3, 1931, a call was extended to Rev. Nix. With everything finally in place, New Light Baptist Church began its journey. On December 28, 1931, the church had its first revival conducted by Rev. T. E. Brown of Chicago, Illinois. Over a two-year period, the church grew from the original 40 members to 150. Despite this great start, after some unfortunate happenings, the church found itself without a pastor. This placed the new congregation (which had no support from her sister churches) in a very difficult situation.
After thriving without a pastor for several years, the church extended a call to the Reverend N. H. Armstrong, of Akron, Ohio on July 17, 1933. The church then took on new life and the membership grew from 150 to 500. Our choir became well known throughout the city of Cleveland with Mr. I. Chapman as Director and Mrs. Georgia Turpin as pianist. Under Rev. Armstrong’s pastorate, the church directed its focus on Christ’s ascension from the Mount of Olives and changed its name from New Light Baptist Church to Olivet Baptist Church. Rev. Armstrong resigned his pastorate in 1937 to accept a call to serve a church in Detroit, Michigan.
Finding itself again without a pastor, the church relocated to the upstairs rear of the building on 55th Street and Central Avenue, shared with the Mt. Zion Congregational Church. We then extended a call to Rev. Reddick of Alabama, but after some discussion, he returned to his church in Alabama. Our membership at this time had decreased to about 35 but these few still held on, praying and asking God's blessings on our church. It was at this time that God remembered Olivet and sent us a new shepherd.
The Reverend Eugene W. Ward of Detroit, Michigan, known as the spirited “Boy Preacher,” came to Olivet to carry on a revival for us. The few officers that were still there decided with the consent of the congregation that we should extend a call to him, and in September 1937, Rev. Ward was extended the call.
Rev. Ward brought new growth to Olivet. Under his leadership, the congregation grew and the church auxiliaries increased from seven to seventeen. The congregation soon outgrew the East 55th and Central Avenue location and the officers were instructed to be on the lookout for a new church home. In May 1938, we relocated to new quarters in the Bohemian Hall at 8802 Quincy Avenue. After worshipping there as tenants, we decided to buy the building.
