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Sharon Charter Member List
The Eastside Church opened its doors for service on October 10, 1959. It developed from a nucleus of pioneering individuals who, possessed by a spirit of high adventure, responded to the call of Elder W.A. Thompson, then pastor of the Berea Temple Seventh Day Adventist church, to start a company in the eastern section of Baltimore. Because of the need for larger facilities, the congregation soon moved to 1122 Harford Avenue. It was here pioneers were made. Deacon Ball made our first pulpit. Our rent was $17.00 a week. It was here that the Eastside SDA Church thrived on Love, Sweat, and Tears. Thank God for Harford Avenue.
In December 1959, Elder W.M. Fordham became the pastor of the Baltimore District, as Elder Thompson accepted the call to fill the position of Secretary-Treasurer of the Allegheny Conference of Seventh-day Adventists. Under the experienced leadership of Elder Fordham and strong support of the late George Hall, Head Elder, the congregation prospered and grew to a membership of seventy-seven.
With the responsibilities of the parent-church, Berea Temple, becoming increasingly more demanding, the Eastside church was placed under the care of Pastor Robert L. Willis on November 7, 1961, who sought, under God's guidance, to lead our rapidly growing congregation to higher heights of achievement and into deeper channels of religious experience. It was here that the name “SHARON” was given to our church by a vote of consent.
In April 1962, the need for a more suitable place of worship was fulfilled by Dr. James Wooten and the congregation of the Milton Avenue Methodist Church, who offered their facilities to the church. The insatiable desire for a church home of our own only deepened.
The membership grew steadily, exhibiting a commendable spirit of sacrifice and earnestly petitioning God to open the way to the realization of our dreams. Accordingly, on November 15, 1962, the church embarked upon a venture of great faith. Papers for the purchase of our church on Calvert Street, at the cost of $75,000 were signed with the Trinity Evangelical Church. Dr J. Brinsfield, the pastor of the Trinity congregation, displaying a keen awareness of our situation, welcomed our church family and extended to us a two-year period in which to meet the requirement for financing our project.
November 19, 1964, 3:30 p.m. was to become an unforgettable moment in the history of the church. At that time, mortgage papers were signed with the Savings Bank of Baltimore for $47,000. This achievement would have never been realized were it not for the encouragement and support (a $6,000 gift) extended by the Allegheny Conference under the leadership of Elder W.A. Thompson, Secretary-Treasurer.
In the spirit of gratitude to our Heavenly Father, we thank Him for allowing us to be able to free our church home from its mortgage one year before maturity in 1973. We realize that this could not have been done without prayer and determination on the part of many.
Recognizinig a need for more space, due to growth in membership, Sharon Church moved to its present location in 2003. Twenty-five plus years working to tell others of the love of Jesus, Sharon Church has been a lighthouse to all. It is with determination that we shall enlarge our vision through our Ministers, Elders, Deacons, and other faithful leaders. It is our desire to be a continuous witness to the saving grace of Jesus Christ throughout this community and this city and to work for the establishment of His Kingdom in the earth.
We can only sing praises to Him from whom all blessings flow.
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