1901 The Furlong Church was established in Los Angeles
1908 African-American work is put on hold
1918 Washington Conference plans for minority group evangelism and constituency session votes to hire a black minister
1919 Lake Washington Church organized in Seattle
1920 Group in Lake Washington meets regularly
1921 Lake Washington Church closes and the majority of work stops
1943 Oregon Conference encourages Portland area branch Sabbath School for colored group (beginning of the Sharon Church)
1944 Colored group meets at the Fred and Minnie Hurd home in Seattle
1945 Washington Conference calls William Cleveland, the first minister to work with colored people in Seattle
1945 Shiloh Church in Seattle organized, now Emerald City Community Church
1946 Sharon Church (Portland) hosts meetings
1946 Building on Spruce Street purchased
1948 Sharon grows to 53 members
1950 Sharon grows to 100 members and Elder J. H. Laurance gave "Revelation for Our Times" meetings
1963 Mount Tahoma Church (Tacoma) established
1977 NPUC Regional Affairs appoints first director
1979 Maranatha Church begins (Seattle)
1980 Pasco (Wash.) Ephesus Church established
1981 Spokane East Central Church founded
1986 Anchorage (Alaska) Community Church begins
1987 NPUC Regional Affairs appoints second director
1991 Your Bible Speaks (Portland) established
1992 Breath of Life Church (Seattle) organized
2002 Love of Life Fellowship Church
(Federal Way, Wash.) founded
2002 Open Bible Fellowship Company
(Lakewood, Wash.) organized
2003 Oromo Group (Portland) recognized
2004 Lighthouse Christian Fellowship Group (Woodinville, Wash.)
Elder J.H. Lawrence gave "Revelation for Our Times" and was also the pastor of Seattle's Shiloh/Spruce Street/Emerald City Church from 1952-1963.
Justine Reed Bishop, vocalist, sang for many of the meetings in the new Sharon Church in Portland, Oregon. Please note Bishop's name appears on the vintage flier in this feature.
Church work in the African-American community stops.
Benjamin and Thelma Dent McAdoo stand in front of the Shiloh/Spruce Street/Emerald City Church in Seattle, Washington.Mc Adoo was a well-known architect who designed over 20 Northwest churches. His name still comes up today on architectural sites and well-designed listings.
Here are shown early church members of the Mt. Tahoma Church.
The Sharon Church deacons and deaconesses epitomize much of the early energy and pride of the "new" church in Portland, Oregon.
Elder Preston W. McDaniels conducts some of the first meetings at the Sharon Church in Portland, Oregon.
This is an early Sharon Church Missionary Volunteer group.
The Central Bakery in Seattle, Washington as it looks today. This is where Fred Hurd, one of the early pioneers in the Seattle-area church, worked.
Early pioneers of Seattle's Shilo Church (later changed to Spruce Street and Emerald City) stand proudly outside their new building.
The early work featured meetings like the one featured in this flier. Others were even more compelling, asking "How far is Hell from Portland?"
This early 1948 flier advertises the Sharon Church dedication. The church was located on Vancouver and Knott streets.
Lorenzo Daniels was the first African-American colporteur to serve in the North Pacific Union from 1952-1955. He was an ardent soul-winner, working with J.H. Laurance. Daniels and his family came to the Northwest with Elder Laurance.
Choir
Here is an early congregation.
Fred Hurd was a pioneer among the African-American work in the Northwest. Hurd was the manager for Seattle's Central Bakery and descendents say not a week went by without Hurd and his wife Minnie providing work, clothing and/or meals for someone in need.
This is the Sharon Church today in Portland, Oregon.
J.H. Laurance was the pastor of Seattle's Shiloh/Spruce Street/Emerald City Church from 1952-1963.
Ed White, served as the first NPUC Regional Affairs directo from 1977 through 1987.
Charles Edward Daniels, son of Lorenzo Daniels, was the first Black graduate of Auburn Academy around the mid-1950's.
Roscoe Howard, 3rd NPUC Regional Affairs director served from 1983 through 1998. Howard is shown here on the far bottom right, doing the early work among Northwest Adventists.
Alphonso McCarthy, at an early convocation, serves as the 4th and current NPUC vice president for regional affairs, a position he has had since 1998. He is featured in this GLEANER'S editorial.
Wayne Shepperd Jr. served as the 2nd NPUC Regional Affairs director from 1987 through 1993. During this time, Shepard also oversaw Native American Ministries and Hispanic Ministries.
Ed White, NPUC Regional Affairs director (on the far left), meets with other conference officials. White's position was the first in the Northwest and he served faithfully 1977 through 1987. Next to White is Jack Harris, former Oregon Conference president.
