[Congressional Record Volume 147, Number 17 (Wednesday, February 7, 2001)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E130]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




       TRIBUTE TO ELDER EDWARD EARL CLEVELAND OF OAKWOOD COLLEGE

                                 ______
                                 

                    HON. ROBERT E. (BUD) CRAMER, JR.

                               of alabama

                    in the house of representatives

                      Wednesday, February 7, 2001

  Mr. CRAMER. Mr. Speaker, today I pay tribute to one of this century's 
most powerful evangelists, Elder Edward Earl Cleveland. As a worldwide 
evangelist traveling to over 67 countries of the world, Oakwood College 
is very fortunate to have had the talents of Elder Cleveland reside on 
their campus since 1977. During his fruitful 24-year career, Elder 
Cleveland has shared his evangelistic techniques with Oakwood students 
as a Lecturer in the Department of Religion at the College.
  Cleveland's life and accomplishments are truly extraordinary. He has 
conducted over 60 public Evangelism campaigns, trained over 1100 
pastors world-wide, preached on 6 continents and brought over 16,000 
new believers into the Seventh-day Adventist Church.
  His involvement with his community and his commitment to civil rights 
is no less impressive. Cleveland participated in the First March on 
Washington in 1957 with Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. He took the message 
of Dr. King with him to Oakwood organizing the NAACP Chapter for 
students there. He also took it to his Church where he was the first 
African-American integrated into a department of the General Conference 
of Seventh-day Adventists.
  I believe Elder Cleveland's blessed life can be captured in his life 
philosophy, ``I have seen God, for so long, do much with so little, I 
now believe He can do anything with nothing--meaning me.'' Thank 
goodness he had left a library of his works for us to learn from 
including ``The Middle Wall,'' ``The Exodus'' and his most recent work, 
``Let the Church Roll On.''
  As Elder Cleveland retires, I would like to extend my gratitude for 
his service to his family, his wife Celia, his son Edward Earl and his 
grandsons Edward Earl II and Omar Clifford for sharing their beloved 
husband, father and grandfather with the world.
  On behalf of United States Congress, I pay homage to Elder Cleveland 
and thank him for a job well done. I congratulate him on his retirement 
and wish him a well-deserved rest.

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