Tina McGrady | [email protected]
Pastor Steven Lee continues his late father’s mission in a new home.
Lee is the son of longtime apostolic pastor and community advocate, Bishop Clarence Lee, who died in May. Lee and members of the One Way Pentecostal Apostolic Church recently celebrated the grand opening of their new home at 711 Curtis St.
The August 26 celebration also included Lee receiving the title of bishop – like his father who founded the church in 1987.
The service included praise, worship and congratulatory comments from family members and other church officials, as well as Crawfordsville Mayor Todd Barton and Deputy Chief of Police Bob Rivers.
“I want to first and foremost congratulate,” Barton said. “When a church outgrows its facilities, something goes wrong.”
In 2020, after years of worship downtown in a former Wesleyan church on South Green Street, the church purchased the former Milligan Memorial Presbyterian Church on Mill Street. Before long, they grew up again and purchased the old Church of God building on Curtis Street.
The Mayor thanked the congregation for being a beacon of light and hope in the community.
“Our nation, our world, our community faces challenges, every community does, and every person in our community struggles every day…but you are making a difference in people’s lives,” he said. .
Barton praised Lee for carrying on his father’s legacy.
“A community is not made great by its buildings, or even by its leaders, a community is made great by its people, and what you do here makes our community a great place,” Barton said.
Rivers grew up with the Lee family and witnessed their commitment to their faith and community.
“They have done so much good for this community and what a testament to Pastor Steve and what he does…to have passed your church just shows what he and his family have done and continue to do for this community.”
Lee and his wife Tamara serve the local congregation, which has about 100 members. They are assisted by associate pastor Marcus Ellis and his wife Sharon and several associate pastors and ministers who make up the worship team.
Services are held at 7 p.m. on Wednesdays and 2 p.m. on Sundays. More information is available on the church’s Facebook page.
