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Tower of Prayer Church of God in Christ to hold special services for the Rev. Burton Clemons, wife
By By Colette M. Jenkins
Beacon Journal religion writer
Published on Saturday, Sep 27, 2008
The Rev. Burton D. Clemons told the congregation at Prayer Tower Church of God in Christ that he would join them in their prayer, asking God to send them a pastor.
He was confident God would deliver, but he never expected the answer that was received.
''I had already made up my mind that I never wanted to pastor a storefront church and it was deep storefront, it was ragged. So, I knew I wasn't the person God would send them,'' Clemons said. ''Then I had an epiphany that God could do something in this storefront and I knew I was the answer to the prayers of the people and my own prayer.''
That was more than 40 years ago, after Clemons delivered a sermon at the small storefront on Case Avenue in Akron. Today, he still is pastoring that church — now Tower of Prayer Church of God in Christ at 1334 Diagonal Road.
Next weekend, the congregation will honor Clemons and his high school sweetheart and wife of 55 years, Marion Gene, who uses her middle name and is affectionately known as ''Mother Clemons,'' for their servant leadership. A special service dedicated to Gene Clemons is 7 p.m. Oct. 4. Worship services honoring the Clemonses are at 11:30 a.m. and 4 p.m. Oct. 5.
''They are still the same dear, dear people that they were when we first met them. They have always been there when we've needed them. They just love people and we love them,'' said Charlotte Vinson, a lifelong member of the church. ''They came to us and started working and they continue to do so today. It's not uncommon to find them sweeping and cleaning. They don't tell you what to do. They show you how to do it.''
An enriching journey
Clemons, 75, and his wife, 74, have been traveling the road between their Shaker Heights home and the Akron church at least three times a week since he was appointed pastor in 1968.
''We continue to come to the church because we love the people,'' said Gene Clemons, who has prepared the church bulletin each Sunday for the past 40 years. ''We are more than members of the same church, we are friends.''
The Clemonses agree that the past 40 years have been an enriching journey that has allowed them to help others.
''We're missions-minded people. We believe that if you're not helping somebody, you're really not doing anything,'' the Rev. Clemons said. ''We've been blessed to grow together. I believe that if we allow people to be in our lives and to help us, we're really better off.''
Under Clemons' leadership, the congregation has grown from about a dozen members to 150 and purchased two new vans, a grand piano and an organ. The church has moved from the small storefront building to a larger property on Copley Road and then to its present location on Diagonal Road.
The missions program at the church has provided more than 50,000 meals and thousands of bags of groceries. Each year, for the past 25 years, the Clemonses have chartered a bus to give church members, particularly seniors, an opportunity to attend the denomination's Holy Convocation in Memphis, Tenn. Clemons said the church also has nurtured five pastors who went on to start their own congregations.
In 1985, the Rev. Clemons founded the Koinonia Christian Youth Retreat, which gives inner city youth a chance to reflect on their lives and determine ways to achieve their goals and make positive changes. He also established Christ the King Church of God in Christ in Cleveland. He serves as the district superintendent of five churches in the Ohio North Jurisdiction of the Church of God in Christ and is vice president of the denomination's Pentecostal Connection in Cleveland.
In addition to being a pastor, Clemons has been a successful businessman. He was owner and operator of two service stations — a Sohio and a Shell — and auto repair businesses, and the first African-American to own a franchised Chrysler-Plymouth auto dealership.
Clemons' calling
Clemons accepted his call into the ministry in 1957 while attending a worship service. He said he still is not sure whether he should call his experience a vision.
''I was sitting there and I began to see people all around me crying out, as if they were in pain. I felt this presence close to me and asked what is wrong with these people,'' Clemons said. ''This presence, or voice of God, said to me they're suffering because they need to hear the word. I kept sitting there and starting feeling something sticking me in the back.
''I was sitting on the back pew, which was against the wall, so I knew there was no one behind me. It kept sticking me until I stood up and an elder invited me to speak. The people seemed to receive what I said and that was the beginning.''
Clemons was licensed in 1958 and ordained in 1965. The 1950 Glenville High School graduate earned his undergraduate degree in psychology at Cleveland State University and his graduate degree in pastoral counseling and psychology at Ashland Theological Seminary.
''My time as pastor here at Tower of Prayer has been a tremendous journey,'' Clemons said. ''We've worn out several good cars over the years but it's all been worth it. The Lord has always made a way for us.''
Colette Jenkins can be reached at 330-996-3731 or cjenkins@thebeaconjournal.com.
The Rev. Burton D. Clemons told the congregation at Prayer Tower Church of God in Christ that he would join them in their prayer, asking God to send them a pastor.
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