The History of:
Historic East Lake Church

Historic East Lake Church located at 12400 E. Jefferson, Detroit, Michigan was founded and organized in 1920 on Detroit’s near east side by Revered Taylor in the home of Mother Westbrook on Clairpointe Street. East Lake was one of several pioneer churches that came into existence during the period of the “great migration” as African Americans streamed upward from the rural South to the industrialized North at the turn of the last century. Pastor Taylor’s pastorate was brief, but much is owed to him for midwifing East Lake into being.

Revered A. Whoey became the second pastor of East Lake in 1921, and presided over the first growth pains of the church which resulted in the construction of it’s original house of worship at 847 Tennessee. This small white frame edifice stands today, and was East Lake’s home until 1952 when the congregation moved to 728 Conner Avenue. Pastor Whoey resigned in 1933.

Reverend Clark served briefly as pastor, followed by Reverend C.L. Chateen who served from 1934 until he resigned in 1936. The Reverend Clarence J. Gadson began his pastoral tenure in 1936 and served productively for a span of 42 years ending in 1978. During his pastorate East Lake experienced tremendous growth, which made it necessary to erect a brick and stone edifice at 728 Conner which was completed in the summer of 1952. Great were the accomplishments of Pastor Gadson who retired in 1978 and died in 1979. Rev. Anderson Chavis served as interim Pastor until 1979 when Rev. Owen Cardwell was installed as Pastor. During his tenure, there was growth in the areas of the music and youth ministries. After has resignation in 1983, Rev. Robert Jones served as interim pastor until the present pastor Michael g. Cunningham was elected in 1984. Under Pastor Cunningham’s leadership, East Lake has achieved numerical, material and spiritual growth. Many innovative ministries have been the hallmark of his pastorate with an emphasis on Christian education and community outreach. In 1994 the church purchased the present site at 12400 East Jefferson for a ministry campus. Ground was broken in 1995 for the construction of Phase 1 of a planned four-phase campus. The 18,000 sq. ft. Family Life Center construction began in 1996 and was completed in 1997 at a cost of 1.4 million dollars. A 10,500 sq ft. modular Learning Center was constructed in 2000 at a cost of one million dollars.

East Lake Church will soon begin construction on a state-of-the art Worship and Conference Center (a.k.a: E.L.C.W.C.C.) which will facilitate many new technology-driven ministries for a 21^st century church.  East Lake is home to Promiseland Daycare and Child Development Center, the Kingdom Men’s Café ( a four star restaurant), Empowerment Academy- Clairpointe Campus ( a public high school academy), Beacon Bookstore  and Gift Shop, A.A. and Substance Abuse Group, the E.B.A. Basketball League and twenty five other life changing ministries offered to the region 7 days per week. East Lake is “The Light Shining from the East in Detroit” in the heart of the city, with the city in it’s heart.