One hundred years of the Church of God Evangel and Publishing House (Pathway Press) is being commemorated with a special centennial edition of the Evangel slated for release next week.
By James E. Cossey
At the 1910 General Assembly of the Church of God, held here in Cleveland, a committee was appointed to study the possibility of a church paper. Two days after being appointed, the committee recommended that a paper be created. The Assembly agreed, and the premier issue of the Evening Light and Church of God Evangel was printed by Walter Rogers Press in Cleveland, dated March 1, 1910. There were 125 charter subscribers. One year later, at the 1911 Assembly, the name was shortened to its present form, Church of God Evangel.
Originally a weekly publication, the Evangel evolved from its original 8-page format to a tabloid, to a one-color magazine, to a two-color, then to the full-color 32-page magazine of today. From its inception, the Evangel has featured news about the Church of God and its congregations, inspirational articles, and defenses of the doctrines and practices of the Church of God. With A. J. Tomlinson as the first, a total of 16 editors have served the publication during its 100-year history. Dr. James E. Cossey, the current editor, has served in this capacity since 2006. Today the Evangel not only reaches its constituents through its award-winning printed version, it is also accessible globally as a subscription-free online edition (www.onlineevangel.org [1]). It is not unusual to learn of readers in such faraway places as the Philippines, Israel, Indonesia, and the various nations of Africa.
The Church of God had 31 local congregations and 1,005 members in 1910. They all received “the paper” very well, and soon there was a cry for additional resources. Early Sunday school curricula consisted of illustrated teaching cards that were used to teach the children, thus originating the term that was to be used for many years thereafter—the card class. Today, the Church of God Publishing House (trade name Pathway Press) provides a vast array of curricula for all ages—from the nursery to the senior adults, and the Evangelical Sunday School Lesson Commentary, which has become one of the most widely-circulated commentaries on the market. While the primary audience for Pathway curricula is the Church of God, the materials are not denominationally-specific, and several smaller denominations and numerous independent local churches regularly utilize the materials. The years 2010-2011 will see various upgrades, improvements, and redesigns in Pathway’s curriculum offerings, as well as the introduction of new electives for those churches seeking an alternative to the traditional Sunday school.
In 1917, the Church of God Publishing House constructed its first building, a 20 x 30 weatherboard facility on Gaut Street. Over time, additions would be made to that original structure, other locations would be secured, and the “Press,” as its personnel affectionately call it, would ultimately settle at its present location at 1080 Montgomery Avenue, adjacent to the North Cleveland Church of God.
From the Montgomery Avenue location, Pathway Press continues to be a leader among Christian publishing companies, providing Sunday school materials, Christian education and doctrinal resources, hymnals, and commentaries. A modern state-of-the-art digital press provides commercial print services for the denomination, local churches, and the community. While most in the Cleveland area are aware of Pathway’s denominational publications, few are aware that Pathway Digital also provides price-competitive job printing for businesses and industry.
In 2009, Pathway Press broke into the highly competitive book publishing market with the release of They Popped My Hood and Found Gravy on the Dipstick! by Fox News Radio personality Todd Starnes. Although Pathway Press has been publishing books since the 1950s, this was the first to break into the national market, with placement in both Christian and secular bookstores across the country. Through our partnership with a professional publicist, the author, an alumnus of Lee University, was scheduled for international television interviews on programs such as The 700 Club, Daystar Television Network, Fox and Friends, Fox’s The Morning Show with Mike and Juliette, and the Oprah Winfrey Network.
In addition to the eight to ten new books published each year bearing the Pathway label, Pathway Press also operates a self-publishing subsidiary, Derek Press, which provides programs by which an aspiring Christian author may self-publish his or her book. Scores of authors who may have limited public exposure, or who choose to self-market their books have had their literary works turned into salable products through Derek Press.
Pathway Pro Images provides state-of-the-art audio and video equipment and expert consultation to local churches as well as to business and industry. Church furnishing, office furniture, and electronic equipment can be purchased at competitive prices through Pathway Pro Images.
In early 2009, Pathway Bookstore, once prominently located on 25th Street in Cleveland transitioned to a highly-visible, international location on the World Wide Web. Once limited to established business hours, Pathway Bookstore is now open 24/7 and accessible around the world. A full array of books, Christian education materials, and church ministry resources and supplies, is now available by the click of a mouse at www.pathwaybookstore.com.
For 100 years, Pathway Press has served the constituency of the Church of God and the Cleveland community. Because of the ever-changing world of publications, the advent of digital printing, and the currently vacillating American economy, Pathway, during the past few years, has experienced the necessity of reorganization and restructuring. In spite of this, it continues to offer all of the products and services that its customers and clients have come to expect. Under the direction of the Reverend Joseph A. Mirkovich, general director of publications, and with strong support from the Church of God International Executive Committee and a very progressive Board of Directors, Pathway is poised for progress as it enters its second century of ministry!
About the Author: James E. Cossey, Th.D., is Editor in Chief of Church of God Publications and senior editor of the Church of God Evangel.