The Story of East Cleveland Fellowship
It all began during the year of COVID-19, when a tornado struck the East Cleveland, Tennessee community late on Easter Sunday night, April 12, 2020, at 3:45 a.m. Thankfully, there was no loss of life, but the storm caused significant damage—destroying and damaging homes, snapping trees, and leaving much of the area without power.
In the days following the tornado, Tim Maslov, assistant pastor at Living Stones Church and a faithful servant in the community, rallied people from Living Stones and other local churches to respond. With chainsaws in hand and hearts ready to serve, volunteers came together to help the residents of East Cleveland. The Slavic Church of Cleveland on Strawberry Lane became ground zero for relief efforts.
For nearly a month, dozens of volunteers showed up daily to clear debris, prepare and serve food, and go door to door checking on neighbors—making sure they were safe and offering to pray with them. During these visits, we also would have Bible studies in homes with the desire of bringing people to the hope and peace found in Christ during a time of great uncertainty and loss.
As cleanup efforts drew to an end, we gathered on May 18, 2020, on Strawberry Lane to celebrate what God had done. It was a wonderful time of games, food, and fellowship. Yet for Tim, the work in East Cleveland was far from finished. He sensed that the Lord had more in store and began to seek ways to continue sharing the gospel and offering encouragement to the community. By this time, our hearts had become deeply connected with the people of East Cleveland.
During the summer of 2020, the East Cleveland Early Childhood Center graciously allowed Tim and volunteers from Living Stones and other churches to use their building one evening each week. These gatherings included meals, games, and Bible studies, open to anyone in the neighborhood. This season further knit our hearts together with our East Cleveland neighbors.
Through this experience, Tim became convinced that lasting ministry in East Cleveland would require a permanent presence. From the fall of 2020 into early spring 2021, he worked diligently with others at Living Stones to find a suitable location in the area. In early February 2021, his attention was drawn to a long-vacant church building at 822 Poplar Street. After speaking with a neighbor across the street and taking in the large sideyard and ideal location, Tim sensed this might be the place the Lord was providing.
Just three weeks later, on the evening of February 24, 2021, our dear Tim Maslov suddenly passed away while preparing to board a flight for a mission trip to Ukraine. His passing brought deep grief. Yet even in our sorrow, we were reminded that Tim’s love for East Cleveland was born from the heart of the Lord—and that the work should continue.
On June 24, 2021, the warranty deed was signed, and the building at 822 Poplar Street became the property of Living Stones and homebase for the growing ministry in East Cleveland. Under the leadership of Tim’s brother, Mike Maslov, cleanup and renovation began immediately. The work was immense, but the grace of the Lord was evident as dozens of family members, friends, and volunteers labored side by side for many hours.
During the year-and-a-half renovation process, we continued building relationships with our neighbors through community events. During this same period, the Lord was also working in the hearts of Chris Blake, a deacon at Living Stones, and his wife Jeannie. In July 2022, Chris sensed a clear confirmation from the Lord that he was being called to lead the ministry in East Cleveland.
Finally, at 6:00 p.m. on Sunday, February 26, 2023, East Cleveland Fellowship held its first gathering in the newly remodeled building. The timing felt significant to us as it was just two days after the two-year anniversary of Tim’s passing. We were reminded that a seed must fall into the ground and die in order to bear much fruit.
The guiding phrase of East Cleveland Fellowship is “Serving Jesus Together,” and we have seen the Lord continually confirm this calling. In the months and years since our first gathering, we have rejoiced as God has brought believers together from many churches in Cleveland, united in fellowship and service to our East Cleveland neighbors.
We have also been deeply blessed by local churches and servants who have come alongside the ECF ministry. From landscape help to the construction of our pavilion, many generous individuals from Cleveland and beyond have given faithfully—through prayer, finances, and supplies—to sustain this work.
As we look to the future, we are eager to see how the Lord will continue to grow and expand His work in East Cleveland. The spiritual and material needs in our community are great, and we are convinced that true revival and transformation will only take place through the work of multiple churches, ministries, and agencies serving Jesus together.
Our prayer is for a mighty work of the Holy Spirit in and through His people to see the gospel proclaimed, lives transformed, and our community renewed by the power and anointing of Jesus Christ.
“The Spirit of the Lord is upon Me,
Because He has anointed Me
To preach the gospel to the poor;
He has sent Me to heal the brokenhearted,
To proclaim liberty to the captives
And recovery of sight to the blind,
To set at liberty those who are oppressed,
To proclaim the acceptable year of the Lord.”
— Gospel of Luke 4:18–19
