The Evening Light and Church of God Evangel (1910)

On March 1, 1910, the first issue of The Evening Light and Church of God Evangel was published in Cleveland, Tennessee, with A. J. Tomlinson serving as publishing editor. In an era when many believers were scattered across rural communities and small towns, this paper became a steady voice of Scripture-centered instruction and encouragement. It carried testimonies of conversion and sanctification, accounts of prayer answered, and reports of revivals that reminded readers the gospel was still “the power of God for salvation” (Romans 1:16).

A. J. Tomlinson (1870–1943)

Tomlinson’s work as publishing editor required more than organization; it demanded perseverance, discernment, and a shepherd’s heart. He bore the practical burdens of editing, printing, and distribution while seeking to keep the message clear and Christ-exalting. His willingness to shoulder responsibility showed courage rooted in faith, reflecting the call to “be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord” (1 Corinthians 15:58). In a time of limited resources, he treated ink and paper as instruments for strengthening the church.

Cleveland, Tennessee, and a Growing Witness

Cleveland served as a strategic hub for spreading teaching and news to congregations near and far. The publication helped knit together believers who might otherwise have remained isolated, offering common counsel and shared rejoicing. By circulating doctrinal clarity and practical exhortation, it encouraged unity without surrendering holiness. Readers were urged to live as a people set apart, not merely informed. “Be holy, because I am holy” (1 Peter 1:16) was not a slogan but a summons to daily obedience, humility, and purity.

Legacy of Revival Reporting and Spiritual Formation

Beyond announcing meetings, the paper preserved the fruits of revival by recording what God was doing—saving the lost, restoring the wandering, and stirring prayer among the faithful. Such reporting strengthened hope and courage, reminding households that the light of Christ was not confined to one meetinghouse or one region. The publication’s tone—testimony, exhortation, and Scripture—helped believers “shine as lights in the world” (Philippians 2:15), urging them to persevere, forgive, and love fervently. In that early issue, a simple print ministry became a quiet form of Christian heroism: faithful labor offered to God for the building up of His people.