Matthew Carpenter Strachan (St-ra-an) a native of one of the northeastern states, was born in May, 1879.
Strachan pastored in Washington in 1907 and was called to New York in 1924. Adventism thrived, in Harlem as blacks migrated during and after World War I. Strachan organized a church in Harlem during his six year tenure. Not long after his departure, the church took on the name “Ephesus.”
By taking on the roles of “social worker” in the municipal court system and chaplain for the black inmates in the Women’s Prison on Welfare Island (now called Roosevelt Island), Strachan brought practical help to those entangled in the consequences of crime, vice, and poverty.
Educated at Fisk University and Battle Creek College, Strachan stood at the forefront of an emerging corps of young black preachers in the Southern Union Conference.
Crowning evidence of the recognition Strachan achieved as a skillful organizer in the struggle for racial justice came in 1943 when A. Philip Randolph, the nation’s foremost civil rights leader at that time, named the 68-yearold preacher to the ten-member national executive committee of the March on Washington movement.
He was a pioneer in the Seventh-day Adventist denomination. In the early days of his ministry he became a co-leader with both blacks and whites spreading the gospel in the state of Mississippi, as well as others southern states.
“So let us have the prayers...that the message of truth may reach this large army of favored youth, and that some of them may be gathered out and hastily prepared to spread the message of the third angel.” (M.C. Strachan - Gospel Herald February,1907)
Additionally, he organized churches in Central Florida among them: The Tampa Colored Church, now known as the Mt. Calvary Seventh-day Adventist Church and the Miami Colored Church, now knows as the Bethany Seventh-day Adventist Church.
He also worked arduously to make the annual Florida Campmeetings (prior to the organization of the South Atlantic Conference) a great success. During his time, the Florida Campmeetings brought many, many visitors from other Seventh- day Adventist Conferences.
Remembering Elder Strachan’s good work in Florida, the name selected for the newly organized Youth Federation was the M. C. Strachan Chapter. The life of this pioneer worker came to an end in the late summer of 1951.
Today this Federation is one of four in the Southeastern Conference and has a membership of 69 Churches. Its emphasis is on Youth Leadership and preparation for Christ second coming.
Information submitted by Mrs. Catherine Murray Manford.
Revival and Reformation, Written by Douglas Morgan www.revivalandreformation.org (Archives)
The Gospel Herald, February, 1907
Strachan pastored in Washington in 1907 and was called to New York in 1924. Adventism thrived, in Harlem as blacks migrated during and after World War I. Strachan organized a church in Harlem during his six year tenure. Not long after his departure, the church took on the name “Ephesus.”
By taking on the roles of “social worker” in the municipal court system and chaplain for the black inmates in the Women’s Prison on Welfare Island (now called Roosevelt Island), Strachan brought practical help to those entangled in the consequences of crime, vice, and poverty.
Educated at Fisk University and Battle Creek College, Strachan stood at the forefront of an emerging corps of young black preachers in the Southern Union Conference.
Crowning evidence of the recognition Strachan achieved as a skillful organizer in the struggle for racial justice came in 1943 when A. Philip Randolph, the nation’s foremost civil rights leader at that time, named the 68-yearold preacher to the ten-member national executive committee of the March on Washington movement.
He was a pioneer in the Seventh-day Adventist denomination. In the early days of his ministry he became a co-leader with both blacks and whites spreading the gospel in the state of Mississippi, as well as others southern states.
“So let us have the prayers...that the message of truth may reach this large army of favored youth, and that some of them may be gathered out and hastily prepared to spread the message of the third angel.” (M.C. Strachan - Gospel Herald February,1907)
Additionally, he organized churches in Central Florida among them: The Tampa Colored Church, now known as the Mt. Calvary Seventh-day Adventist Church and the Miami Colored Church, now knows as the Bethany Seventh-day Adventist Church.
He also worked arduously to make the annual Florida Campmeetings (prior to the organization of the South Atlantic Conference) a great success. During his time, the Florida Campmeetings brought many, many visitors from other Seventh- day Adventist Conferences.
Remembering Elder Strachan’s good work in Florida, the name selected for the newly organized Youth Federation was the M. C. Strachan Chapter. The life of this pioneer worker came to an end in the late summer of 1951.
Today this Federation is one of four in the Southeastern Conference and has a membership of 69 Churches. Its emphasis is on Youth Leadership and preparation for Christ second coming.
Information submitted by Mrs. Catherine Murray Manford.
Revival and Reformation, Written by Douglas Morgan www.revivalandreformation.org (Archives)
The Gospel Herald, February, 1907