Church History  

The late Mary Magdalene Lewis Tate in Steel Springs, Tennessee, established the Church of the Living God in 1903.  Mother Tate’s ministry --- her call to holiness and emphasis on clean living, sanctification and perfection would later shape the life and ministry of Rev. Dr. Lula Pierson Richardson, founder and pastor of Macedonia Church of the Living God, Inc. 

“She looked ahead, beyond things as they were…to what she could make them.  She saw three things:  What should be done…What could be done…and How to do it, but not without a struggle.”

Rev. Dr. Lula Pierson Richardson was born in Summerfield, Florida, on December 30, 1921, to the late Willie and Elizabeth Pierson.  She came from a family of six sisters and four brothers.  God predestined and ordained five of these family members to be used as ministers of His Word.

At an early age, Dr. Richardson joined New Hope A.M.E. Church, Summerfield, Florida. After receiving the baptism in the Holy Spirit, she was anointed to preach the gospel in October 1951.  According to Dr. Richardson, “The Lord anointed me the very night I came through in a Pentecostal church.  I didn’t want to preach; being a lady, I was ashamed, but I was anointed and I preached with the anointing of the Holy Spirit.  I had to fast and pray for 14 days and nights, I was so unwilling.”  Then, she became a member of the Church of the Living God, Summerfield, Florida.  At age 29, she began winning souls for Christ.  During the Florida State Assembly, in April 1954, Bishop A. H. White (State & Sr. Bishop) appointed her to do mission work in Leesburg, Florida.  In May 1954, Dr. Richardson conducted a great revival in the city of Leesburg.  Elder Juanita M. Smalley, the niece of the Dr. Richardson, also participated in the revival.  This was the start of a GREAT beginning.

As Rev. Dr. Richardson organized Macedonia Church of the Living God, Inc., Elder Juanita M. Smalley served the Assistant Pastor.  Dr. Richardson birthed a church with a humble beginning.  She and her members worshipped in several storefront buildings from 1954 until 1956.  They rented from the late Mr. Andrew Floyd, first on Main Street and later on Pine Street.  The last storefront building, located in Carver Heights area on Bradford Avenue, was rented from the late Mrs. Mammie Mike.  In 1956, Dr. Richardson and 12 members of her church bought the land and built the church at 826 Dixie Avenue.  This fulfilled one of God’s purposes for her life.  She said, “I just don’t know how we did it.  The Lord was just on our side.”

Pastor Richardson was a humble woman, a praying woman, as measured by those whose lives she touched, helped and enriched.  She was a great woman of God.  Affectionately known to her parishioners and many others as “Mother”, Pastor Richardson was many things to many people.  She served as Treasurer for the Greater Leesburg Ministerial Alliance.  Dr. Richardson was the type of person who looked for a need and filled it.  She was an economic developer, who not only taught us how to live spiritually, but economically as well.  As an entrepreneur, she shared her knowledge and experience with any and all who would listen.  She helped many persons in Leesburg start their own business.  It was nothing for her to help a small floundering congregation to build a church.  She gave advice, funds, references, and whatever she could to help.  Pastor Richardson was a philanthropist.  She believed in helping people develop their talents and abilities, especially the “Young.”  There were many young people she helped get through college who perhaps would not have been able to finish without her assistance.  As Dr. Richardson lived, she remembered her members in all things and kept the ordinances as God delivered them unto her. The leadership she provided left her parishioners with encouragement, spiritual growth, unity, love for one another, and prosperity.  Thank God for sending her to be our Leader, our Shepherd, and our Moses.  She was truly “…a vessel unto honour, sanctified, and meet for the master’s use, and prepared unto every good work” (II Timothy 2:21).

Rev. Dr. Richardson was united in Holy Matrimony to the late Trustee Alva P. Richardson on August 16, 1977.  Trustee Richardson preceded her in death.  Though the couple had no biological children born to their happy union, many grew to love them as parents.

Pastor Richardson died on November 26, 1995.  Elder Juanita M. Smalley, niece of Pastor Richardson was appointed as Pastor of Macedonia by Bishop Jesse J. White, Sr.  The ministry of Elder Juanita Smalley would pave the way for her congregation to make the transition into the new millennium.  Elder Smalley, a trained educator and administrator, took the reins of leadership and the church to higher heights.  She raised the bar for teaching and training by focusing on literacy as a priority for congregational growth and development.  In so doing, she placed great emphasis on Bible teaching and learning as a family, community and leadership development effort.  She worked to nurture relationships with organizations to develop age-appropriate and culturally-relevant Bible-based curriculum and teaching strategies that nurture the social, political and economic well-being of a socio-economic diverse congregation.  She had the support of a growing congregation and a special loved one, her daughter—Rev. Dr. Shelia Yvette Smalley.

In 1996, Elder Smalley appointed her daughter, Rev. Dr. Shelia Y. Smalley, then a university assistant professor in the College of Education at the University of Central Florida, as her assistant pastor.  Rev. Dr. Smalley, an accomplished orator, prolific writer/researcher, and Bible scholar rounded out a dynamic-duo with the training and capabilities necessary to usher in a Bible-based literacy movement that was both life-changing and generated hope for calls to revitalize the surrounding neighborhoods through community and economic developments.