Ernest Bates Jr.

Minister

Bro. Ernest L. Bates Jr. (born August 19, 1962) Served as the Minister of the Adams

Ave Church of Christ in Cleveland, Ohio. Bro. Bates has served as the Minister for 6

years.

Bro. Bates was Baptized in 1985 by the late Bro. Ralph Polk, the Minister of the

Garden Valley Church of Christ in Cleveland, Ohio. Bro. Bates worked with and

served under the teaching of Minister Polk for 12 years where he became the

Youth teacher for 8 years. sometime later Bro. Bates became the Adult Sunday

School Teacher while being challenged by his preacher, Bro. Polk to take some

Bible courses.

After Bro. Ralph Polk Retired from the United States Post Office and moved to his

home state of Alabama. The Garden Valley Church hired Bro. Ernest S. Cato to be

the new Minister. Where Bro. Bates served and worked with for 14 years. Pushed

to become better in his studies, Bro. Ernest Cato encouraged Bro. Bates to take on

some Bible courses.

In 2007 Bro. Ernest Bates Jr was asked to come and support the work at the

Adams Avenue congregation under the Leadership of Minister Wallace Smith.

After 5 years of hard work and service, Brother Wallace Smith installed Brother

Bates as the assistant minister. Two years Later Brother Wallace Smith took ill and

passed away a few weeks later.

The Adams avenue congregation was looking for a Minister. After a few months,

the Leadership ask Bro. Bates to take on the work as minister of the congregation.

In 2017, the Newburgh Church and the Adams Avenue Church had talks of

merging together as one congregation. After a few months of fellowshipping and

worshipping, the Leadership of both congregations came together and renamed

the church “The Church of Christ that meets at the 131”

Bro. Bates has an Associate of Arts in Christian Studies and has taken online

courses in Biblical Studies as well as online Psychology Courses.

Bro. Bates has a bachelor’s degree in Plastics Engineering Technology – by trade,

plastics and Color Specialist from the University of Akron. He has an Associate of

Applied Science in Plastics for Terra State Community College in Fremont, Ohio.

Bro. Bates and his beautiful wife Flendora T. Bates have been married for 11 years

and have six Beautiful Children. 4 grown, one almost grown, and one who acts like

he is grown.

Wendell R. Siggers Sr.

Minister

Wendell Siggers was born in Cleveland, Ohio. He attended John Hay High School where he received his high school diploma in 1971. He also attended Tri-C with a major in Business Administration. Wendell married his high school sweetheart Donella and to this union are 4 children. Wendell obeyed the gospel under the teaching of Bro.Paul Mason in 1971 at Adams Avenue CofC. Bro. Mason taught a ministerial class where Wendell learned his sound teaching and preaching in 1978. His internship began in 1979 there after he became assistant minister under Bro. Zeb Kelly in 1983, Bro. Allen Poe, and Nelson Hare in 1984 to 1994. During these years Wendell worked with the Ohio State Lectureships and Ohio State Youth Conferences. In 1994 Bro. Siggers was ordained as Minister of the Newburgh CofC where he still serves the congregation under the new name Church Of Christ @131.