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Leon was born, December 19, 1926, in
Austinburg, Ohio. On November 22, 1944, he left High School, joined the Navy
until he was honorably discharged, October 29, 1947. He returned to High School
the next month and graduated June 1948. He was saved on February 15, 1948, at a
Christ for Greater Cleveland crusade.
Leon attended Baptist Bible Institute Day School, (now
Cedarville University), then transferred to Philadelphia Biblical University,
and graduated in June 1954. That fall he went to Northwestern College in
Minnesota. In 1955 he began teaching and coaching at Grand River Academy in
Austinburg, Ohio. He met Marvilyn Summy at his brother, Eugene and Enid's
wedding, and they were married June 14, 1957, a year later . Together they
worked at Baptist School of the Bible and assisted Rev. Eddie Hawkins in Sunday
School until Good Shepherd Baptist Church was established. They later helped in
their Awana program. They also taught in Bible Baptist Center of E. 47th St.
with Rev. Walter Banks until Bible Baptist Church was established, (now in
Garfield, Ohio.
Marvilyn Summy was born January 16, 1931 outside of
Waterloo, Iowa. She was saved at Walnut St. Baptist Church at age eleven. At
camp she dedicated her life to the Lord. After graduating from East High
School, January 1949, she worked as a biller at Standard Glass and Paint before
attending Moody Bible Institute and graduating in 1953. She helped in VBS in
Cleveland among the African Americans in August, then was accepted in 1953, by
Baptist Mid Missions, working two and one-half years in Children's Classes,
Bible Clubs, Women's Work and VBS'. When the Baptist Seminary of the Bible
became Independent as a mission and school, she remained for ten more years.
During that time she met Leon and they worked together and had camp in the
summer and VBS and Bible Clubs with students from the school. Leon taught at
Baptist School of the Bible mornings and evenings and at the Hebrew Academy
afternoons.
Leon and Marvilyn have three sons, Andrew, David and Dan
and one daughter, Lynne Moon. The Lord has blessed them with 13 grandchildren,
of whom three are married.
In 1966, they came back under Baptist Mid Missions and
continued in Cleveland a short time before moving to Chicago to Pastor at First
Raceland Baptist Church. Six and one-half years later they moved to Riverdale,
Illinois, to Pastor at Central Baptist Church. In 1981, they returned to
Cleveland to serve in BMM's Guest House, and in Maintenance of the BMM Home
Office. On December 31, 1991 they retired to Missionary Acres, where they have
been very active in the Evangel Baptist Church.
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