Cecil B. Knight collection

Cecil B. Knight was born to Brigham and Margaret (Campbell) Knight on November 12, 1925 in Thomasville, Alabama.

The Knight family moved to the Thomasville, Alabama area to work in the wood harvesting business. It was during this time that the Knight family came under the influence of the full-gospel message as it was preached by a 23 year –old Presbyterian preacher. Even though the Knight family was of the Mormon faith, they heard and gladly received the full-gospel message and eventually received the baptism of the Holy Ghost. The Knights joined the Church of God denomination and the Pentecostal influence from his family and church would forever change and direct Cecil B. Knight into a world-wide ministerial outreach. An interesting side note…At Cecil’s birth, his middle name was given to him out of respect for the Mormon leader, Brigham Young.

Cecil B. Knight began his ministerial journey in the Church of God as an evangelist until he was appointed the pastor of the Laurel, Mississippi Church of God in 1947 where he served until 1950. Other pastorates include Pike Avenue Church of God in Birmingham, Alabama (1950-1954), and Buffalo Avenue Church of God in Tampa, Florida (1954-1956). Cecil Knight was ordained by the denomination in 1952

On June 1, 1950, Cecil B. Knight married Evelyn Morris at the Talladega, Alabama Church of God. The Knights served as a ministerial team for 57 years. The Knights were blessed with four children…Cecil Dywayne, Delance, Vedonna and Victoria. Eleven grandchildren and 8 great grandchildren are a part of the Knights extended family. The Knights live in Cleveland, Tennessee.

After serving the pastorates in Mississippi, Alabama and Florida he was selected to serve as assistant director of youth and Christian education in 1956 and then elevated to the directorship in 1960. He was then appointed to serve as state overseer of Indiana in 1964 and after 4 years in that state he became general director of evangelism and home mission and served two years. Cecil Knight was elected to the Executive Committee in 1970. From 1970-78 he served on the church’s highest governing body, including the highest office in the Church of God, General Overseer, from 1976-78. He served 23 years of unbroken service as an elected member of the Executive Committee, including 14 years as a member of the Executive Committee. Following is a record of Cecil B. Knight’s ministerial service in the Church of God and around the world.

Pastorates: Mississippi, Alabama and Florida Assistant National Youth and Christian Director, 1956-1960 National Youth and Christian Director, 1960-1964 State Overseer of Indiana, 1964-1968 Lee College Board of Directors, 1964-1968 Member of Church of God Executive Council, 1968- Chairman of Architectural Board, 1968-1970 Director of Evangelism and Home Missions, 1968-1970 Member of Executive Committee – 1970-1978 Third Assistant General Overseer, 1970-1972 Second Assistant General Overseer, 1972-1974 First Assistant General Overseer, 1974-1976 General Overseer, 1976-1978 President of School of Theology, 1978-1982 Assistant General Overseer, 1982-1988 President of School of Theology, 1988- retirement President Emeritus of School of Theology, 1998-



Cecil B. Knight is an alumnus of Lee College, Mississippi Southern University and Butler University. He was awarded a doctor of literature degree from Northwest Bible College and a doctor of divinity degree from Lee College.

In January, 1978, Cecil Knight accepted the first full-time presidency of the Church of God Seminary and served for 13 years. Following a another tenure on the Executive Committee, Cecil Knight was again appointed to the presidency of the Seminary and served for 13 years at which time he was honored as President Emeritus. He was further honored with installation into the Hall of Prophets (2000) and was the recipient of the (2007) Lighthouse Award. Cecil Knight received an honorary doctorate degrees from Northwest Bible College and Lee University.

Under the leadership of Dr. Cecil Knight the School of Theology student body grew from less than a dozen students housed in rental facilities to the current enrollment in excess of 300. More than 900 students receive instructions thru the expanded programs offered by the Seminary. The School is now known as the Pentecostal Theological Seminary and is housed in permanent facilities on Walker Street in Cleveland, Tennessee. Another mile post for the Seminary was reached under Dr. Knight’s leadership when it was given accreditation by the Association of Theological Schools in the United States and Canada and by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools.

Dr. Knight’s ministry has involved him in International groups such as the Pentecostal Fellowship of North American and the National Sunday School Association. He served as PFNA Youth Commission Secretary.

He was a prolific speaker and communicator and was a frequent guest at Church of God conferences as well as other church related meeting outside his denomination.

Some books authored by Dr. Knight include Keeping the Sunday School Alive and Pentecostal worship. In these files you will find numerous articles on various subjects that come from the mind and pen of Dr. Cecil B. Knight. In these files you will also find a host of sermon outlines from his ministerial harvest.

Following a long, fruitful ministry, Dr. Cecil B. Knight passed away on June 16, 2007.