Cleaveland N. Rankin is a native of Charlotte, N.C. At the age of fourteen preached his initial sermon on Sunday, October 12, 1997 at the First Mayfield Memorial Baptist Church and became an ordained minister of the gospel five years later at the Canaan Christian Center.
After completing high school at North Mecklenburg, he served his country in the U.S. Air Force National Guard for eight years as a national registered emergency medical technician, while simultaneously completing nursing school at Mercy School of Nursing in Charlotte, N.C. He is currently and has been a licensed RN (registered nurse) for fifteen years and works in the areas of quality improvement, corporate compliance, and infection control. After nursing school, he graduated with a Bachelor in Christian Ministry degree with a concentration in Pastoral Ministry (cum laude) from Lee University. He then went on to complete a Masters degrees from Southern Evangelical Seminary and from Liberty Baptist Theological Seminary. Utilizing this education, he currently serves as an adjunct instructor in biblical studies at Apex School of Theology.
While completing his education, he has served as a certified church planter with Baptist State Convention of N.C. He has planted two churches and has assisted and served beside numerous of other church planters. He is also a Prepare Enrich relationship facilitator. Utilizing all of this training, it is Cleaveland's goal to minister holistically to those under his care.
Most importantly, the Lord ordained the paths of Cleaveland and an elementary school teacher name Michelle Goins of Charleston, S.C. to cross, which resulted in their union in holy matrimony in November of 2007. The subsequent result of that union has been two children Evan and Erin.