Our History
Abbreviated History of St. John
The late Reverends B.B. Blackmore, J.J. Johnson and Winters organized the St. John Missionary Baptist Church on February 29, 1948 with 3 members. Reverend James Albert Morgan was elected Pastor. Worship was held in a Double Rock Housing Project, later at 71 Shipley St., and then on the first Sunday in August 1948, we worshiped at 825 Newhall Street. Deacons Ross Marshall and Jesse Johnson mortgaged their homes for the down payment. Deacons Henry Harris, Jesse Mobley and Jesse Neal mortgaged their homes for a new edifice to be built. The new building was completed in March 1954. On September 12, 1960, the mortgage was paid! Again a larger edifice was needed to accommodate the growing congregation. The present building was completed on March 28, 1971. The former choir room and adjoining rest rooms are all that remains from the 1954 edifice. This $250,000 mortgage was paid in August 1976. St. John purchased the property at 1575 and 1579 Innes Avenue, both of these mortgages were paid in 1988.
In 1989, the Church’s Anniversary was changed from the first Sunday in August to the fourth Sunday in February in honor of the organizing Pastor, Rev. J.A. Morgan.
In 1983 Pastor Morgan went home to be with God. His widow, Ella L. Morgan followed on June 18, 2017. Reverend T.S. McCall served as Pastor of St. John for eleven months in 1984. Reverend J. P. Prior was installed as the Pastor on June 4, 1986, after serving 35 years as Pastor of the First Missionary Baptist Church in Banning, CA. Under his leadership, the Saturday “Outreach Ministry” began.
Members went door-to-door witnessing about Christ. A hot meal was served to those who returned to hear Pastor Prior preach. Ceiling fans and new pews were installed while he was Pastor. God called Pastor Prior from labor to rest in 1997.
Reverend Mervin J. Redmond, Sr., served as Minister-in-Charge from January to November, 1998. In November 1998, Reverend Redmond became our Pastor. He was installed on Sunday, January 24, 1999. Today, St. John has a new Public Address System, a Multi-Media System and an Elevator. In 2010, all the bathrooms in the church were remodeled and made handicap accessible.
We have Wednesday Midday Bible Study; Community Outreach Ministry; Intake and Follow-Up Ministry; Bereavement Ministry; Women’s Ministry Auxiliary and its various Circles; a Greeting Ministry and a Health and Wellness Ministry. The Health and Wellness Ministry receives a grant award from UCSF where they offer Peer-Counseling services for lifestyle changes and bi-monthly free produce give-away to the community. For 3 years we shared our edifice with a Hispanic Congregation. Our mission reflects God’s vision given to Pastor Redmond.
In March, 2020, the church experienced a huge challenge, as the world was infected with the Corona Virus COVID19, “A Pandemic” and our congregation was unable to gather together in-person. Through modern technology such as Zoom, Facebook and Conference Calls, the membership stayed connected, and above all, we continued to worship our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.
On June 2021, after 15 months of virtual worship services, the membership was blessed to gather together for worship once again in the Sanctuary.
“We are a Fellowship Committed to Teaching the Saved and Reaching the Lost Through the Word of God.” (Matthew 22:37-39; 28:415-826-5639. The logo on the cover illustrates our theme. We pray that God continues to bless us to be a blessing and that we continue being obedient to His call.
