HISTORY of St. John Missionary Baptist Church

St. John Missionary Baptist Church is the product of an established church that was located at Bruce on the R. R. Cottom Farm known as Old St. John under the leadership of Rev. Tony Cannady. For some unknown reason, this church was moved to this spot in 1862.

The record, given orally by the elder members, described their first meeting as being held under a holly tree. Rev. Harry Hyman preached the first sermon using a wooden box as his pulpit. The church was soon erected and regular services began. Meetings were held the first Saturday and Sunday of each month. At other times, meetings were held in the home, Sunday evenings and during the week.

Among the pioneers of the church were Rev. James Harris, fondly known as "Bro. Jim," Rev. John Williams was assistant to Rev. James Harris.

The early Deacons were Jim Foreman, Alfred Harris, Silas Harris, Guy Payton and Dave White.

The Mothers were Rosa Foreman, Queen Reeves, Amanda Harris, Caroline Williams and Mary Atkinson Williams.

Mrs. Carrie Reeves Bell was the clerk.

J. T. Bell was the Treasurer

Henry Dupree served as Superintendent.

In the later years of his leadership serving as deacons were Henry Harris, Nahum Harris, Ben Harris, Jacob Foreman, George Prayer and Marcellus White.

Mothers added were Sue Froeman, Addie Latham, Ada Gray, Flora Johnson, Louise V. Harris, Frances Vines and Adell Williams.

Rev. Harris was aging and his health began to fail so he terminated his ministry with us. Rev. J. E. Cherry of Halifax County accepted the pastorate in 1934. The same general Church officers remained.

The first choir was organized with Sister Christine Gorham Williams as organist. The Usher Board was organized. Brother Raymond Dickens as President, Evelyn Dickens Moore, Secretary, and Lenora Corbitt Carney, Treasurer. A Pastor's Aid Club was organized with Thelma Gray Grant, President, Helen Jones, Secretary and Laura Evans Boyd, Treasurer.

The clubs organized were the Ever Ready Club, the Willing Workers Club,the Young People Socializing Club, and the Helpful Hand Club.

Viola Vines was elected Clerk in 1942. Rev. J. E. Cherry resigned his pastorate to serve another church. Rev. Cornelius Brown of Tarboro, N.C., came and pastored the church for 10 months. Rev. Julius Freeman of Tarboro, N.C. followed and pastored under the present organization as of that time. He remained until 1947.

In 1948 Rev. Thaddeus T. Shivers of Greenville, N. C. became our leader. He worked very hard. The Church was renovated. Deacon Jacob Foreman was elected Treasurer, Sister Mamie Carney was elected Supervisor of the Youth church. C. L. Bembry was elected Superintendent of Sunday School. Sister Mollie White was elected President of the Pastor's Aid Club. Rev. Shivers resigned in 1956.

Rev. J. E. Cherry returned as pastor in 1957. The first envelope service for paying dues was started. A Mission Circle was organized with Adell Williams as President to hold spiritual services before conference meetings on Saturdays.

Rev. McWhite became supervisor of the Youth Department and holding fourth Sunday afternoon services. Sister Fannie Wooten Harris was elected Junior Organist. Rev. Cherry attempted to build a new church. He was getting old, his health began to fail. He was unable to complete his plans. He remained very ill. After 13 months, he passed away. The church leaders worked hard to hold the church together.

In 1962, Rev. Joseph Randolph Person of Bethel was elected pastor. He reorganized auxillaries and took the leadership in seeing that they were at work? The membership increased. Finances increased as part of the church members begain paying tithes. A new church was our goal. He worked very hard toward this.

The new church was completed in 1968.

Services began twice a month and later four Sundays a month. A Board of Trustees was organized with C. L. Bembrey, President. A regular Sunday School and BTU were organized. An active prayer meeting and Bible Study were started. A Mission Circle was activated with Carrie E. Williams as President. The Youth Department was reorganized with Viola Wooten as Director. This sponsored Vacation Bible School and Youth Revival each year.

The Young Adult Choir was organized by Edith Outterbridge and Maggie Gorham with James Roy Gorham as President. Roy Gorham became the Church Treasurer. Charlie Cupree became Superintendent of the Sudnay School.

Rev. Person's service was terminated in 1979. The Deacons and Trustees, with the help of the Lord, banded themselves together to lead the Church until a leader could be secured.

A Fellowship Hall was built and a bus was purchased.

In July, 1980, Rev. Anton T. Wesley, a native of Newport News, Va., accepted the pastorate of the church. He has worked untiringly to create love and harmony among the membership. He has stationed the church to full service of four Sundays. The membershp is growing steadily. The church organization is as follows: Deacons: Charlie Dupree, Chairman, Herbert Harris, Vice Chairman, Roy Gorham, and Edward Rodgers.

Mothers: Louise Gorham, Adell Williams, Viola Wooten, Mollie White, Channie Stancil, Beatrice Dupree, and Annie L. Rodgers.

Trustee Board: David Shackleford, Chairman, J. P. Carney, Vice Chairman.

Board President, Thomas Council, Choir President, Roy Gorham, Willing Workers, Louise V. Gorham, President; Missionary Circle, Carrie Williams, President; Sunday School Superintendent, Herbert Lee Harris.

Young Adult Choir: Organist, Charles Davis; and Advisors, Edith Outterbridge, and Maggie Gorham.

Youth Church: Viola Wooten, Director. Church Organists: Fannie Harris and Adeline McDaniel. Church Treasurer: Roy Gorham. Building Treasurer: Charlie Dupree.

Bus Supervisor: C. L. Bembry; Bus driver, Ernestine Hardy.

Food Service Supervisor: Maggie Carney. Clerk: Viola Vines; Assistant Clerk, Belinda Carney.

Ministers grown out of this church; Reverends Charlie Hunter, Luke Hunter, Guy Payton, Jr., Rev. Nahum Harris, Rev. Will Harris, Rev. G. L.Harris all deceased. Those still with us: Reverends Johnny Rodgers, Otis Vines, Alfred Harris, Jr., Shirley H Carney Yates, Rev. James W. Harris, Mamie R. Gorham and Kathryn Rodgers Brown.

In September 2004, St. John Missionary Baptist Church elected Rev. Joseph M. Singleton as their new Pastor. In November, he accepted and came along with his wife and family as they created new excitement, a fresh vision for the church body and a powerful deliverance preaching message. Under his leadership St. John and the people of St. John has begun to Rising & Shining, St. John has grown in every area of life membership, attendance, spirituality and in love. Some of the ideas they have brought through their wealth of creativity and energy has been a professional approach to the infrastructure of the church moving from just church religion to church ministry.

The Church clergy led the way with established ministerial attire and Nellie Hedgepeth was consecrated as a Mother of the church in 2006.

The Church interior was painted, the fellowship hall painted and redecorated with a computer area developed, the church also went to and computerized accounting system.

The Music ministry was upgraded as Lady Rev. Audra Singleton created a Praise Team, Women in Ministry, and a complete instrumental group also writing St. John’s first Church song “Welcome to St. John.”  Lady Audra also reenergized the youth choir. 

Pastor Singleton developed a carnival atmosphere to our homecoming festival, opening it up to the community to come and enjoy the blessings of our God.  His community outreach did not only stop there but every year St. John supports other non profit organizations and local schools in the community with a monetary gift. 

With the message of the Great Commission at heart, Pastor saw a need to make the ministry of St. John more visible and accessible to the local and international vineyards by creating a media ministry to make St. John more visible. The media ministry included creating a Church Logo, Church letterheads and envelopes, putting St. John on the world wide web, www.sjmbcf.org, including church email accounts, electronic prayer request and links to Christian resource sites. A phone message line was put in placed along with, constant contact electronic newsletter, overhead service and media announcements. Pastor Singleton also brought internationally renowned preachers and ministries to the Pitt County area.  Fall 2007, St. John will partner with Project Anna Inc. as we will host the Falkland area’s first food bank.  St. John also partnered with Project Anna, Inc. Titus 2 Mentoring Program with the Nursing Home outreach ministry led by Rev. Linda Gorham the Deaconess’ of St. John.

The people in St .John are valued and have not been left out. Pastor Singleton believes that Christian soldiers who have been committed to God, family, community and church for generations should be honored. In 2005, the Living Legends Award was established awarded to Mother Viola Wooten, Adeline Mc Daniel, Ruby Johnson, Louise Suggs, Channie Stancil, and Brother McCoy Williams in (2006) Deaconess Alice Carr to demonstrate to everyone that legacy and church commitment is truly important.   Leadership retreats, Harvest fest and church family nights were also established.

Pastor Singleton’s energy led him to rebuild the youth ministry creating Youth water games and the Emmett Till scholarship award given to a graduating senior and Lady Audra reenergized the youth choir as Sis. Rosa Burney developed the youth dance ministry. 

Pastor Singleton, Lady Audra Singleton and Sis Esther Council led the way as St. John celebrated our 125^th Church Anniversary by creating our Anniversary Booklet and Anniversary memorabilia on CD.

Many people have been blessed by entering the doors of St. John MBCF and are saying, “You must come and experience the St. John experience.” It a church where Jesus is real and love is the order of the day.”