DON'T MISS OUR PASTOR'S 25TH ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATION!

In 1983, Dr. W. K. Jackson, then the Senior Pastor at St. John Missionary Baptist Church, searched for someone who could “shoulder-up” with him and share some of the tremendous load that a Pastor must carry. While talking with one of his sons-in-the-ministry, Pastor E. K. Bailey, a recommendation was made regarding a young preacher who had been training at the feet of Pastor Bailey. Rev. Major Lewis Jemison and his lovely wife, Jacqueline, had become affiliated with Pastor Bailey while both were students at Bishop College in Dallas, TX. They came to St. John in 1983, and Rev. Jemison assumed the role of St. John’s Assistant-to-the-Pastor.



Twenty-five years later, Pastor Jackson and Pastor Bailey have both gone on to glory, and Pastor Jemison is leading St. John Missionary Baptist Church from one good degree of grace to another as Senior Pastor. Since 1983, major achievements have come to the St. John Church Family and to the Jemison Family, as well. St. John has have completed two major additions to its facilities with the most recent one being under Pastor Jemison’s strong leadership. Pastor & Mrs. Jemison were blessed with the birth of their son, MaKinsley, who recently graduated from Oklahoma City’s nationally acclaimed Classen School of Advanced Studies and will be a freshman student at Kentucky’s Georgetown College in the fall. A wide range of national and international involvement, exposure, recognition and service have also come to St. John and Dr. Jemison during the last 25 years, and that is why the theme, “A Life of Milestones and Miracles” has been chosen for this 25th Pastoral Anniversary Celebration.



A full weekend of gala anniversary activities will commence on Friday, August 15th at 7:30 PM with a banquet held in honor of the First Family. This beautifully festive event will be held in the St. John Fellowship Hall with Rev. Calvin Matthews, one of St. John’s sons-in-the-ministry and Pastor of the Isle of Patmos Baptist Church in Washington D.C., delivering the keynote message. Banquet tickets are available for a donation of $25 and can be purchased through the St. John church office.



On Sunday morning, August 17th, St. John’s Fine Arts Department will begin the day at 9:00 a.m. with a musical concert and worship service featuring the Adult Choir, Children and Youth Choirs, Sanctuary Orchestra, Praise Dancers, and Visual Presentation Ministry. At 10:45 AM, Rev. Bryan Carter and members of Concord Missionary Baptist Church in Dallas, Texas will be special guests. The traditional anniversary dinner will be served following morning worship for St. John members, members of the Concord Church family and visiting friends.

The 25th anniversary celebration for Dr. Jemison and family will conclude at 3 PM in the St. John sanctuary as pastors, choirs and congregations from across the city will join the St. John church family for a powerful worship service. Rev. J. A. Reed, pastor of the Fairview Baptist Church will bring the message. Other churches and pastors scheduled to participate include Pastor T. J. Roberts and the Evangelistic Baptist Church of Christ; Pastor David Dawson and Union Baptist Church of Shawnee, OK; Followers of Christ Baptist Church; Pastor Orlando Black and Greater Shiloh Baptist Church; Pastor E. Jennings Tyson and New Hope Baptist Church; Pastor Larry Foster and Progressive Baptist Church; Pastor Lee Cooper, Jr. and Prospect Missionary Baptist Church; Pastor Bobby A. Best and the Greater Cleaves Memorial CME Church; Pastor Tony Wise and the Voice of Praise Baptist Church; Pastor Willard Dallas and Faith, Hope & Love Baptist Church. The entire community is invited to join the St. John Church family in this grand celebration of 25 years of service by Pastor Jemison and his family. For more information and to purchase banquet tickets, please call the St. John church office at 405-478-3344.