Pastoral History
St. John Missionary Baptist Church
To give a history of St. John which fully authoritative and comprehensive, one would need the ability to cross over to the other side and confer with those pioneers who have gone on to be with God. They fought a good fight and built a solid foundation for a church that has surpassed their fondest dreams. Their interest was not as much in the stone and structure as in a place to worship God, and from a very modest and unassuming beginning in the spring of 1876, we have to come to our position in the community of churches.
The St. John Church was organized as a Free Will Baptist Church. It later became a Missionary Baptist Church and was led by interim pastor Wesley A. Drake, who died in 1938. The first building in which members of the St. John Baptist Church held worship services was three-room shotgun house that sat in the back of St. Paul Methodist Church on Peak Alley. To help the church get started, Rev. A.S. Jackson, Sr., pastor of New Hope Baptist Church (Dallas) assisted St. John members to secure the services of Rev. C.L. McPherson.
Under the leadership of Past McPherson (1904-1915), the church moved from Peak Alley to Allen Street at Cochran, where in 1907, and ideal place of worship was erected and name St. John Missionary Baptist Church. There, the Sunday School Department, Board of Deacons, Deaconess Board "A," Board of Trustees, and the Baptist Young People's Union were organized. There is no documentation to verify the date of Rev. McPherson's death, but it is known that Dr. L.K. Williams, who was then pastor of Macedonia Baptist Church, now known as Good Street Baptist Church, preached the eulogy.
It was 1915 when Dr. C.C. Harper (1915-1927) accepted the call to pastor St. John. Under his pastorate in 1919, the St. John Institutional Church was erected. During this period, Deaconess Board "B" and the Mission Chorus were established. St. John continued the tradition of serving the Church family and the community. By 1923, the membership had grown and the church ministries expanded to the point that Dr. Harper wrote a manual for the members. This booklet can be viewed in the church archives.
In 1929, the call went out to Rev. R.T. Andrews (1929-1937). He accepted the call, met the challenge , and led the church into prominence as a missionary organization. A Junior Church was established with Rev. K.B. Polk serving as pastor to the children. Rev. Andrews was a great preacher, a business genius and a man of wide influence. Under his pastorate the church built a parsonage at 2709 Thomas Avenue.
Dr. E.C. Estell, Sr. enjoyed the longest tenure as pastor of St. John having served twenty-seven years (1937-1964). Under his leadership the church adopted the motto "Where Christianity is a business and not a sideline." Dr. Estell, a dynamic preacher and skillful administrator, organized and developed a Youth Movement. Dr. Estell was prominently involved in various conventions, and as a result, St. John hosted a number of national meetings, including the 52nd Annual Session of the National Baptist Sunday School and BTU Congress. He served as President of the BM&E Convention, Moderator of the Northwestern District Association, President of the Interdenominational Ministerial Alliance, Vice-Chairman of the Bishop College Board of Trustees (Marshall), and member of the Board of Directors of the National Baptist Convention, USA, Inc. In the turbulent 60's, President Lyndon B. Johnson appointed Dr. Estell to a nationwide committee to assist communities in resolving racial disputes and tensions. In 1959, the St. John Dallas Federal Credit Union was established. It is one of the oldest Black church-related credit unions in Dallas. In 1963, the St. John Baptist Church Highland Village Charitable Foundation was established. This multi-family housing development is now known as Estell Village. St. John also acquired 55 acres of land southeast of I-20 on Cleveland Road, known as St. John's Camp 55.
In 1966, Rev. Robert H. Wilson (1966-1981) was called to pastor the St. John Church. In 1970 the church voted to purchase our present facility and left the North Dallas location. Like Dr. Estell, Dr. Wilson was very actively involved in convention work. Dr. Wilson was gifted with the ability to preach and focused on the development of community outreach and foreign missions. The Bethlehem Foundation, a non-profit community assistance organization, was organized in 1972,
In 1982, Dr. Manuel L. Scott, Sr. (1982-1995) was called to pastor St. John. Like previous pastors, Dr. Scott was active in convention work. He held the position of Executive Secretary of the Boar of Evangelism for the National Baptist Convention, USA, Inc. He was selected twice by Ebony Magazine as one of America's 15 Greatest Black Preachers. He was a published author of two books, was guest preacher in more than 40 state conventions, and spoke on numerous college and university campuses. While a St. John, Dr. Scott led St. John and Prestonwood Baptist Churches. He was named an honorary alumnus of Baylor University. In March of 1995, Dr. Scott submitted his resignation and became St. John's Pastor Emeritus.
The church body elected Dr. Wright L. Lassiter, Jr. as interim pastor, and he faithfully led the congregation through the interim period.
On the first Sunday in November 1997, Rev. Barry John Lyons, Sr. (1997-1999) was installed as the seventh pastor of the St. John Missionary Baptist Church. Pastor Lyons brought youth, energy and charisma that made him accessible to all members of the congregation. Under his pastorate, a full-time staff position was established for Evangelism & Outreach. On the first Sunday in November 1999, Rev. Lyons resigned as Pastor of St. John.
On May 8, 2002, Rev. Leroy R. Armstrong, Jr. (2002-2006) was called to become the eight pastor of St. John Missionary Baptist Church. Nationally known for his gifts as a Biblical seminar instructor, Pastor Armstrong made available numerous training sessions for the congregation . It was during his administration that St. John advanced technologically with the acquisition of an integrated suite of computers and administrative systems. A gifted preacher, teacher and administrator, Pastor Armstrong led the church in embracing its age diverse membership with strategic programs under te banner, "One Church, Four Generations."
Rev. Isaac C. Johnson, a son of St. John, served as Pulpit Coordinator during interim periods (200-2002 and 2006-2007)
On October 21, 2007, Rev. Bertrain Bailey was called as the ninth pastor of St. John Missionary Baptist Church. It is with excitement and thanksgiving that he is installed. "A Pastor After God's Own Heart."
