St. John's Baptist Church (Miami) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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St. John's Baptist Church
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 Location in Miami
Location in Florida
Location in the United States
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| Location | 1328 N.W. 3rd Ave., Miami, Florida |
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| Area | less than one acre |
| Built | 1940 |
| Architect | McKissack & McKissack |
| Architectural style | Moderne |
| MPS | Downtown Miami Multiple Resource Area |
| NRHP reference No. | 88002970 |
| Added to NRHP | April 17, 1992 |
St. John's Baptist Church is a very old and important church in Miami, Florida. It is also known as the New St. John Institutional Baptist Church or St. John Institutional Missionary Baptist Church. You can find it at 1328 Northwest 3rd Avenue. Because of its history, it was added to the National Register of Historic Places in the United States on April 17, 1992. This means it's a special building worth protecting.
Contents
The Church's Early Beginnings
The story of St. John's Baptist Church began on June 17, 1906. A small group of people gathered for worship at the corner of NW 2nd Avenue and 11th Terrace. They called their new church the Second Baptist Church. The first leader, or pastor, of this group was Reverend Bynom.
Soon after, Reverend N.B. Williams became the second pastor. Under his leadership, the growing church moved to Jackson's Hall. This hall was on 10th Street, between 2nd and 3rd Avenue. The members started making plans for a permanent home. They bought a piece of land at 12th Street and 3rd Avenue. Then, they began building a wooden church that was about 50 by 48 feet.
The congregation moved into their new building on the third Sunday in February 1908. Reverend Williams continued to lead the church until late 1910.
Growth Under Reverend Drake
In 1912, Reverend Jarius Wilkerson Drake joined the church. He became the new pastor on the first Sunday in February. Reverend Drake was known for his kind and Christian attitude towards everyone. Under his guidance, the church grew a lot.
The first church building faced challenges. It was damaged by big storms in 1926 and 1928. However, it was repaired and remodeled. Even after repairs, the building became too small for the many members. So, the church bought a larger piece of land. A new church building was completed in 1940. This is the church that stands today at 13th Street and 3rd Avenue. At this time, the church became known as St. John Missionary Baptist Church. Reverend Drake served as pastor until he passed away in February 1951.
A New Era with Reverend Johnson
After Reverend Drake, Reverend Thedford Johnson took over as pastor. He had been serving as the Assistant Pastor. Under Reverend Johnson's leadership, the church made many important additions and improvements:
- A two-story building was built at 1148 NW 3rd Avenue to be the pastor's home.
- A Fellowship Hall was built for church gatherings.
- The Children's Center was started, which was first called the Tot Center.
- An apartment unit was bought.
- The main church area, called the sanctuary, got air conditioning.
- The church pews (benches) were cushioned for comfort.
- A two-mirror loft was built in the main sanctuary.
St. John's also became famous across the country for its Baptist Training Union (BTU). For 30 years, St. John's was known as the largest and best BTU in Florida. It was even called the "National Model" by the National President, Dr. J. H. Jackson. Reverend Johnson was also interested in community and political matters. He encouraged the church members to have pride in their community. This helped the church continue to do well.
St. John's hosted the National Baptist Convention four times: in 1969, 1973, 1977, and 1982. Reverend Johnson also had a radio program from 1977 to 1980. The church changed its name again to St. John Institutional Missionary Baptist Church. Reverend Johnson resigned from his role in February 1985.
Recent Leadership and Legacy
Reverend Henry Nevin became the Interim Pastor in March 1985. He then became the Senior Pastor in 1986. Reverend Nevin had an idea to create a Community Development Corporation. This group would help fix up affordable housing for people in need. It would also help build homes for families with average incomes in the community. Reverend Nevin retired from his pastoral services on Sunday, June 1, 2008.
In April 2010, Bishop James Dean Adams became the Senior Pastor of St. John's. He served the church until December 2021.
For almost 120 years, St. John's has been a strong and steady presence in the Miami community. It has provided a place of faith, hope, and togetherness. Its long history and contributions have greatly helped many people and families. The church has encouraged a spirit of community and kindness.
Architecture and Design
The church building was designed by a famous architecture firm called McKissack & McKissack. They designed it in the Moderne style. This style is known for its smooth surfaces, rounded corners, and simple, streamlined look. The church has also been known by the name New St. John Institutional Baptist Church.
See also
In Spanish: Iglesia de San Juan el Bautista (Miami) para niños
