Israel Baptist Church

In 1880, a small group of devout individuals from Mt. Horeb Baptist Church embarked on a mission. They envisioned a new spiritual home for the growing African-American community in Northeast Washington, D.C. This led to the founding of Israel Baptist Church. Israel Baptist Church’s first location was at the corner of 7th and A Streets, NE. Their first pastor was Reverend Madison Lewis. Later, in the 1890s, the congregation moved to a rented two-story building at 635 Eleventh Street, NE, a building that eventually became their own under the leadership of their fifth pastor, Reverend John Henry Burke. The Israel Baptist Church purchased not only the church building but also two adjacent houses. Fifty years later, during Reverend Raymond Robinson’s pastorate, the church acquired land at its current location: 1251 Saratoga Avenue, NE. This has been the home of Israel Baptist Church for the past 30 years. In June 2015, Israel Baptist Church celebrated a significant milestone. The church dedicated the “Rev. Dr. Morris L. Shearin, Sr. Community Life Center,” the “Capital City Hall of Distinction,” and “Visionary Square,” a 45-unit senior residential community. These additions demonstrate the church’s ongoing commitment to serving the community. Today, Israel Baptist Church continues its mission of providing spiritual guidance and community support. They offer Sunday services at 11:00 AM, preceded by Church School at 9:30 AM. Prayer service and Bible study are held every Wednesday, starting at 6:30 PM. For those seeking membership, new member classes are available virtually. The church observes Holy Communion on the first Sunday of each month at 10:45 AM, and baptisms are conducted on the first Sundays of January, March, May, July, September, and November. Israel Baptist Church is more than just a place of worship. It’s a vibrant community hub that has served Washington D.C. for over a century.