Thirteen visionary members founded St. John Missionary Baptist Church in 1921. They met at Evening Chapel AME on the first and third Sundays. Later meetings moved to the Dalworth School for Black students. Their first building was a repurposed store bought with funds from a 1923 July 4th picnic. This humble beginning marked the start of St. John’s African Methodist Episcopal Church’s incredible journey.
For many years St. John’s called El Paso Street in Grand Prairie home. Nine pastors served the congregation during this period. The tenth pastor Rev. J.V. Williams led a significant milestone. The church purchased its future home on Spike Street. This wasn’t just a purchase; it represented a leap of faith and an investment in the community. The old store building received a much-needed facelift. Members of St. John’s frequently served both their church and Evening Chapel A.M.E. especially during World War II. This shared service highlighted the deep community ties and mutual support during challenging times.
In 1941 under Rev. L.A. Hancock the church purchased and relocated an army chapel to 2133 Spikes Street. This army chapel became their new sanctuary. This speaks volumes about their resourcefulness and determination. Rev. R.M. Lester oversaw the construction of a sanctuary balcony and classroom rededication in 1955. This expansion provided more space for a growing congregation. Under Rev. B.E. Collie’s leadership the church eliminated debt. They also purchased new pews an organ choir seats and pulpit furniture. Remarkably they even organized the St. John Credit Union. They also purchased the Medallion Apartment Complex. This complex later housed the Dallas County HeadStart Program in Grand Prairie.
Rev. Leonard Jordan focused on renovations including improvements to the parking lot. He also organized the youth choir and usher board. St. John’s remained very active in its community. The arrival of Rev. Denny D. Davis in 1991 marked another turning point. Membership grew exponentially. The church expanded to over 50 ministries and five weekend worship services. In 1995 St. John’s paid off a $500,000 mortgage a testament to their collective effort and dedication. The Vision 2000 building project commenced in 1997. This four-story complex included a Life-Time Athletic Family Center classrooms a bookstore and administrative offices. It was completed debt-free a phenomenal achievement.
St. John’s continued to grow establishing the North Family Fellowship. They used the Hilton Hotel in Grapevine and the DFW Marriott Hotel in Irving for services. A converted warehouse in Southlake became a new worship location in 2000. They also began worshipping at NextStage Auditorium in addition to their Jefferson Street location to meet the increasing demand. A new building in Southlake with a 2400-seat sanctuary was completed in 2007. This building included a Family Life Center bookstore classrooms and administrative space. To further extend their reach St. John’s opened the H.O.P.E. Outreach Center in 2005 and the Victory Place Counseling Center in 2009. In 2009 St. John’s Grand Prairie campus received a historical landmark marker. St. John’s African Methodist Episcopal Church continues to serve God and its community. Their history is one of resilience growth and unwavering faith a legacy built on the foundations laid by those thirteen pioneering members.