Word of God Baptist Church

In 1974, a seed of faith was planted. This seed blossomed into the Word of God Baptist Church. It all began with Reverend Chine Livingston, a son of Solid Rock Baptist Church. He felt a calling to create something new. He gathered 18 believers in July 1974. They discussed the possibility of forming a new church. The Word of God Baptist Church was born from this meeting. A name divinely inspired by Annette Gissentanna. The first humble abode of the Word of God Baptist Church was at 78 “P” Street, N.W., Washington, D.C. Imagine the excitement of that first service on Friday, August 9, 1974. Followed by another on Saturday, August 10th. The very first Sunday service took place on August 11, 1974. It began with Sunday School, led by Pastor Livingston himself. He then delivered a powerful sermon. The title? “Jesus Wants to Hear From You,” based on the 16th chapter of the Acts of the Apostles. Under Pastor Livingston’s guidance, the Word of God Baptist Church thrived. Its membership grew from the original 18 to approximately 200. The church’s growth necessitated a move to a larger space at 901 2nd Street, N.E. in September 1975. Another move followed in May 1977, this time to 1512 “K” Street, S.E. Pastor Livingston resigned in November 1983. Reverend John L. McCoy, a son of St. Mark’s Baptist Church, became the new pastor on June 23, 1984. Pastor McCoy’s leadership ushered in a new era for the Word of God Baptist Church. Membership continued to climb, reaching approximately 300. Pastor McCoy emphasized education and leadership development. This equipped the congregation for spiritual growth and expanded ministries. These included the Mighty Men’s Ministry, Women of Virtue, The Virtuous Women’s Ministry, and the Golden Eagles Seniors program. Also, there was Youth on The Growth For Christ (YOGFC), The Christian Co-op Gift Shop, Single’s Ministry, and Marriage Enrichment Ministry. The church even added an ABC Educational Store, Young Adult Ministry, and a Drama Ministry. They even produced films titled “Too Saved” and “Nocturnal Agony.” The Word of God Baptist Church continued to grow and evolve. In November 1985, they celebrated paying off the mortgage on 1512 K Street. They acquired land on Ventura Ave, Capitol Heights, MD in January 1988. In November 1989, a single-family house at 930 15th Street, S.E. was purchased to house the expanding ministries. In April 1995, a 13-unit apartment building at 1516 “K” Street, S.E. became the Logos Ministry Building. Pastor McCoy received his Doctorate from Howard University School of Divinity in May 2006. He was inaugurated as President of the Washington Baptist Seminary in December 2006. Most recently, the Word of God Baptist Church purchased a property at 6513 Queens Chapel Road, University Park, Maryland, in March 2015. The Word of God Baptist Church stands as a testament to the power of faith, leadership, and community.