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About Us
Pastor Dwight Newkirk & Artest Newkirk
On April 24, 2015 Installation Services were held for our current Senior-Pastor Dwight Alvin Newkirk and First Lady Artest Newkirk. St. John was blessed to have Bishop Newkirk set the order of succession into the pastorate prior to his passing. We praise God for a bright future on our horizon. Under the pastorate of Senior-Pastor Dwight Newkirk, Pastor Tony Parker was appointed to serve as his assistant
The Ministry
We are the Church
The Church will be Raptured
The Church has Eternal Security
The Church has the Keys to the Kingdom
The Church will not go through the Tribulation Period
The Church is the Bride of Christ
We should be Obedient to be Water Baptized The Five-fold ministry gifts
Apostles Prophets Evangelists Pastor / Teacher
WE BELIEVE ……
• In The nine gifts of the Holy Spirit actively operating in the church today
• Healing of the body, soul and spirit by His stripes.
• All the members of Christ body are ONE. • Audible worship, singing, praising and clapping of our hands in expression of our devotion and joy for all Christ has done for us.
• Giving of our Tithes, gifts and offerings
Services
Sunday Services are lived streamed on YouTube
Church School/Intro to STJ/Orientation/ Supplemental Studies 8:30 AM
Worship and Praise 9:30 AM
Morning Service 10:00 AM
Youth Church during morning service
Monday
Church office Hours 9:00 AM to 4:00 PM
Tuesday
12 noon Intercessory Prayer Meeting
[Men and Women of Grace]
Life Skills/Noah Outreach 5:30 PM—6:30
Adult Dancers Practice 7:00 PM – 8:00 PM
Wednesday
Tutorial Program (FREE) 5:30 PM
Bible Study w/Praise 6:00 PM
Small group study 7:00 PM
Youth Bible Study 6:00 PM Friday
Praise Team Rehearsal 5:00 PM
Saturday
Deaconess Meeting [Saturday after 3rd Sunday] 10:00 AM
History
Ministry History
What is now called St. John Cathedral was founded in August of 1908, and was initially founded as St. John Missionary Baptist Church. The first services were held in a small frame building in the Garrison. In March of 1927 it was moved to 905 Governor Street. The final move to this location, 3401 E. 25th Avenue, was made on Sunday, April 20, 1969 with approximately 75 members, mostly children. The move to our present location was a grandiose day, beginning with a march from 905 Governor Street to 3401 E. 25th Avenue, where we held our Entrance and Dedicatory Service. Previous shepherds of St. John Missionary Baptist Church were: Rev. Dean, Reverend H. M. Dillard, Reverend J. G. Washington, Reverend J. H. White, Reverend W. L. Webb, Reverend J. P. Nichols, Reverend L. I. James, Bishop Eddie Newkirk and currently, Pastor Dwight A. Newkirk.
The night following the move to the present location, the former pastor, Reverend L. I. James, resigned and the members agreed to ask the Assistant Pastor, Elder Eddie Newkirk if he would assume the role of Pastor. He consented and was installed as Pastor of St. John on May 18, 1969.
He remained a faithful steward of God, uprightly fulfilling his mandate to bishop until he was called home to be with the Lord on February 14, 2015. Pastor Eddie Newkirk continued faithfully the husband of one wife, Pastor Audrey Newkirk, the same wife as when he was called to pastor. He was the father of five children; Karl, Maurice, Ernest [passed August 16, 2016], Dwight and Kay Morgan. He set the example of walking worthy of our vocation until his work on this side was finished. As Titus 1:5-11 states. He truly set in order the things that were wanting, and ordained elders in St. John; he was blameless, as the steward of God; he was not self-willed, not soon angry, not given to wine, no striker, and not given to filthy lucre. But remained to the very end a lover of hospitality, a lover of good men, sober, just, holy, temperate; holding fast the faithful word as he has been taught, that he may be able by sound doctrine both to exhort and to convince the gainsayers. For there are many unruly and vain talkers and deceivers, specially they of the circumcision: Whose mouths must be stopped, who subvert whole houses, teaching things which they ought not, for filthy lucre's sake.
On Sunday, July 23, 1995 we held our Ground Breaking Ceremony for the present sanctuary. We praised God and rejoiced greatly as we continued to conduct worship services in our Fellowship Hall, which has since become our Youth Hall. Glory to God, we entered our new edifice for worship on Sunday, January 21, 1996 with a victorious “Marching in Service”. Our 7 days of dedication services began Monday, February 12 and culminated with a joyous Dedication Service on February 18, 1996.
St. John has always been blessed with melodious voices and talented and skilled musicians, to name a few, Sis. Ransom, Sis. Iris Manning, Elder Adrian Shaw, Sister Barbara Shaw, Sis. Robin Shaw, Elder Ronald Rosson, Sis. Vanessa Banks, Bro. Dwayne Berrien, Sis. Yolanda “Pinky” Kennedy, Bro. Karl Beasley, Bro. John Ware and little John, Chad , Xxavier Chisholm, Alfred Eady III, Bro. Steven Holcolm, Bro. Lucky, Bro. Alonzo Goodson, Bro. Carl Newkirk, Bro. Tony Reed, Pastor Okoye Morgan Sr. and Min. Okoye Jr., Sis. Jasmine Roe, Bro. Tevin Walton, Elder Charles Minor, Bro. James Reed,, Bro. Willie Green and Bro. Courtney Buchanan.
For several years, under the direction of Bishop Newkirk, the title “Missionary” was dropped from our church until we began to actually do missionary work at which time it was re-added. Following the 1996 move into our present sanctuary, and feeling the need to be more ministry and outreach focused our official name was changed from St. John Missionary Baptist Church to St. John Ministries on December 3, 2000. St. John took an active lead in hosting the 1999 and 2000 National Baptist Congress of Christian Workers and the National Youth and Children’s Convention. The year 2000 was our last active year of participation in the Progressive M & E Baptist Convention, Inc.
In 2002 it was the desire of the St. John congregation that Elder Newkirk would be ordained to the office of Bishop. On Saturday, October 12, 2002 the Service of Consecration and Affirmation of the Bishop-Elect Eddie Newkirk to the office of Bishop with Bishop Anthony Hatcher, of Rockledge, FL. Serving as Chief Consecrator. Bishop Newkirk was honored to receive his Doctorate of Divinity, shortly thereafter. Following the ordination of our pastor to the Bishopric, it was necessary to add “Cathedral” to the name of our church, in that cathedral is the main place of a bishop. Therefore, St. John Ministries, Inc., became known as St. John Cathedral and has been and continues to be an outstanding church in the Tampa Bay area.
Under the tutelage of Bishop Newkirk many ministers have been ordained and trained: Elder Gailry Bagley, Elder Louis Bagley, Elder Rojay Berry, Pastor Lena Boyd, Elder Keith Boykins, Elder Cathryn Branch, Elder Juanita Lovett-Brent, Elder Clarence Brown, Elder Mary Helen Brown, Elder Purcell Butler (deceased), Pastor Mary Ellen Ciganek, Evangelist Gladys Crews (deceased), Elder Precious Davis, Dr. Thomas Dozier, Elder Helen LaCount-Evans, Elder Bertha Gary, Elder Carla Gainer, Elder Florence Gainer, Elder Tallie Gainer Jr., Elder Tallie Gainer III, Elder Bertha Gary, Elder Eddie Green, Pastor William Huff, Elder Edward Johnson, Pastor Warneice Johnson, Elder Wilfred Jones, Elder J. Gaynard Hicks, Elder Micah C. Lanier, Dr. Shirley G. Lanier, Elder Felicia Lawrence, Bishop Michael Lewis, Elder Charles Minor, Elder Luetwanda “Kay” Morgan, Pastor Okoye Morgan, Sr., Minister Okoye Morgan, Jr., Elder Johnnie Moore, Dr. Aaron Munford, Elder Artest Newkirk, Pastor Audrey Newkirk, (deceased) Pastor Dwight Newkirk, Pastor Ernest Newkirk, Elder Joseph Pendleton (deceased), Elder Aaron Pitman, Dr. Thomas J. Reed, Elder Felecia Ripplinger, Minister Jasmine Roe, Elder Johnnie Roe, Elder Terry Roe, Elder Ronald Rosson, Elder Michael Russell, Elder Lionel Shipman, Elder Earl Singleton, Elder Faye Smith, Elder Leatrice Franklin, Pastor Vance Sullivan, Elder Lawrence Sumes, Minister Aria Turner, Minister Jerel Turner, Elder Ernest Williams, Elder Michael Williams, Elder Christopher Yarber, Elder Donald Yeoman, Elder Yulee Young, and Elder Clemon Youngblood.
St. John continues to be a ministry focused Church. The following is a listing of the many ministries , past and presently, organized at St. John:
The Noah Community Outreach (an open door to a changed life). A faith based substance abuse residential rehabilitation program organized in April 1997. Eight houses are currently used to facilitate this ministry 5 men and 2 women.
September 2007 began the Sunday Homeless Bus Outreach, includes picking up, feeding breakfast and following the worship service, serving them lunch. Free clothing is available.
St. John Liturgical Dance and Gents Mime ministries
The “Walking Witness” a weekly cable TV Worship Service
The “Careline Prayer Ministry” a prayer counseling service
The Walking Witness Library and Bookstore,
Media Ministry, Tapes, CD’s and DVD’s of services
Counseling Ministry, Marriage, Pre-marital, Financial, etc.
Owners and operators of The Eddie Newkirk Life Center [formerly Orange Blossom]
Owners and operators of All-N-One Be Beautiful Beauty Salon {formerly B-Beautiful]
Founder, owners and operators of The Open Cafe
Wednesday after school Tutorial Services
Christmas and Thanksgiving Baskets, as well as, daily feeding as needed
Former Free Monthly Food Bank [formerly served over 75 families monthly]
Former Annual Bay Area Youth Conferences
Served as a poling cite till 2006
Hosted the Tampa Street School, a Christian based alternative school
Hosted the YMCA After School Child Care Program
Tuesday Noon-day Prayer Ministry
Former Thursday AM Bible Study with Pastor Boyd at 9:30 AM
Chosen Generation Youth Ministry – Summer Camp [5 years]
Housed the Grace and Truth Christian University for a year
STREET RENAMED IN HONOR OF BISHOP EDDIE NEWKIRK
On Sunday, November 13, 2016, the Dedication and Unveiling of “BISHOP EDDIE NEWKIRK WAY” [34th to 36th Street] was held at St. John. The Honorable Mayor Bob Buckhorn, Senator Shawn Shaw and congressman Ed Narian were special Guest. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
THE 2015 SJC PASTORAL SUCCESSION
On April 24, 2015 Installation Services were held for our current Senior-Pastor Dwight Alvin Newkirk and First Lady Artest Newkirk. St. John was blessed to have Bishop Newkirk set the order of succession into the pastorate prior to his passing. We praise God for a bright future on our horizon.
Under the pastorate of Senior-Pastor Dwight Newkirk, Pastor Tony Parker was appointed to serve as his assistant. Elder Janice Andrews, Elder John Coy, Elder Evelyn Nancy Holmes, Elder Ethel Lee, Elder R. Nancy Thomas, and Minister Delton Shelton were added to the Ministerial Staff.
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