top of page
MISSIONARY BAPTIST CHURCH
ST. JOHN
Our Purpose and Vision
Rooted in faith. Focused on the future.
At St. John, we’re a 21st-century ministry built on the unshakable foundation of God’s Word. Our purpose is simple: to share the Gospel, grow disciples, and serve the world with love. Through powerful worship, meaningful teaching, and authentic community, we live out our calling—faithfully following Jesus until He returns.
Legacy of Faith
With a profound history, St. John Missionary Baptist Church stands as a beacon of faith in Boston. Our journey is woven with traditions of worship, service, and community engagement, reflecting a deep commitment to spiritual growth and social impact.
Heading 4
Born in Bishopville, South Carolina, in 1906, Reverend Rafe D. Kelley transcended the hardships of the Jim Crow South to become a transformative spiritual leader in New England's Black religious community. His spiritual journey began at St. John CME Church in Winston-Salem, where he accepted his divine calling to ministry in 1938, serving initially in North Carolina. In 1943, he was appointed to Cambridge, Massachusetts, where he felt a compelling desire for deeper spiritual engagement.
In 1944, breaking free from the confines of CME tradition, Kelley founded St. John's Congregational Church in Roxbury, driven by an unwavering commitment to his faith and the spiritual needs of his community. By 1947, inspired by a profound theological vision and a dedication to serve, he embraced Baptist doctrine and restructured the church under a powerful new identity: St. John Missionary Baptist Church. This name and the legacy it represents continue to inspire and uplift people to this day
Our Founder
-
We believe in the one True God - Triune Godhead - Father, Son and Holy Spirit
(Col 2:9)
-
We believe that the Inspired Word of God is true, it is infallible and the final authority for Christian living.
(II Timothy 3:16-17, Psalm 119)
-
We believe that all have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God. Repentance to God for every believer is necessary for the forgiveness of sin. (Romans 3:23)
-
We believe that sin separates us from God. The only way to reconcile us to God is to accept Jesus Christ as Lord and Sufficient Savior and apply God’s blood to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. (Ephesians 1:7; I John 1:7-10; Revelation 1:5)
-
We believe that the Lord's Supper should be commemorated. (I Corinthians 11)
-
We believe that water baptism, by immersion, in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ is for the remission of sin.(Acts 2:38; Romans 6:3)
-
We believe in the Blessed Hope! The return of Jesus Christ.(Matthew 24:27; I Thessalonians 4:15-17; Revelation 19:11-16)
Our Core Beliefs
Our Church Leadership
Our dedicated leadership team guides St. John with wisdom, faith, and a servant’s heart.
Administration
Ministerial
Staff
Deacon
Board
Trustee
Board
Sis. Beverly Somerville
Church Clerk
Sis. Carolyn Toomer
Asst. Church Clerk
Sis. Lolita Kinton
Financial Secretary
Rev. Arthur E.
Somerville Jr.
Rev. Gregory Morris
Deacon William Wilson
Chairman
Deacon Willie Durden
Asst. Chairman
Bro. James Young
Chairman
Sis. Lolita Kinton
Vice Chair
Sis. Katrice Gerald
Church Treasurer
bottom of page