St. John A.M.E. Church was organized early in the year 1869 in the home
of Mrs. Amanda Wright, 16th and Genesee Street, by the Rev. John R. Loving.
Before slavery, Mrs. Wright had been the wife of the Rev. Loving, but during
slavery, she was sold to different masters. The Charter Members included:
Harrison Jackson, Oscar Redd, Anthony Redd, Ned Monroe, Jerry Barnes, Patsy
Gaines, Phillip Gaines, Maria Ewing, Deliah Tucker, Anna Pollard, Melissa
Stephenson, and Miss Louisa Bowden. After several months, a lot was secured
near 9th and the Kansas state line, and a small church was built on this
site. The Rev. Myers who was then Presiding Elder, became its first pastor.
Ministers following included: Rev. Schuler Washington, Rev. George Thatcher,
Rev. Moses Dickson, Rev. K. P. Alexander, Rev. Jordan Allen, Rev. Spotwood
Rice, Rev. E. Woten, Rev. R. Ricketts, Rev. James Wilson, Rev. James
Preston, Rev. Daniel Oakes, Rev. Montrose Beckley.
The Church by this time was surrounded by railroad tracks, and the location had become undesirable. Under the leadership of the Rev. M. Beckley a lot was purchased at 941 Bell Street, and a church was built. The corner stone of this new church was laid in 1889. The ministers following included: Rev. W. M. Brooks, Rev. M. S. Bryant, Rev. Hunter, Rev. M. Harrison, Rev. Alex Harris, Rev. N. C. Buren, Rev. M. C. Collins, and Rev. E Vaughn.
During the pastorate of Rev. Vaughn, that area suffered from a great flood; it therefore became necessary to move out of that district. This was not done however, until 1919, under the leadership of Rev. I. Perry, who was then pastor. Under the guidance of Bishop Abraham Grant, the Swedish Evangelical Lutheran Church, located at 1747 Belleview was purchased as a new church for St. John. The ministers following included: Rev. H. I. Green, Rev. T. A.. Wilson, Rev. T. A. Chandley, Rev. J. C. Belle, Rev. John Wright, Rev. D. Wilkins, who burned the first mortgage; Rev. F. D. Wells, Rev. G. W. Washington, Rev. D. M. Cole, Rev. John B. Horron, Rev. A. L. Brown, Rev. T. H. Wiseman, Rev. Earl Martin, Rev. W. Alexander, Rev. C. V. Page, Rev. K. B. Byrd, Rev. W. E. Jordan, who burned a second mortgage in 1941; Rev. William Jackson, Rev. John S. Williams, Rev. Jimmie McDonald and Rev. Donald Cottner.
Next, in 1990, Rev. Raymond Handy, Sr. led the congregation into a new edifice located at 3501 East Meyer Boulevard. In January, 1992, a new parking lot was built, a new van was purchased, blue prints for a new Chancel and Choir Stand were approved by the people and the third mortgage was burned on Sunday July 16th, 1995. Rev. Ronnie McCowan was appointed in October 1999. The new Chancel and Choir loft was built and the roof replaced. Rev. Dennis G. Payne II was appointed in November, 2002. The third Sunday was designated as ‘Youth Sunday’ and St. John was selected as site for the school district’s summer Academic camp and after school program.
Then, in November, 2004, Rev. Eraina Marie Ross-Aseme was appointed Pastor. A highly successful ‘Northwest Missouri South District Conference’ was held in April 2005 and 2007. The gutters have been replaced, the basement ceiling replaced, the grounds beautified, and a new sound system purchased and the kitchen repainted. Through God’s grace and mercy; and the people’s faith we have retired a $5,800 debt, created a new financial plan and computerized our finance committee. Also, under Rev. Aseme’s administration, a gift of $10,000 was donated in memory of the late Arzelia Gates, a long-time member of St. John, to install a stair lift, church sign and upgrade bathroom to become handicapped accessible. Not only has there been major improvements at St. John under her Rev. Aseme’s tenure, also several computers and printers have been donated to keep up with the advancement of technology.