The history of One In Christ Baptist Church started with Rev. Mason and Rev. Geneva Whittler, who were called in 1982 to preach the gospel of our Lord and Savior Jesus the Christ. With much ups and downs, Rev. Mason and Rev. Geneva Whittler were ordained in 1987 at United Community Baptist Church in Columbia, Missouri, under the pastorate of Rev. Russell Freeman and served God faithfully there.
In 1988, Rev. Mason and Rev. Geneva Whittler were lead by God to a higher calling. God called them to do a greater work for him. God called them to organize a ministry in the Jefferson City area. The Holy Spirit told them to call the ministry the One In Christ Ministry. The first meeting of the One in Christ Ministry was held in the Park Hotel in Jefferson City, Missouri. The first member of the newly organized ministry was Mother Washington and the first male member was Bro Phillip Connor. One In Christ Ministry held worship there until August of 1988, when a door was opened by the hand of our God. One In Christ Ministry moved to their first location, a house located at 410 Lafayette Street. In the month of October 1988, One in Christ Ministry became One In Christ Baptist Church.
The Rev. Mason Whittler served as Senior Pastor with his loving wife as the Co-Pastor, until the Lord called Rev. Mason Whittler home from labor to reward on December 21, 1998. After Pastor’s home going, Co- Pastor Rev. Geneva Whittler served the One In Christ Baptist Church for the next seven months. The One in Christ Baptist Church moved two blocks around the corner to the Jefferson City Missouri Community Center. The worship services were held at the Jefferson City Community Center on Dunklin and Lafayette. In the seventh month of her pastorate Pastor Whittler was lead by God to a higher calling and resigned as pastor.
In the month of August 1999, One in Christ called the Rev. Joseph Carr as their pastor. After much praying and asking God and making sure that His will for One In Christ be done, The Rev. Joseph Carr assumed the pastorate of One In Christ. Pastor Carr was installed in November of 1999. Under his leadership, he organized the church offices. Pastor Carr served the church until 2001.
In 2001, One in Christ Baptist Church moved to the Baptist Student Union to continue the Great commission to serve Him and to worship Him. One In Christ was without a leader until God sent them the Rev. Marcus Reynolds in February 2002. Rev. Reynolds was installed in May of 2003. Under his leadership God blessed One In Christ Baptist Church with our current location. In January 2006, Pastor Reynolds was called to a greater service and resigned as pastor.
Again, One in Christ found themselves without a Shepherd. The Rev. Phillip Connors served as Interim Pastor for several months until God sent the Rev. James A. Howard Jr. Rev. James A. Howard Jr., was called in the month of August 2006. Pastor Howard and the first family was installed the 24th of September of that same year. Under his leadership the kitchen was remodeled, the sanctuary received a face lift, the education wing received some major renovations, One In Christ’s first Vacation Bible School was started and God blessed One In Christ with a new van for the van ministry. Pastor Howard’s love for the university and his commitment to God has taken One In Christ onto the campus once a week for bible study in Dawson Hall. This year the entrance way received a face lift and the walk way received a little bit of care. One in Christ Baptist Church is and will always be a beacon of light for Jefferson City, MO.
In the gospel of St. John, Chapter 17, Jesus prayed and asked the Father to make them ( his disciples ) One in Him, as He and the Father are One! We are One In Christ! We have made accomplishments and still striving to achieve the ultimate goal of making Heaven our Home! Continually praying that we might be in that band of those who will one day hear the Lord say, “Enter thou Good and Faithful Servant and cease from your labor”.
