WELCOME TO
CHURCH OF JESUS
LEARN MORE ABOUT US!
COJ
PEACE AND BLESSINGS
WE BELIEVE WE ARE LARGE
ENOUGH TO MEET YOUR NEEDS.
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BUT ALSO SMALL ENOUGH TO GET TO KNOW YOU.
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WE HOPE TO SEE YOU REAL SOON!
OUR MISSION
To provide a place and opportunity to worship Jesus Christ and preach a
message of hope and faith based on the Word of God. This message will
enable all believers and non-believers to know the love of Jesus Christ and
live a victorious life.
WE BELIEVE
See how we view God, Jesus, the Bible, man, and many significant aspects of our faith. Firmly rooted in Scripture, the beliefs of COJ guide our decisions as a church.
The Bible is the Word of God, given by the inspiration of a Holy God, for doctrine, reproof,correction and instruction in all righteousness (2 Timothy 3:16).
There is one God (Deuteronomy 6:4). He is the creator of Heaven and Earth, and all living beings. He has revealed Himself to humanity as the Father (Creator), as the Son (Savior), and as the Holy Ghost (indwelling Spirit).
Everyone has sinned and needs salvation. Salvation comes by grace through faith based on the atoning sacrifice of Jesus Christ (Romans 3:23-25; 6:23; Ephesians 2:8-9).
As Christians we are to love God and others. We should live a holy life inwardly and outwardly, and worship God in Spirit and Truth (Mark 12:29-31; St John 4:24).
In the great commission and are endeavoring to share the Gospel of Jesus Christ with love, mercy and compassion.
In water baptism by immersion in the Name of the Lord Jesus Christ for the remission of sin. Through baptism, we identify with the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus Christ (Romans 6:3-6; Colossians 2:11-14; Acts 2:38).
In the Baptism of the Holy Ghost with the initial sign of speaking in other tongues is necessary to complete your salvation (Acts 2:4; St John 3:5).
Jesus Christ is coming again to catch away His church. In the end will be the final judgment. The righteous will inherit eternal life, and the unrighteous eternal death (1 Thessalonians 4:16-17; Revelation 20:11-15).
OUR LEADERSHIP
PASTOR CLARENCE JOHNSON
SENIOR PASTOR
PASTOR CLARENCE JOHNSON
SENIOR PASTOR
PASTOR CLARENCE JOHNSON
President - Youth Ministries
PASTOR CLARENCE JOHNSON
SENIOR PASTOR
PASTOR CLARENCE JOHNSON
SENIOR PASTOR
PASTOR CLARENCE JOHNSON
SENIOR PASTOR
Pastor Johnson
Pastor Clarence Johnson likes to call himself the country boy from the
cotton fields of Alabama. He was born in Gordonsville, Alabama January
7, 1952. His family moved to Selma, Alabama in 1964. He graduated from
R. B. Hudson High School in 1969. He enlisted in the US Air Force in January 1970. After serving his country for twenty-eight years with assignments to Turkey, the Netherlands, Iceland, Hampton, Virginia --- he retired February 1998 in the grade of Chief Master Sergeant.
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Pastor Johnson’s journey with God began as a young child at Shiloh
Baptist church in Gordonsville, Alabama. He became a member of the
Church of Jesus October 18, 1970, when he was baptized in the Name of
Jesus Christ. On Jan 15, 1971, he was baptized with the Holy Ghost.
Pastor Johnson accepted the call into the ministry in 1978 while stationed
in Eskisehir, Turkey. However, he didn’t preach his first sermon until 1982
while stationed at Camp New Amsterdam, the Netherlands. He was
installed as the Pastor of the United Pentecostal Church Camp New
Amsterdam the same day he preached his first sermon --- December 11,
1982.
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Pastor Johnson has served the Church of Jesus as Usher, Sunday School
Teacher, Choir Member, Treasurer, Associate Minister, Assistant Pastor,
and Trustee. He was selected as Pastor on February 8, 2004. Pastor
Johnson was ordained as an Elder by the Pentecostal Assemblies of the
World, July 1996.
Pastor Johnson & Vernice Johnson
Pastor Johnson is a committed husband to Vernice B. Johnson
and a dedicated father to their two daughters, Trina Shearn and Toni
Johnson. He is also a proud Papa to their three grands ..Tori, Joshua, and
Jaden Shearn. His sole aim is to make it to Heaven --- but while on earth
his goal is to love everyone and just “Do the Right Thing.”
Invite
Take the opportunity to see someone’s life changed and invite a friend to church this weekend.
COJGroups
Watch your faith grow through investing in relationships with people who want to learn and grow with you.
OUR HISTORY
Church of Jesus 2020 is the latest chapter in what has been a long uphill journey. The church owes its beginnings to Dr. Merlin L. Ford Sr. because he served as our pastor for 54 years. Dr. Ford earned several degrees while pastoring the church; some of which include the A.B., B.S., M.Div., D.D., and T.h.D. Dr. Ford served as District Elder, Seminar Instructor for the Virginia State Council (VSC), Secretary of the Bishop’s Cabinet for the VSC, and a writer for the Adult Sunday School publication of the Pentecostal Assemblies of the World (PAW), “The Apostolic Light”. Dr. Ford also served as an instructor for the United Christian Institute and the Richmond Virginia Seminary, and he also helped to establish classes for Aenon Bible College of the Pentecostal Assemblies of the World (PAW).
Dr. Ford is credited with the establishment of the first Apostolic “Oneness” church in Hampton, Virginia. In 1939, the church met in the “Little England Chapel” which is located at 4100 Kecoughtan Road, Hampton, VA. Reverend Willie Wilburn served as its first Pastor, but he later gave up the work. Dr. Ford answered his call to the ministry and preached his first sermon in the historic chapel in 1946 after his discharge from the US Navy.
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Church of Jesus, formerly the Progressive Church, came into existence in 1950 as a result of Bishop W.D. Williams, then the Pastor of the Progressive Church #1 in Newport News, Virginia. Bishop Williams gave Elder Ford permission to continue the work started by another minister who deserted the work saying, “It was impossible to establish an Apostolic Jesus Name church in Hampton, VA.” In January 1950, Elder Ford began to pastor the church accompanied by his newly married wife, Bessie Carter Ford.
Mother Bessie Carter Ford
Dr. Merlin L. Ford Sr.
Dr. Merlin L. Ford Sr.
Mother Bessie Carter Ford
In 1958, the church became affiliated with the PAW and has grown greatly since then. Dr. Ford continued to pastor, work, and further his education. God gave Dr. Ford a vision to build a new edifice. As a result of Dr. Ford’s vision, members of the church donated their time and money for nine and a half years; some of them even working after their regular jobs and on weekends to build the new edifice. These years were filled with many tears, heartaches, pains, and trials, but on November 5th, 1989, the vision became a reality as we entered the doors of our new edifice.
After more than half a century of working and serving as a pastor, Dr. Ford’s health began to decline, prompting him to select Elder Clarence Johnson as Assistant Pastor on December 8, 2002. Elder Johnson was given the directive to continue the work of Dr. Merlin L. Ford, Sr. and to make the necessary decisions on his behalf while continuing to lead our church into a new era.
Elder Clarence Johnson was selected to be our new pastor on February 8th, 2004. With his wife, Vernice Johnson by his side, Elder Johnson was formally installed as pastor on June 12, 2004, with the Honorable Bishop Clarence Moore, Diocesan of the 28th Episcopal District of the PAW presiding.
On October 7th, 2004, our founder and Pastor Emeritus, Dr. Merlin L. Ford, Sr. went home to be with the Lord; however, his legacy continues to live on in the lives of many who have been touched by his ministry during the 84 years God gave him on this side of Glory. Mother Bessie C. Ford took her flight to be with the Lord on September 18, 2007. We are thankful for the 76 years God gave her on this side of Glory; consequently, fifty-four of those years she served alongside her husband ministering to God’s people. We thank God for all He has done for our church family, and we are expecting God to do greater works through His people as we continue to look to Jesus. We realize, as our church motto states ---that it is only “Because of His Grace” we continue until this day and for that--To God Be The Glory.
Historical Facts
Little England Church
150 years - Built by Armstrong
PRAYER FOR ALL
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