About St. James Missionary Church: History

On December 6, 1999, Rev. Sidney L. Davis, Deaconess Barbara Davis, Deacon Charles Beckett, Deaconess Ida Beckett, Cheyenne L. Brockett, Tamara Davis, Kachine Gough and Lomasi Gough met at the home of Deacon Charles & Ida Beckett. At this meeting, Saint James Missionary Church was established.

The members met on a regular basis and as a result of these meetings the following were adopted:

* Statement of Faith – Adopted February 26, 2000
* Church Constitution – Adopted March 8, 2000
* Theme of the Church – Adopted March 8, 2000
* Church Letterhead – Adopted March 8, 2000
* Church Colors – Adopted March 8, 2000
* Church Bylaws – Adopted May 31, 2000
* Letter of Determination 501(c)(3) – 2000
* Church Website www.stjamesmissionarychurch.com – Established 2005
* Chosen DayCare and Educational Academy – Letter of Approval May 27, 2008

Bible Study and worship service were held at the home of Pastor Davis. As the Holy Spirit led and guided Pastor Davis, he began his Pastorate at Saint James Missionary Church on August 13, 2000 at Providence Elementary School, 4958 Providence Road, Virginia Beach, VA. in which we held our first communion service that day. We began to hold our bible study services at Cilvia’s Banquet Hall, 516 S. Independence Blvd. Suite 107, Virginia Beach, VA. We celebrated our first jubilee on December 1, 2000. In April 2001 we dedicated our first purple and gold choir robes to sing praises to the glory of God. Through the duration of time the Lord has blessed us with donations of pulpit and communion cloths, pulpit chairs, several hymnbooks, pulpit and communion trays, Bibles, and sound equipment for the church.

In 2001 we were worshipping in Providence Elementary School, but by the hand of God we moved out of the school at the end of December. The Lord sent us to our new place of worship located in Kempsville Plaza Shopping Center, 5277 Princess Anne Road, and Unit # 311, Virginia Beach, VA 23462. Through the efforts of family and friends we purchased 100 chairs for the sanctuary. God even blessed us with a donation of an altar, pulpit chairs and pulpit podium to be placed in our sanctuary. God blessed us with an organ, office equipment and the ministry is continuing to grow spiritually. We expanded our outreach into the community through evangelism by which we began serving the homeless at the Judeo Christian Outreach Center and started our own food pantry as well as the Bread of Life ministry (that gives out bread and pastry products weekly).

On the 2nd Sunday of November 2007, we had our first worship service at 5724 Old Providence Road in Va. Beach. God had prepared the way for us to purchase this beautiful church with its cedar wood, cathedral ceilings, and pews. Our new church home contains a fellowship hall, kitchen, classrooms, nursery, and administrative offices. Since occupying our new sanctuary we have purchased new purple carpet, 24 purple pew cushions, offering table, communion table, brass altar set, Pastor’s pulpit chair, copy machine, office furniture, computers, wireless internet through out the building, Daycare furniture and equipment. God continues to show His light through us as Chosen Daycare and Educational Academy was opened on June 16, 2008 “where we educate the mind and the spirit”. By the grace and strength of God we are reaching out to our community and the world by supporting the Avalon Civic League, Garden Club, Beach Funeral Services, and various organizations. We have held various community fairs and outreach projects, and we even sponsored a mission’s project to Djibouti, Africa for a children’s orphanage home. We are truly the “Church in the New Millenium that is Making a Difference”.