SURVIVORS OF AN 1875 HURRICANE THAT HIT THE COASTAL . TOWN OF INDIANOLA MOVED TO CORPUS CHRIST1 AND ORGA-NIZED A BAPTIST CHURCH FOR AFRICAN AMERICANS,NAMED ST.JOHN FREE MISSION BAPTIST CHURCH,THE CONGREGATION MET IN A BARN UNTIL A SANCTUARY WAS BUILT IN 1876 AT THE CORNER OF N.BROADWAY AND TWIGG. THE BUILDING WAS MOVED IN 1910 TO A NEW SITE AT 1305 RAMIREZ STREET. THE FIRST FULL-TIME PASTOR BEGAN HOLDING WORSHIP SERVICES IN 1921.A NEW CHURCH BUILDING WAS ERECTED BEFORE 1940 TO ACCOMMODATE THE GROWING MEMBERSHIP, AND AN ANNEX WAS ADDED BY 1945. MUSICAL PROGRAMS . SUPPORTED BY THE CHURCH INCLUDED A CHOIR,CHURCH BAND, AND GLEE CLUB QUARTET THAT WAS BROADCAST BY . FOUR LOCAL RADIO STATIONS FOR SEVERAL YEARS.

IN 1958,THE CONGREGATION PURCHASED 3.5 ACRES OF LAND AT THIS SITE AND BEGAN CONSTRUCTION OF A NEW CHURCH BUILDING. THE FIRST PHASE OF THE BUILDING PROGRAM, COM-PLETED IN OCTOBER 1961,1NCLUDED SEVERAL NEW ROOMS FOR CHURCH ACTIVITIES AND SPORTS FACILITIES& NEW SANCTUARY WAS FINISHED AND DEDICATED IN MAY 1969, COMPLETING THE BUILDING PROGRAM. .

THE CHURCH HAS SUPPORTED MANY COMMUNITY ACTIVITIES AND SEVERAL SOCIAL OUTREACH MINISTRIES.,AND MAINTAINS ACTIVE PROGRAMS FOR ITS MEMBERSHIP (1996)