St. John FWB church groundbreaking ceremony

Under the leadership of Pastor William F. Hudson, Kinston’s St. John FWB Church had a ground breaking service for their new facility. The ceremony started with a prayer and reading from the scripture by Hudson. In attendance were the church members, city and county officials, and the Trustee Board. The new facility will be built in the same location.

“The age old dreams of erecting a new church at this site has become a reality,” said Chairperson Virginia Cox Daugherty.

St. John FWB Church was first organized in Kinston in 1870 over the banks of the Neuse River. The church is a member of the Northwest “A” Division Annual Conference of the United American Free Will Baptist Denomination.

“I’ve been waiting for this day since 1971,” said Chairperson James Fonville Sr. “All the other board members, deacons, that started out with me in 72 have passed on, but I promised the last board member that passed that I will continue this project and see that it would materialize.”

Fonville received a plaque for Outstanding Trustee for 2020/2021 presented to him by Pastor Hudson and Cox-Daugherty. Also in attendance was Mayor Don Hardy.

“This church is deeply rooted in the community. This is the time is now we move forward on breaking ground here at St. John’s FWB church. I have a lot of memories here,” said Hardy.

Through 150 years and eight pastors, St. John FWB Church has served as a beacon in Kinston. Hudson has been the pastor of St. John FWB Church since 2015. The ground breaking ceremony signals the start of a new building and growth for the local church.