On July 4, 1971, by the grace of Almighty God the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, under the leadership of Pastor Russell W. Davis, Sr., we gathered together in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ to worship God.  We were few in number, but we desired to be free from denominational bondage to worship God in Spirit and in Truth.

 

We had contracted to purchase property located at 1110 and 1112 North 18th Street, Kansas City, Kansas.  We had no collateral and not nearly enough money to purchase the property, then owned by the Seventh Day Adventist Church; but God was with us.

 

We prayed and sought the face of God.  There were sixteen tentative purchasers ahead of us, eleven of whom had cash to pay for the property.  Mrs. Helen Adams, the realtor said, “I want you to have this property”.  Our answer being, ‘We don’t have that kind of money, and no bank will lend a fledging congregation of a dozen persons that kind of money.”  But God was with us.  Mrs. Adams said, “I know a millionaire, who is a personal friend of mine, in Phoenix, Arizona, and I will get him to lend you the money”.

 

We needed a down payment of ten thousand dollars.  One member of this congregation, Sister Lillian Pearl Monholland said, “I will give the $10,000.00 for the down payment”.  There was more collateral still needed.  Pastor Davis and his wife, Sister Elsie Davis placed their home as collateral, as did Brother Joe Howell.  The loan was granted.  For God was with us.

 

We were given fifteen years to repay the loan.  It was paid off in seven years, as we were blessed with faithful and committed members.  For God was with us.

 

The Christ’s Church of the Jesus Hour met in worship at 11:00 AM Sunday, July 4, 1971.  We gathered together in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.   We had to share the building with the Seventh Day Adventist Church which worshipped on Saturday, and the Mormon Church, which worshipped on Sunday at 12:30 PM.  We had to dismiss early, to let the other Church come in; however, the two congregations paid rent to our congregation for their use of the facilities.  This arrangement enabled us to make the first monthly payments. For God was with us.

 

It was not long before God blessed the Church with more souls.  We were led of God to launch a radio ministry, “The Jesus Hour”, which realized tremendous growth.  The Lord later led Pastor Davis to start a television ministry, which cost $1,000.00 per Sunday.

 

God was with us and many souls were blessed by the telecast called “The Morning Watch”, which was broadcast at 7:00 AM on KCMO TV 5.  We relinquished the telecast in 1985, and the Lord then led the Church into International Radio Broadcasting.  “The Jesus Hour” Radio Broadcast reached most of the continent of Africa with the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ.  Souls were saved; churches sprang up in many places in Africa, where the Broadcast was heard. Continuance of the radio ministry in recent years was enabled by the personal sponsorship of Sister Lana Nevils, who contracted with Pan American Broadcasting to provide an international outreach via radio and the internet for Davis’ ministry.

 

Each summer, the Daily Vacation Bible School of Christ’s Church of the Jesus Hour reached the city for the Lord Jesus Christ.  Hundreds came from many parts of the City.  We leased busses and drivers.  Eighteen souls were baptized one year at its close.  For God was with us.

 

Additional property adjoining the Church was acquired and paid for.   Souls were saved, and the name of our Lord Jesus Christ has been exalted.  On August 10, 1992, under the direction of the Holy Spirit and   the  leadership  of   Pastor   Davis,   this   church   purchased the vacant Safeway supermarket at 1119 North 18th Street, Kansas City, Kansas, our current location.   Seventy-five thousand dollars in cash was paid for the property, with the objective to convert it into a sanctuary of worship.

 

Through many hard trials, great tribulation, and other hindrances, we were able, by the grace of God, to begin construction of the new sanctuary at a cost of more than $600,000.00.  The completed construction rendered an auditorium with seating for more than 1,000 persons, a banquet area and kitchen, classrooms, office space, a baptismal pool, and parking.

 

With completion of the building, Christ’s Church of the Jesus Hour, the Church, still led by Founding Pastor Russell W. Davis, Sr., and supported by a faithful and committed membership has served as a beacon to the community.

 

Under Davis’ leadership at a minimum, the Church was open for worship on Sunday morning and 7:00 PM Sunday evening worship, daily for 12 Noon prayer, and Wednesdays for Bible Study and prayer.  Additionally, over the years Pastor Davis has been led of the Lord to hold City-wide Revivals and prayer vigils.

 

The blessings of God have rested on this ministry.  The uncompromising Word of God has gone forth with power.  Souls have been saved.  Believers have been baptized and encouraged in their daily walk with the Master.  For God was with us

 

As further evidence of God’s work through this ministry, new ministries have been established including Christ’s Church of the New Covenant, Kansas City,   Kansas, founded by Rev. Felix Hill; Christ’s Church of the Jesus Hour, Rochester, Minnesota, founded by Rev. Kenneth J. Rowe; and Christ’s Church of Second Chances,  founded by the late Rev. Gregory Gray.

 

Young sons in the ministry have also come out of the Christ’s Church of the Jesus Hour ministry including Rev. Hayden Groves, Rev.  Paul Bell, and  Rev. Jerome  Tolliver.   Others  ordained   by Pastor Davis included Rev. Hayden M. Groves and Rev. James F. Edwards, his grandson. For God was with us.

 

In celebration of his nearly 40 years of leadership to Christ’s Church of the Jesus Hour, and service and faithfulness to God,  in 2010 on his 90th birthday, Founder and Senior Pastor Russell W. Davis, Sr., was honored by his church, his family, and his community.  In late fall of 2011, for health related reasons, Pastor Davis took leave from the pulpit.  Rev. Hayden M. Groves, Christ Outreach Ministries served in his absence until the appointment in August 2012 of Rev. James H. Dean, Jr., an associate minister at Paseo Baptist Church, Kansas City, Missouri as Interim Pastor.

 

In the fall of 2013, following 42 tireless years of service, leadership, sacrifice and faithfulness, Founder and Senior Pastor Rev. Russell W. Davis, Sr. took the title of Pastor Emeritus.  On September 22, 2013, following a Pulpit Search, Rev. James H. Dean was installed as the Senior Pastor of Christ’s Church of the Jesus Hour, becoming the caretaker of this rich legacy and only the second pastor in the Church’s 42 year history.