J. C. Joiner was saved in Roswell, New Mexico, under the ministry of Howard Ingram. He married Nita and upon his discharge from the U S Air Force, they went to Baptist Bible College. He graduated from BBC in 1957 and received his Masters’ Degree from Tennessee Temple University in 1959. He and Nita had three children when they moved to Tucson, Arizona. They began knocking doors in preparation of beginning a church. They leased a school building and after three weeks of visitation had the first service on March 29, 1959. The first Sunday’s attendance was 41, the second week was 23. For the first six months, the financial needs were met with home missions support from Baptist Bible Fellowship churches. After six months, the church was self-supporting.
Today the church has property and buildings valued over four million dollars. During a time of a thriving bus ministry, the Sunday School recorded a high attendance of 1640. For many years, NTBC was also the home of Tucson Christian School. Since the beginning of the church, home and foreign missions has been a major emphasis. New Testament Baptist has had 45 annual missions conferences with missions support reaching a total over 5 million dollars. More than 350 members have submitted to God’s call to ministry and attended Bible Colleges to prepare for ministry. Over the years, Joiner has held several positions of leadership within the Fellowship, notably as President of Pacific Coast Baptist Bible College, and has been very involved in the mission program of the BBFI.
On March 30 – 31, a grand celebration of 60 years of ministry will take place at New Testament with the theme, “Great is Thy Faithfulness!” Few men have pioneered a ministry and then stayed for 60 years. Those of us who have grown under the influence of Pastor Joiner are proud of our heritage and happy to congratulate him and the congregation on this great occasion.
James Smith
God bless you J.C. What a great legacy!
We were so blessed to be under Joiner’s ministry when we lived in Tucson as a young married couple in our 20’s. So thankful.
We were privileged to hear Dr.J.C. Joiner preach in our home church, First Baptist Church of Peaceful Valley in Widefield, Colorado, back in 1982, when the church was pastored by the late Dr. Gene Woods. He loved Dr. Joiner and was also saved under the ministry of Pastor Howard Ingram. Wish we could be there for the 60 year celebration of his ministry!