Jehovah Christian Ministries (JCM) started when God spoke to Pastor Clay about starting a new work for Him. After serving the Lord at Philadelphia Community Baptist Church under the leadership of Rev. Norris A. Jones for many years, Pastor Clay yielded to God’s call through much prayer and fasting. The first meeting of JCM was held on June 14, 2004. This meeting held with individuals indicating their support to begin a new ministry for the Lord included six individuals who sat around our dining room table to establish the church. They are as follows:

• Rev. Jesse Paul Clay, Jr.
• Missionary Brenda W. Clay (wife)
• Rev. Leonard Clay (brother)
• Dr. Jesse Paul Clay (dad)
• Rev. Dr. Jerry W. Jones, Jr.
• Deaconess Patricia E. Jones

Jehovah Christian Ministries was legally established as a Non Profit entity on June 22, 2004.  The name given to the Pastor by God went this way:

God said call the church Jehovah because simply put I am that I am. Knowing that the name Jehovah is usually identified with the Jehovah Witnesses, although we all are witnesses for Jehovah, Pastor Clay was concerned about the confusion the name of this new church could cause.  God said add Christian to differentiate between Jehovah Witnesses and Christians.  God said that his name is not applicable to an organization but to God’s people. Finally, God said that Jehovah Christian is to be a non-denominational church, having ministries to reach God=s lost gems, and to raise up God’s people to be ministers reaching the world, therefore call the church ministries, hence, Jehovah Christian Ministries.

Accepted by the incorporators, we met over a three-month period to discuss, and frame the constitution. Bible study began in the Pastor’s home during the month of September 2004 and continued until January 2005. JCM believed God, and that God would provide a Bible study site.

With only the financial support of the incorporators, the church met the initial needs of the church. On Sunday, September 26, 2004, Pastor Clay and First Lady Clay attended the New Beginnings Christian Center (NBCC) to worship with Pastor Max Melvin, which at the time was located in Accokeek Maryland. JCM needed an additional $600.00 to completely pay the first three months of rent.  Leaving it in God’s hand we rejoiced with NBCC. During service, God spoke to Pastor Melvin who with his church’s support supplied the needed funds. With the seed money provided by Pastor Melvin and NBCC, all bills were paid and have remained paid since beginning this ministry.

The first worship service was a high time in the Lord and was held on October 3, 2004, at Catherine T. Reed Elementary School located in Lanham, MD. Approximately fifty persons attended the worship service and eleven persons joined JCM in the first service. The message was titled “Striving to the Next Level” coming from Joshua 1:5-9.