John Watson Jr. is a firefighter by training, but he inherited his religious mission as co-pastor of Maple Temple Church of God in Christ.
His father, Elder John Watson Sr., is senior pastor of Maple Temple, located at 5195 Maple Ave. in North St. Louis. To honor his father’s influence in the church and community, 26th Ward Alderman Frank Williamson introduced an ordinance designating the 1200 block of Clarendon Avenue, at the intersection with Page Boulevard, as “Rev. John Watson Sr. Avenue.”
Indeed, the adage “a family that prays together, stays together” rings true at Maple Temple. Most of his immediate family members serve in leadership roles within the church.
His mother, First Lady Addie Watson, serves as district missionary and oversees the Seed of Faith Ministry. Of his four daughters, two have taken up the family trade. Sierra Watson oversees the Youth Ministry at Maple Temple, and Chavon Bethany is a missionary in Texas.
Watson joined his father in the pulpit at Maple Temple 10 years ago as an assistant pastor, before transitioning into the role of co-pastor four years ago. However, he didn’t start preaching just because his father was a preacher, he said.
“I was inspired by God to continue the mission of empowering people spiritually,” he said.
Watson serves as president of the Academy-Sherman Park Neighborhood Association, which works closely with elected officials. Elected officials are also invited to attend meetings at Maple Temple that give the community an opportunity to discuss their grievances about crime, education, housing and commercial re-development.
“We’ve been able to organize the neighbors to bring the neighborhood back,” Watson said. “We’re one of the most successful neighborhood associations in the city of St. Louis.”
He said that true servants of the community don’t do it for the recognition, they do it because they have been called to do so. As a spiritual shepherd, he preaches this message. “Make Jesus your Lord and continue to look out for one another in the community to make it a better place,” he said.
Watson was directed to the fire service by a friend at his former church, Zion Temple C.O.G.I.C. This friend, who was a firefighter himself, mentioned one day that the St. Louis Fire Department was hiring.
Watson had worked previously at the Federal Reserve Bank in the Processing Department and the University City School District in the Supply Department. Taking his friend’s advice, he pursued and received his training and certifications through the St. Louis Fire Academy and the National Fire Academy.
He began his career as a private at Engine Houses No. 12 and No. 17. At Engine House No. 11, he performed marine duties like river rescues and barge fires. “Any incidents that took place on the Mississippi River, the St. Louis Fire Department handles that,” he said.
He spent 20 years working as a firefighter in North St. Louis before being assigned to Engine House No. 23, at 6500 Michigan Ave., in South St. Louis’ Carondelet neighborhood. He now serves as its fire captain.
Being a firefighter, he said, has provided financial security for his family: his wife of 30 years, Jacqueline; their daughters Bethany, Rosetta Davis, Sierra and Adrien; and their son, John Watson III.
As a member of the Firefighters’ Institute for Racial Equality (F.I.R.E.), he would like to see more African Americans working in the fire service. F.I.R.E.’s mission is to promote the hiring, retention, and upward mobility of African-American firemen in the City of St. Louis.
“What’s happening now,” Watson said, “is that you’ve got more going out and very few coming in.”
This story is part one of “F.I.R.E. in the Pulpit,” a four-part series about firefighter pastors.
