
Our History
Living Word’s History
Living Word Missionary Baptist Church was established as a mission of the “True Life Missionary Baptist Church” of Newport, Kentucky in early 1961. On May 21, 1961, Living Word was established as a church. Our location was an old store front building located at 2812 Colerain Avenue in Cincinnati, Ohio. At the time Living Word was established, there were 19 charter members (all coming from Old Fashion Missionary Baptist Church), of which one remained, Brother Carl Gray (who went home to be with the Lord on 2/16/06). The Reverend Virgil Mills was elected as Living Word’s 1st pastor.
For over 60 years, Living Word Missionary Baptist Church has been blessed with 10 Pastors, 2 Assistant Pastors and 1 Youth Pastor.
The Pastors are as follows:
Rev. Jason Callihan August 2019 - Present
Rev. Mike Callihan Dec. 1999 – June 2019
Youth Pastor:
Rev. Kevin Benne Sept. 2001 – Oct. 2018
Rev. Authur Hensley Feb. 1998 – April 1999
Rev. Vernon Williams May 1997 – Jan. 1998
Rev. Clophas Shakleford Oct. 1993 – June 1996
Rev. Bill Harris June 1979 – Sept. 1983 & March 1985 – Oct. 1993
Asst. Pastor:
Rev. Meece April 1982 – Jan. 1983
Rev. Clarence Neal Sept. 1971 – July 1975 & May 1976 – March 1979
Rev. Madden Sept. 1975 – May 1976
Rev. Bruce Butler 1966 – August 1971
Asst. Pastor:
Rev. Paul Anderson March 1969 – Aug. 1969
Rev. Virgil Mills May 1961 – 1966
On December 5, 1999, Living Word elected Reverend Mike Callihan as their pastor. During the first years of his pastoring, God once again continued his blessings of Living Word Missionary Baptist Church. The church began to grow as it was pleasing unto our Lord. Pastor Callihan was given a “vision”. The vision was in line with Pastor Harris’s, move Living Word off of Montgomery Road and into a building with room for growth. In late 2004 – early 2005, this vision came to pass and a new building was purchased.
For over 60 years, Living Word Missionary Baptist Church has had five locations.
2812 Colerain Avenue, Cincinnati, Ohio May 1961 – June 1967
1725 Carll Street, Cincinnati, Ohio June 1967 – Jan 1970
2008 Worth Avenue, Norwood, Ohio Jan. 1970 – Feb. 1972
6650 Montgomery Road, Silverton, Ohio Feb. 1972 – Sept. 2005
8369 Princeton Road, Middletown, Ohio Sept. 2005 – Present
Radio Ministries
The Lord has also richly blessed Living Word with radio ministries during the past 50+ years. Living Word has been blessed to provide radio outreach ministries on three different radio stations. They were:
WBVL
Berea, KY 1961 – 1967
WCNW AM 1560
Fairfield, OH 1981 – 1994
WEKC AM 710
Williamsburg, KY 2000 – 2012
We thank the Lord for all those dear Christian saints who have paved the way before us and allowed us to have this precious opportunity that we have today.