The Word of God declares: “Go ye therefore, and teach all nations…” (Matt. 28:19).

In response to this mandate, the Church of Jesus Christ (Apostolic), Inc. was started on Sunday, May 16, 1999 in the city of Morristown, New Jersey, under the leadership Bishop Barrington C. Hibbert, PhD. The church would later move to the city of Passaic in 2010.

For a number of years God had been speaking to the then Elder Hibbert through visions and prophecies to shepherd a flock. Although filled with trepidation and doubts as to whether or not he was called to pastoral ministry, God’s sovereign will held sway supremely over his own, and eventually, though reluctant, Bishop Hibbert yielded to His call.

The inaugural service convened at the Plaza hotel, on Speedwell Ave, in the center of Morristown. With the support of saints from the headquarters church, in Paterson, East Orange, other locations, and other invited guests the service was a blessing. 

The song declares “If I didn’t have a problem, I wouldn’t know that God could solve them, I wouldn’t know what faith in His word could do.” This became a reality to Bishop and his late wife Evangelist Erica C. Hibbert, when the enemy showed up and asked them to leave the hotel. The city inspector of Morristown through some source found out that church services were being held at the hotel. On learning this, he forced the administration to give us two weeks to vacate the premises. His reason for taking this action was that since the hotel was rebuilt with federal money, it was a violation of the separation of church and state doctrine to have worship services there. With this short time with which to work, Bishop and the congregation called upon God, their Jehovah-jireh as the two weeks dissolved into days.

Just two days before the eviction, God provided us a place at 39 Maple Ave, Morristown, NJ.  While in Morristown, God moved mightily among His people and added to the church daily such as to be saved, and the church began to grow.

Initially, the church consisted of four members Bishop Hibbert, the late Evangelist Erica Cirlane Hibbert and their two sons, Barrington and Triston. Within weeks Sister Flo Davis, a Morristown resident, joined us after receiving a flyer from the church. On July 11, 1999 the first baptism took place, adding two new members to the church in Morristown. Through the ministering of the Word and much prayer and fasting, young and old, backsliders and sinners accepted the Lord and were baptized in the name of Jesus Christ.

Throughout the years our search for a building never ceased. We prayed endlessly for God to provide us with a building so that His work could continue to progress. In the fullness of time God opened the windows of heaven and blessed us with our current place of worship at 50-62 Third Street in Passaic, New Jersey.  Immediately, we knew that this was the blessing we had been praying for.  It did not immediately offer everything we needed, but God opened our eyes to see the potentials.  One year later we purchased this building and through the leadership of our Pastor, Bishop Hibbert and the dedication of the members, we completed the renovations and held our first service on May 9, 2010.  The following week we celebrated our 11^th Church Anniversary and held our dedication service on May 22, 2010.

The Church of Jesus Christ (Apostolic), Inc. of Passaic started out and continues to advocate the theme BRINGING HOPE and emphases an environment of love, warmth, and caring.  Bishop Hibbert reminds the saints to show and practice love for all who come through the doors of the church. He believes that the church should be a place where joy is shared and spread, where wounded lives are healed, and spiritual fellowship is shared. 

In keeping with our view that the church must extend beyond its four walls, our outreach ministry has an active evangelism emphasis. The overarching goal for all ministries at the Church of Jesus Christ Apostolic of Passaic is disseminating the gospel of Jesus Christ, and is guided by this three-pronged vision: (1) Winning souls for Christ, (2) Discipling believers to imitate Christ, and (3) Perfecting saints for the kingdom of Christ.

Asked how we would characterize this church, we respond that the Church of Jesus Christ Apostolic of Passaic is a church that imparts God’s salvation plan, a church that makes the difference in individual’s lives by helping them to hope again.  It is a church that cares about the soul.  We see ourselves as a church that, with God’s help, puts fragmented lives back together through the Word of God, and the nurturing relationships that are forged here. We aim to win many more for Christ through the preaching of the gospel, to help them grow in their faith as they imitate Christ, and help them become ready to inherit the kingdom of Christ.