Rooted in Legacy. Rising With Purpose
Long before there were livestreams and social media, there was Joshua Chapel—
A church born not in convenience, but in conviction.
A sanctuary not made of stained glass and stage lights, but of spirit and sacrifice.
Founded in 1876 and named after Rev. Joshua Goins, our congregation was built by formerly enslaved and newly free Black people who believed that God was calling them to build something sacred in Waxahachie, Texas.
They worshipped in homes, schoolhouses, and open air—carving out a spiritual home even when the world said they didn’t belong.
In 1917, a new sanctuary rose—designed by William Sidney Pittman, Texas’s first practicing Black architect and son-in-law to Booker T. Washington.
This red-brick, twin-towered structure became more than a church building.
It became a beacon—a testament to faith, resistance, excellence, and Black sacred genius.
We are proud of our history. But we are not stuck in it.
Because at Joshua Chapel, we believe that the God who called us then is still creating now.
The New Chapter - 'myJOSHUA'?
Joshua Chapel
Waxahachie
Today, under the leadership of Pastor Damon L. Blakeley, Joshua Chapel stands at a crossroads between heritage and hope.
We are building on the unshakable foundation of the African Methodist Episcopal Church—a tradition birthed from resistance, dignity, and liberation.
But we are also building forward, calling a new generation into a living, breathing, and burning faith.
“My Joshua” is more than a theme. It’s a call to…
- To create more passionately.
- To love more deeply.
- To experience life more joyfully.
- To reach your full potential.
We’re not interested in preserving an institution.
We’re committed to igniting a movement—one where faith is not a performance, but a path.
One where your life becomes a living testimony.
One where worship leads to work, and community leads to change.
Our Legacy Lives On
Joshua Chapel has been a sanctuary for generations:
- A place where stories are told and healing begins.
- A house where grief is carried, hope is reborn, and joy is shared.
- A church that speaks truth to power and love to pain.
But the story isn’t finished.
And that’s where you come in.
This is your invitation to step into something sacred.
To walk with us into a faith that moves, breathes, and transforms.
To take your place in a story that began long before us—and is still being written.
This is My Joshua. Welcome home.
Start Here. Start Now.
myJOSHUA
🔹 Plan Your Visit – We’ve prepared a place with you in mind.
🔹 From the Pastor – Meet the heart and voice behind the vision.
🔹 Get Connected – Belong. Believe. Become.
🔹 Extreme Hospitality – All are welcome. All are worthy. All have a place.