CHRISTIAN MISSIONARY BAPTIST CHURCH
HISTORY
1961 - Present
In 1961, Mrs. Sarah Robinson called together a group of people and formulated a prayer band. On March 5, 1961, this prayer band and others totaling about 50, met at the YMCA at 50th and Indiana. Believing that God had a great work for them to do, this group organized into a Mission. With Rev. John Taylor as their leader, they secured the Social Room of the Chicago Baptist Institute. Sunday School and 11:00 a.m. Services were held at this location. For other meetings, they met in the home of Mrs. Nevels.On Sunday, May 21, 1961, they were organized into a Baptist Church by H. G. Robinson serving in place of T. E. Brown, Moderator of the Bethlehem District Association. Rev. John Taylor was elected Pastor. All rehearsals were held in the home of Mrs. Nevels. The home of Mrs. Sarah Robinson was selected as headquarters for the church and became the hub of all of the business transactions for the church.With much planning and prayer, the Lord blessed us with a church home located at: 7146-48 S. Halsted. In order to make this building suitable for worship services, the members supplied all the necessary labor, which was tremendous. We held our first services there on August 2, 1962. With faith in God, and an inspiring Pastor and dedicated members, we marched on. The Lord added to our membership as He saw fit. We then had a Sunday School, three choirs, Missionary Society, Deacon Board, Trustee Board, Pastor's Aid, Board of Christian Education, B.T.U., Deacons' and Ministers' Wives, Nurses Board and Benevolence Club. Rev. Eddie Nelson was Assistant Pastor and Rev. G. Duncan and Rev. J. B. Hall were Associate Ministers.
After eight anniversaries at 7146 - 48 S. Halsted, we successfully celebrated both spiritually and financially, and realizing that "There Is No Secret What God Can Do", and we began to reach for higher heights. Again with much planning and prayer, labor and sacrificing by our Pastor, dedicated members, and Christian friends, God blessed us with a bigger and better church home at 132 W. 104th Street and parsonage at 130 W. 104th Street. On Sunday, October 4, 1970, we marched into this beautiful sanctuary.In November of 1996 our first Pastor, Rev. John Taylor retired.
After prayerfully selecting between two favorite sons of the church, Rev. Ronald Ellis and Rev. Robert E. Harper, Rev Robert E. Harper was called as Pastor on March 31, 1997. Sunday, August 24, 1997, at 3:30 in the afternoon, Rev. Robert E. Harper was installed as Pastor of Christian Missionary Baptist Church. Rev. Dr. M. T. Jackson, the Pastor of Macedonia Tabernacle Missionary Baptist Church, gave the charge and Rev. Michael Runnels, the Pastor of Greater Metropolitan Missionary Baptist Church, delivered the sermon. The ceremony was Spirit-filled, and well-attended.A moment of sadness touched our hearts in December of 1998 when former First Lady, Irene Taylor went home to be with the Lord. Her absence will be felt for years to come.On February 3, 2003, our church suffered a great loss when Pastor Emeritus, Rev. John Taylor went home to be with the Lord. His guidance and leadership as Pastor will live on in our hearts for years to come.Today, we currently have six Associate Ministers. They are: Rev. Alyne Banks, Rev. Marcus A. Harper, Rev. Ernestine Johnson, Rev. Rome McEntee, Rev. Jeannyne Staten and Rev. Mary L. Swanson.Under the prayerful guidance and leadership of Pastor Robert E. Harper, Christian Missionary Baptist Church will continue to prepare us and move us forward in the years to come...
