GOD’S STORY OF
PILGRIM REST OF CHICAGO

There are quite a number of Christian flocks that call themselves “Pilgrim Rest”. However, there is only one Pilgrim Rest Missionary Baptist Church of Chicago. The fact is that you are about to learn facts about a “Pilgrim Rest” that is unique to all other Pilgrim Rests. Our Pilgrim Rest

• consists of many saints who were saved and called with a holy calling, not according to their works, but according to God’s own purpose and grace, which was given them in Christ Jesus before the world began
• was founded in 1928 in the home of Deacon and Sister Aaron Shinairel
• began as a small group of baptized believers in Christ
• was officially organized by Pastor Will Jones
• was named Pilgrim Rest by Mother Millie Parker
• settled in a church headquarters located at Hermitage Avenue, near Roosevelt Road
• lost our Hermitage Avenue church headquarters in a mysterious fire
• was led by Pastor Clemmons as we searched for a new headquarters
• continued our search for a new headquarters under the leadership of Pastor Johnson
• experienced slow increase in membership as we constantly moved from meeting place to meeting place
• was moved from the Branch Funeral Parlor on Blue Island Avenue to a headquarters located at 1249 West Roosevelt Road
• saw God replace Pastor Johnson with Pastor Joseph Stewart of Baldwin, Michigan
• experienced a decline in membership that convinced some members of Pilgrim Rest to discuss merging with another flock
• saw Deacon Will Gore convince our Pilgrim Rest members to avoid the merger
• witnessed less than half of a remaining ten member flock gather to pray without a choir or pastor
• was alerted in April 1937 to receive a minister named Matthew Thomas who accepted God’s call to pastor our ten member flock, initially, without a salary
• was settled, with Pastor Thomas, into a headquarters at 1822 West Roosevelt in 1939 as God increased our membership
• was enabled to purchase a headquarters at 1729 West Washburne in 1941 as we increased in membership under the leadership of Pastor Thomas
• prospered to the degree that God gave us $25,000.00 for the purchase of a larger headquarters to accommodate our growing flock
• was relocated in 1949 into a headquarters located at 1901-05 West Washington Boulevard on Chicago’s Greater Westside that was beautifully remodeled
• experienced continuous increase until poor health incapacitated Pastor Thomas in 1985
• celebrated the homegoing of Pastor Thomas on April 8th, 1987 after he served God as His pastor to us for 50 years
• followed the guidance of our deacons’ ministry led by Deacon Alexander Dunn, Jr. as we petitioned God for a new pastor
• welcomed our new leader, Pastor M. C. Russell in 1992
• experienced intense spiritual warfare for a season
• received a new leader, Pastor Al Lloyd on September 25th, 1993
• encountered, with Pastor Lloyd, a vision that requires us to transition with our transitioning Henry Horner-West Haven community
• adopted a mission/purpose statement to ‘Worship, Witness and Work in Christ’
• completed a verse by verse study of the Holy Bible led by Pastor Lloyd
• implemented, with Pastor Lloyd, many new ministries, a radio and television broadcast, a church logo and technological supports; including a church website
• began pursuing, with Pastor Lloyd, the fulfillment of our vision to develop a more adequate headquarters where Christ’s Commandment and Commission can continue to be fulfilled by us
• celebrates our association with the associate preachers who have gone on to pastor other flocks; Pastors Clarence Hopson (Broadview), James & Curtis Harvey (El Bethel), Marcus Beckham (New St, John), Marvell Beckham (Gospel Temple), Charles Gordon (Covenant Chapel), Columbus Ewing (Community Fellowship), and Charles Roberson (Original Rising Star).
• shall preach the gospel of God’s kingdom in all the world for a witness unto all nations; and then shall the end come
• will then know each pilgrim who truly found rest in Jesus Christ.