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There are quite a number of Christian flocks that call themselves Pilgrim Restb. 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 Restb 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.
The church began as a small group of baptized believers in Christ and was officially organized by Pastor Will Jones and named Pilgrim Rest by Mother Millie Parker.
The church's first location was at Hermitage Avenue, near Roosevelt Road and upon losing our Hermitage Avenue church headquarters in a mysterious fire, the church was led by Pastor Clemmons as we searched for a new headquarters. The search continued for a new headquarters under the leadership of Pastor Johnson and experienced slow increasing membership as we constantly moved from meeting place to meeting place. The church moved from the Branch Funeral Parlor on Blue Island Avenue to a headquarters located at 1249 West Roosevelt Road and God saw fit to replace Pastor Johnson with Pastor Joseph Stewart of Baldwin, Michigan. Under the leadership of Pastor Baldwin, the church experienced a decline in membership that convinced some members of Pilgrim Rest to discuss merging with another flock. Deacon Will Gore convinced our Pilgrim Rest members to avoid the merger. The church witnessed less than half of a remaining ten member flock gather to pray without a choir or pastor and in April 1937 a minister named Matthew Thomas who accepted Godb's call to pastor our ten member flock, initially, without a salary.
Pastor Thomas led the congregation into a headquarters at 1822 West Roosevelt in 1939 as God increased our membership which enabled the purchasing of a headquarters at 1729 West Washburne. In 1941 as we increased in membership under the leadership of Pastor Thomas. The church prospered to such a degree that God gave us $25,000.00 for the purchase of a larger headquarters to accommodate our growing flock and was relocated in 1949 into a headquarters located at 1901-05 West Washington Boulevard on Chicago's Greater Westside that was beautifully remodeled. The church experienced continuous increase until poor health incapacitated Pastor Thomas in 1985. The homegoing of Pastor Thomas on April 8th, 1987 after he served God as His pastor to us for 50 years.
The guidance of our deacon's ministry led by Deacon Alexander Dunn, Jr. as we petitioned God for a new pastor anf the church welcomed our new leader, Pastor M. C. Russell in 1992 and experienced intense spiritual warfare for a season until the church received a new leader, Pastor Al Lloyd on September 25th, 1993.
Pastor Lloyd's vision requires us to transition with our transitioning Henry Horner-West Haven community and adopt a mission/purpose statement to Worship, Witness and Work in Christ coupled by a verse by verse expository study of the entire Holy Bible led by Pastor Lloyd.
Pastor Lloyd has implemented many new ministries to include, a radio and television broadcast, a church logo and technological supports; including a church website. Pastor Lloyd began pursuing the fulfillment of our vision to develop a more adequate headquarters where Christ's Commandment and Commission can continue to be fulfilled by us.
Pilgrim Rest 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). The ministrt at Pilgrim Rest shall preach the gospel of Godb's kingdom in all the world for a witness unto all nations; and then shall the end come. Then we shall know each of God's true pilgrims.(1 Peter 2:11).
