Established in 1833 Village First Baptist Church stands as a testament to enduring faith. Fifteen believers began this congregation. They met in a modest Methodist building. It was located at Wacker Drive and Franklin Street. This wasn’t Chicago’s first Protestant church. Presbyterians had established a church earlier that same year. Methodists had already organized in Old Fort Dearborn in 1831.
Village First Baptist Church moved several times in its early years. One of its locations was at 31st and King Drive. That building is now home to Olivet Baptist Church. The church served as a mother church for many ministries. Numerous churches were founded by its members and efforts. These include Calvary Baptist Church in the South Shore community. The Chicago YMCA movement also benefited from Village First Baptist Church’s work. So did the Baptist Missionary Training School. The old University of Chicago and the Baptist Theological Union flourished thanks to its pastors and members.
The church played a vital role in the post-World War II resettlement of Japanese Americans. Rev Jitsuo Morikawa served as assistant pastor. He later became the first Japanese American to lead a Euro-American congregation. Rev Morikawa also welcomed the church’s first African-American members. He left in 1955 to become Director of Evangelism for the American Baptist Church USA.
Village First Baptist Church experienced significant demographic shifts in the 1960s and 70s. It transitioned from a primarily Euro-American and Japanese congregation to a predominantly African-American one. By 1979 its first African-American pastor Rev Landis McAlpin had resigned. Various ministers including Rev Randall Pittman filled the pulpit. Rev Jesse M Brown became the 27th pastor on December 10 1980.
Village First Baptist Church has always been a training ground for church leaders. Rev Dr Larry Greenfield was ordained there in 1967. He later became president of Colgate-Rochester Seminary and executive minister of the American Baptist Churches of Metro Chicago. Between 1986 and 2015 twelve members were licensed to preach. Many were also ordained during this period.
In 2005 for the first time in recent history a member was installed as a pastor elsewhere. Rev Carol Jamieson Brown became pastor of the First Baptist Church of Park Forest. She served longer than anyone in that church’s history. Other members also served as pastors in other locations. Village First Baptist Church is dedicated to children and youth ministries. It offers a variety of programs. These include camping. Annual youth mission trips have taken young people to various locations. These include Charleston West Virginia Fairbanks Alaska and even Cuba.
Village First Baptist Church also has various ministries serving adults. These include an Angel Tree Ministry for children of incarcerated parents. A Dawson Home Ministry and Assisted Living Committee care for seniors and the chronically ill. The church continues to adapt and serve its community reflecting a long and rich history. It has been and continues to be a place of faith hope and service.