Founded in 1947 the Community Missionary Baptist Church isn’t in Chicago. This church’s story begins in South Bend Indiana. A small group of believers primarily from the United Brethren Church which is now Southlawn United Methodist Church formed Community Baptist Church. Their first meeting on July 25th 1947 had 25 people. They met many times to resolve differences. They chose a name and organized a constitution. They found a location and sought a pastor. Two preachers helped them Reverend KF Dodson of Mishawaka’s First Baptist Church and Mr RW Coles a lay preacher. The church officially organized in the fall of 1947. Fifty-five attended their first Sunday school and forty-six came to church. They approved their constitution and hired a part-time pastor Mr ML Allman a Goshen College student. Thirty-nine charter members joyfully united. The church moved to Kern Road in 1951 then to Miami Road in 1968. In 1976 they started Community Baptist Christian School. The church had seven pastors. Reverend Marshall L Allman served from October 1947 to September 1952. Reverend Frank Collins served from October 1952 to June 1956. Reverend Ralph O Burns served from October 1956 to November 1962. Dr Vaughn E Sprunger served from March 1963 to December 1993. Dr Bud Steadman served from January 1996 to February 2009. Dr David Pennington served from April 2010 to August 2014. Dr Joseph Fant is the current pastor beginning in November 2017. The Community Missionary Baptist Church has grown and moved but God’s work continues there. Their future is bright and full of God’s promise.
Congregation Or Torah
Rabbi Zvi Engel’s leadership guides Congregation Or Torah. This impressive Modern Orthodox Synagogue stands proudly in Skokie Illinois. It’s one