New Progressive Missionary Baptist Church

In 1957, a small group of believers gathered in the Englewood Community House. They laid the foundation for what would become the New Progressive Missionary Baptist Church. New Progressive Missionary Baptist Church officially began its journey on November 3rd of that year. The church’s first home was at 6224 S. Princeton Avenue in Chicago. The late Rev. Samuel W. Wyatt led the congregation. The New Progressive Missionary Baptist Church quickly outgrew its initial space. In January 1958, the church moved to 60 E. 93rd Street. They shared the building with the West Chesterfield Baptist Church under Rev. Albert Turner. Just over a year later, in March 1959, they found a new storefront location at 9401 S. Perry. Sadly, Rev. Wyatt fell ill in 1959 and passed away in August 1960. His assistant, Rev. David C. Barnes, stepped in to lead the congregation until 1961. A new chapter began for New Progressive Missionary Baptist Church on January 28, 1961. Reverend Elzie Young became the pastor and presented a vision for the church’s future. He focused on spiritual, numerical, and financial growth. The congregation embraced his vision and worked diligently to make it a reality. That same year, the church officially registered with the State of Illinois. It was then that the name was formally changed to New Progressive Missionary Baptist Church. The church members launched a membership drive. They distributed flyers throughout the community, inviting friends and neighbors to join them. The New Progressive Missionary Baptist Church purchased a house at 9400 S. Perry in 1963 and renovated it. In the fall of 1966, they began constructing a new church building on the adjacent lot. By the spring of 1967, the congregation moved into their new sanctuary. The church continued to thrive under Rev. Young’s leadership. By 1972, further expansions were necessary to accommodate the growing congregation. From 1983 to 1999, the church also housed the New Progressive Christian Academy. The academy served students from first through eighth grade. A new annex was built on the south parking lot for classrooms, offices, and an extension of the basement auditorium. In 1986, a board of Christian education was established to guide the church’s educational activities. A new convert class was also created that same year. Rev. Dr. Elzie Young received an honorary street sign at the corner of 9400 and Perry in 1993. This marked a significant milestone for both the pastor and the church. A youth choir was also formed in 1993. New Progressive Missionary Baptist Church’s membership grew from just 14 to over 1,000. Sunday school attendance increased from 9 to 300. After 37 years of dedicated service, Rev. Dr. Elzie Young retired in 1998. Rev. Herbert Lee, Jr. accepted the call to become the new pastor of New Progressive Missionary Baptist Church.