Progressive Baptist Church

1966: Progressive Missionary Baptist Church was organized under the leadership of Rev. Cecil Hall.  Services were held in the basement of Pilgrim Baptist Church.

July 25, 1967:  Secretary of State Edgar D. Whitcomb recorded the church’s name as Progressive Free Will Baptist Church.  Under the leadership of Rev. Hall, the church purchased a house at 6120 N. Michigan Road.

March 17, 1969:  The church was renamed Progressive Missionary Baptist Church.  Rev. Hall resigned as pastor in 1974.

1974:  Rev. Nathan Birdsong and Rev. Earlest Birdsong began serving as interim pastors and faithfully served until June 1975.

June 1975:  Rev. W. Bernard Minor was installed as Senior Pastor.  In 1988, under the leadership of Pastor Minor a church was built on the land at 61st and Michigan Road.  Rev. Minor retired in 1993 and served as pastor emeritus until September 1994.

September 1994:  Rev. Michael K. Jones was installed as Senior Pastor.  Under Pastor Jones’ leadership, the church purchased ten acres of land on W. 59th Street and broke ground on our current building October 15, 2000.  Rev. Michael K. Jones served Progressive Baptist Church faithfully until his death on July 26, 2016.

June 24, 2001:  Progressive held its first service at 4625 W. 59th Street.

September 23, 2001:  4625 W. 59th Street was dedicated as the  Ester L. Springfield Family Life Center.

November 2017:  Rev. Frank Alexander began serving as Interim Pastor.

February 2019: Rev. Darian C. Bouie, M. Div. was elected as the new Senior Pastor of Progressive Baptist Church.

September 2019:  Rev. Darian C. Bouie, M. Div was installed as Senior Pastor.