MISSION STATEMENT
Our mission is to lift up the name of Jesus and to make His name known through praise and worship, preaching of the Word and purposeful work in this world.
VISION STATEMENT
Progressive M.B. Church seeks to progressively become a congregation of Christians that will show the compassion of Christ, to members within the congregation, people in the community, citizens throughout the city of Chicago, and beyond.
SLOGAN
We are pressing and progressing!
WHAT SHOULD YOU EXPECT AT PROGRESSIVE?
When you enter Progressive Missionary Baptist Church, you will be greeted by the spirit of God and the welcoming love of the Progressive Family!
Our services are a blend of praise and worship through song, prayer, preaching and sometimes liturgical dance. The service consists of several portions, including: devotion, a brief fellowship period, the sermon and an invitation to discipleship. You can always expect a mighty word from the Lord, and a “hot number” or two from our Mass Choir. You may even have the pleasure of being served by our Youth Ministry members!
The message is always delivered in love and we hope that you’ll leave different when you visit Progressive.
CHURCH HISTORY
The Progressive Missionary Baptist Church had its humble beginnings 75 years ago, having been established in 1943. Progressive originated at 13101 S. Greenwood in Chicago, Illinois under the leadership of our founder, Reverend Frank McCall. At that time, Progressive had approximately 25 members. The Church was located across the highway from the Altgeld Gardens housing development, which was under construction at the time.
In 1945, Reverend A. L. Wilson became Pastor and the church body continued to grow. In 1952, the call was extended to Reverend Emmanuel Hoskins to lead the church, and the Lord continued to give increase to Progressive. In 1955, Reverend O.C. Nicks was sent to guide the flock. Membership steadily increased, and the church was moved to the Children’s Building of Altgeld Gardens in order to accommodate larger numbers.
Progressive prayed and persevered its way into 1961 and the Lord saw fit to send a new shepherd in the person of Reverend Dr. John D. Digby, Jr. On October 5, 1965, we marched from the Children’s Building to a new church home located at 735 E. 134th Street in Chicago, Illinois. This street is now known as “Reverend John D. Digby, Jr. Drive”. Dr. Digby had aspirations to do amazing things for the Lord, and on October 3, 1998, we broke ground for our new edifice.
On June 15, 2003, we moved into our current church home at 26 E. 127th Street in Chicago, Illinois, where we continue to give thanks and praise to our Almighty God.
On November 8, 2015, 20 months after our beloved Reverend Dr. John D. Digby Jr. went home to be with the Lord, Reverend Warren Woods, Jr. was installed as our new Pastor. Reverend Woods is the organizing Pastor of the New Start Missionary Baptist Church, established in 2004. In addition to answering the call to pastor the Progressive M.B. Church, Pastor Woods allowed God to use him as a vessel to bless Progressive by bringing the majority of the New Start saints to join the Progressive family. The blending of church families generated a significant increase in our membership, and the love has greatly impacted our legacy. To God be the glory!
We’ve come this far by faith, and God has brought us a very long way. Progressive’s God-given mission will move us forward by taking the never-changing Gospel to our ever-changing world.