Church History 

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Progressive Missionary Baptist Church began on Sunday, June 15, 1941, with Sisters Mary Benfield, Frances Bronson, Mary Burris, Mary Connelly, Brothers Calvin Dixon, and Egbert Gilmore, Sisters Ida Gilmore, Flossie Miller (Jackson), and Mittie Miller, with Rev. Lewine A. Weaver as the first pastor.

 

The homes of Mary Burris, Mittie Miller, and Calvin Dixon served to accommodate the first services, and a diligent search for a regular worship place led Rev. Weaver to 72 West Union Street.  In early summer 1942, the church purchased and reconditioned a garage located next to our present site. Early in 1967, construction began on the present building, and in November 1968, the membership moved into its new edifice, with the Pastor’s study and kitchen added at later dates.

           

During the 1974-75 tenure of Rev. Grover Walker, the Church’s name was changed from Progressive Baptist Church, to New Progressive Baptist Church. The name was later changed to New Progressive Missionary Baptist Church.  In 2000, the church was incorporated as New Progressive Baptist Church.

 

New Progressive Baptist Church has had seven under shepherds during its 60 years of service to God and his people:

 

            Rev. Lewine A. Weaver:                  1941 – 1957 (deceased)

            Rev. George W. Hampton:               1958 – 1965

            Rev. James Priest                             1965 – 1973 (deceased)

            Rev. Grover Walker                         1975

            Rev. Elijah C. Smalls                      1976 – 1990 (deceased)

            Rev. Donna Lyn Smith-Taylor        1990 – 1994

            Rev. Coleman Briggs and Rev. Robert Dixon served as interim pastors at New Progressive.

 

In 1995, under the guidance of the Holy Spirit the disciples of New Progressive were led to call our current under shepherd, the Rev. G. Modele Clarke, to serve as pastor.  Under his leadership, the church has been tremendously blessed and has grown both physically and financially.

           

Besides Pastor Clarke, there are now six other licensed preachers of the Gospel at New Progressive. They are:

• Reverend Paul D. Worthington, assistant to the pastor

• Reverend Evelyn J. Clarke, treasurer/director, Christian Education

• Minister Rita M. Worthington, director, Family Services Ministry

• Minister Dennis Washington, music minister

• Minister Teresa Thomas Washington, director, Read & Write Program

• Minister Coleman Edward Briggs, director Tribes Ministry

During the summer of 2003, Rev. Clarke received Masters of Divinity and Doctor of Ministry degrees from Trinity Theological Seminary. In February 2005, Paul Worthington was ordained.  Evelyn Clarke was ordained in 2010.

 

 

Our missionary activities have taken us beyond the limits of the United States. During December, 1998 and January, 1999, Pastor Clarke ministered to pastors and preachers in Uganda on Soul Winning. The following year, Min. Paul Worthington and Sister Jamila Shaw-Reid spent three weeks in Uganda ministering to Sunday School teachers, pastors and people. The church has developed strong relationships with several churches in Uganda and has hosted three Ugandan pastors since 1997.  Additionally, the church and several individual disciples have become sponsors for a number of Ugandan school children.  Pastor Clarke has also ministered in Puerto Rico, Grand Cayman and Trinidad.

 

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