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First BaptistEarly Study Unit Founded ChurchIn March 1953, a Park Forest couple, Mr. and Mrs. Harold Hill, and several others with Baptist beliefs, asked Dr. James Mosteller, then associate professor of church history at Chicago’s Northern Baptist Theological seminary, to lead a Bible study group. Meetings were held in a different home each week.By June of 1953, the group had grown large enough to begin holding Sunday school and worship services at a nursery school at 26th and Western. Attendance that summer grew to 65, and Harold Smith, a student at' Northern seminary, began serving as student pastor.In October the Baptist group began meeting at Rich East high school first in the music room and then in the Little theatre.THE FIRST Baptist Church of Park Forest was formally organized March 7, 1954. Dr. Mosteller returned to serve the 60 charter members as interim pastor, and Smith continued as assistant pastor. On May 11, 1954, the church was accepted into the Chicago Baptist association and thereby into the American Baptist convention.In August 1955, the Rev. Robert E. Prinzing of Garrett, Ind., was called to be full-time pastor. Dr. W. A. Diman, executive secretary of the Chicago Baptist association, led the installation service for the Rev. Mr. Prinzing, on September 18, 1955.The next milestone in the church’s history took place December 12, 1956, when the congregation voted topurchase 3.3 acres of land at the southwest corner of Orchard and Westwood. The land was dedicated March 2, 1957, the church’s third anniversary.On February 2, 1958, ground was broken for a $100,000 building, the first of three proposed units. The 94-by-48 foot building was designed by Robert Taylor and Deraid West of Oak Park.In 1959 the Rev. Mr. Prinzing accepted a call to Lakeland Baptist church, and Dr. Melvin Lorentzen, associate professor of journalism at Wheaton (111.) college, served as interim pastor during the followingnine months.IN APRIL 1960 the Rev. William D. Webber was called from Momence, 111., to become the church’s second full-time pastor.The parsonage next to tho church was acquired that summer and dedicatedSeptember 25.In 1964 the Sunday school enrollment passed 600, and ground was broken for a new sanctuary and an addition to the Sunday school building.The church cornerstone was laid during a special service July 11, 1965. With church membership at 450, the new sanctuary was dedicated September 19, 1965.IN AUGUST 1966, the Rev. Mr. Webber accepted a call to the University Baptist church of Springfield, Mo. Dr. Lewis Jacobsen served as interim pastor from Sep-‘.tember 11, 1966, through January 1967.The Rev. Chester Carlson was called from DeKalb, 111., to become the pastor. He began serving January 22, 1967. He has served as pastor of the First Baptist church of DeKalb, HI.; the South Seventh Street Baptist church of Springfield, 111.; the Mannheim Baptist church of Franklin Park, 111., and as student minister of the First Baptist church of Lexington, 111.
Newspaper Details
Park Forest Star
Park Forest, Illinois, US
Sun, Nov 09, 1969
Page 89
Full Page
Clipped by
Anonymous
USA 06 Nov 2019
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