OUR HISTORY

 

ZION GROVE BAPTIST CHURCH was organized on January 22, 1959 under our founding pastor REVEREND CHARLIE HALL STIMAGE. Born one of four children to Altha Stimage and Charlie Hall in Clarksdale, Mississippi. Reverend Stimage affectionately called Bishop served his country in World War II, worked at Ford Motor Company and organized a gospel quartet, The Southern Jubilees as well as sang with other groups. 
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In 1952, Bishop Stimage moved to Chicago, Illinois and became a member of NEW MORNING STAR BAPTIST CHURCH under the pastorate of the late REVEREND DAVID BISHOP. Bishop Stimage accepted the call to preach the Gospel of Jesus Christ in 1956. During that same year he met and married Maxine Carlotta Constance Bennett.With the love and faithful support of his wife, Charlie organized the Zion Grove Baptist Church.

 

During his endeavor he was greatly assisted by the late Reverend L.W. Childress of Columbus, Ohio. He was also assisted by the Reverend L. Holmes and the Reverend C.S. Hampton in the organizing of the church. The church was given the name “Zion” signifying a holy place. For, the word Zion is sometimes used to refer to the “heavenly city”. The first service was held on January 24, 1959 with an attendance of nine persons including Bishop and Mrs. Stimage, Carl and Gracie Bennett, Larry and Myra McGee, Joe and Mary Hampton, and Ms. Jennie Stevens. The offering raised in this first service was in the amount of $20.00.

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On January 9, 1997, the Reverend Charlie Hall Stimage finished the work assigned to his hands and was called from labor to reward. God did not suffer our Bishop to leave this world in shame and obscurity, but with love, honor, and God’s stamp of approval that ALL IS WELL. On Sunday, July 13, 1997, the Reverend Willie C. Morrow, a.k.a., W. Charles Morrow was placed by God into the office of pastor of the Zion Grove Baptist Church. The Official Installation Service of Pastor Morrow took place on Saturday, August 23, 1997 and was officiated by Bishop Joseph E. Brown of St. John Temple Church