Apostolic Pentecostal Church of Morgan Park

In Loving Memory

Suffragan Bishop Emeritus Robert A. Baggett, Sr.

... ONLY BE STRONG AND OF GOOD COURAGE
After the death of Pastor, District Elder Herbert Clyde Moore in October of 1973 the new church faced the period of adjustment with prayer and determination under the leadership of Elder Baggett as acting Pastor from October 1973 until he was elected Pastor in December 1974. On February 16, 1975, Elder Robert Baggett was installed as Pastor of the Morgan Park Assembly Church. He, along with his loving and faithful wife, Sister Elaine Baggett, began a higher service for the Lord. They had been well prepared for this position by their faithful service in various auxiliaries over the years. Elder Andrew Davis was appointed Assistant Pastor and the new leaders began to conquer the challenges of leadership. Fundraising activities were blessed and on February 20, 1977, the Morgan Park Assembly Church held Mortgage Burning Services. This was a special blessing because the 15-year mortgage was being liquidated after only 5 years. The church enjoyed the enviable position of being debt free. The Lord then brought to Elder Baggett's attention how our church was sometimes confused with other churches in the community. Even the doctrine at times was questioned. Thus, the name Apostolic Pentecostal Church of Morgan Park was adopted in 1982 so that everyone would know who and what we were.

WITHOUT A VISION...
The congregation of about 400 rapidly grew as the Lord's blessings flowed. Elder Baggett appointed Elder F.W. Jackson as a second Assistant Pastor. As the church continued to grow, Elder Baggett found it necessary to appoint yet another Assistant Pastor in the person of Elder Louis Lafayette, Jr. The congregation continued to increase and the whispers of expansion became a shout. Fund-raising ideas were implemented and on June 26, 1983 a symbolic "by faith" ground breaking took place on the site of the proposed addition. The Honorable Mayor Harold Washington (then Mayor of Chicago) was one of the honorary groundbreakers at the ceremony. Through spirits and expectations were high, we had no idea that the fruition of Elder Baggett's vision would lead us on an almost 10-year odyssey. It was Elder Baggett's vision to "take the community" in the natural as well as the spiritual. In 1986, the membership was at approximately 1100. Our sanctuary was bulging at the seams. Chairs were being set up across the back of the sanctuary and down every aisle. The balcony was always crowded and still the people stood. The journey to building the new edifice was fraught with financial obstacles, construction delays and sometimes discouragement.

LET US HOLD FAST...
It was during this period also that the church suffered another staggering blow. On January 7, 1990, our beloved Elder Andrew Davis was called to glory. He was sorely missed. He was a teacher, mentor, brother and friend to us all. Several of the young ministers who studied and fellowshipped with him have gone on to become pastors and teachers. Many of us still have wonderful "Elder Davis stories" we treasure. We owned a special thank you to his wife, Sister Alexine Davis, for sharing her husband with us. Elder Baggett appointed Elder Bobbe Worthon as assistant pastor to share the help with the ever-increasing membership. In spite of the halting, unsteady progress of the building expansion, the actual building of the church was finally completed in 1993. As with the original structure, the pages of the Bible were distributed along the foundation of the new building during the construction. On June 6, 1993, Elder Baggett was given the honor of having a portion of Edmaire Street renamed Dr. Robert A. Baggett, Sr. Drive. Later that year in September, we marched into the new edifice on a beautiful Sunday afternoon. The original sanctuary was promptly named in honor of the church's founder, Elder Herbert C. Moore. The prayer room in the new building was named in memory of one of our favorite prayer warriors, Elder Andrew David and the new dining hall was named for Elder Robert A. Baggett. In 1995, Elder Baggett was elevated to the position of Suffragan Bishop.

BE YE STEDFAST...
The saints had barely begun to settle into their new surroundings when Suffragan Bishop Robert A. Baggett, Sr. informed his congregation that he was retiring, and he was nominating Bishop William A. Ellis as his successor.