Our History
Greater Tabernacle Missionary Baptist Church was founded on March 25, 1967, in the basement of Rev. J.B. Sims Jr.’s home. With a small group of dedicated believers, Rev. Sims was elected as the church’s first pastor. By May of that year, the congregation moved to its first location at 5916-18 S. Prairie Ave.
In December 1970, Greater Tabernacle took another major step, relocating to its current home at 11240 S. Indiana Ave. With thanksgiving in their hearts, members and friends celebrated this milestone with a motorcade to the new location.
Guided by the vision of Rev. Sims, the church established a food program to serve the Roseland community, offering groceries and hot meals. Over the decades, Greater Tabernacle expanded its ministries to meet the spiritual and practical needs of its members and neighbors.
After 36 years of faithful service, Rev. Sims passed away in December 2003. The church continued to thrive under a succession of dedicated leaders, including Bishop Edward Rockett Jr., who served for over a decade.
In March 2023, Pastor Robert Phillips was appointed Senior Pastor. Under his leadership, Greater Tabernacle looks forward to a future filled with faith, service, and growth.
Our Vision
Reach up | Reach out | Reach in
Our Mission
The vision of GT is to be a Spirit-filled church that glorifies God through passionate worship, transformative preaching, and genuine love. Empowered by the gifts of the Holy Spirit, we seek to impact our community by reaching up to God in faith, reaching out to others in service, and reaching in to nurture spiritual growth. Together, we strive to better the lives of all who connect with our ministry, fostering hope, healing, and purpose through the power of Christ.