St. Paul Missionary Baptist Church, Gary

The St. Paul Missionary Baptist Church in Gary, Indiana, was founded in 1916, with six members. Less than a year later in July 1917, the church acquired two lots at 1938 Adams Street to erect a building and provide their African American congregation with a sanctuary for worship.[1] Within nine years, the congregation expanded to 3,500 people under Reverend Martin Van Buren Bolden, who founded the Northern Indiana District Association as well as the State Convention while serving as pastor of St. Paul.[2] Following Bolden’s lead in forming a relationship with the Gary community, his successor Reverend William Franklin Lovelace continued the church’s community outreach. Throughout the Depression era St. Paul Missionary Baptist Church served the public with hot meals, medical expenses, funerary expenses, and was always available to serve as a roof over anyone’s head; regardless of skin color. [3], [4]

Following Lovelace’s passing in 1942, Dr. Lester Kendel Jackson took over as pastor, and he continued the Church’s community-focused legacy. Jackson was very vocal in the community regarding discrimination and the adverse effects of segregation. He shared his own powerful accounts of persistent discrimination with the Federal Council of the Churches of Christ in America. As a result, for the first time in history, such a council publicly and almost unanimously voted to condemn racial discrimination.[5]

In 1963, the church burned down, despite being less than a block away from a local fire station. Many suspected the tragic event was a result of Jackson’s outspoken approach to combating racism and discrimination. [6] Although the fire was never investigated by authorities, many church members believe that it was an act of retaliation in response to the work Jackson did to integrate businesses including the Gary National Bank, Marquette Park, Littons Clothing Store, and the Post-Tribune.[7] As Jackson stated “We lost everything we had. They intended it for evil, but God used it for good [8]”. Jackson and the church refused to be silenced, and in 1966 hosted a two-service event at their new building. The first service was for the congregation, as they had been waiting three years for their new sanctuary, but the second service drew the most attention. The second service involved incredibly prominent members of the community, including Robert Gasser and Dale Belles, the president of the Gary National Bank and head publisher of the Post-Tribune, respectively.[9] St. Paul continued to host prominent figures, including Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., as it worked with the community to eradicate racist policies and to integrate jobs previously unavailable to African Americans, such as conductors and motormen at the Gary Transit Company. [10]

St. Paul Missionary Baptist Church continues to hold services at its historic building on Grant St., built after the suspicious fire in 1963. The congregation continues its legacy of community outreach and activism, and improving the lives of Gary’s African American community. [11] 

[1]History of St. Paul Baptist Church. Reverend L. K. Jackson Papers, Indiana University Northwest Library, Calumet Regional Archives,
[2] Ibid.
[3] Ibid.
[4] Jerry Davich. “Gary Church Turns 100, Faces New Challenge,” Post-Tribune, March 4, 2016. https://www.chicagotribune.com/suburbs/post-tribune/opinion/ct-ptb-davich-gary-church-turns-100-st-0304-20160304-story.html
[5] History of St. Paul Baptist Church
[6] “St. Paul Missionary Baptist Continues 100th Anniversary Events in August,” The Chicago Crusader, August 4, 2016. https://chicagocrusader.com/st-paul-missionary-baptist-continues-100th-anniversary-events-august/
[7]Ibid.
[8] Jerry Davich
[9] “Two Services to Open St. Paul Baptist Church Sunday,” The Gary Post-Tribune, January 15, 1966.
[10] “Gary Church Turns 100, Faces New Challenge.”
[11] “St. Paul Missionary Baptist Church,” Facebook, accessed July 2, 2020. https://www.facebook.com/StPaulMBGary/

Student Author: Joel Sharp
Faculty/Staff Editors: Dr. Ronald V. Morris, Dr. Kevin C. Nolan, and Christine Thompson
Graduate Assistant Researchers: Carrie Vachon and JB Bilbrey

PHOTO & VIDEO:
Courtesy Chicago Tribune https://www.chicagotribune.com/suburbs/post-tribune/opinion/ct-ptb-davich-gary-church-turns-100-st-0304-20160304-story.html