Our Story

On Friday, July 18, 1969, Rev. Zonas L. Dabney called a meeting to organize South Suburban Missionary Baptist Church at the home of Deacon and Mrs. I.W. Cole, located at 3 West 141st Street, at 8:00 pm and 24 members united with the Church that night. Rev. Dabney made the following appointments: Deacon Henry Moore, Deacon I.W. Cole and Deacon Albert Morrow as the first deacons, Sister Viola Walton as the leader of the Missionary Society, Brother Jesse Gilliam appointed as president of the Choir, Sister Harriet Truitt as leader of the Usher Board; Deacon Cole as the Superintendent of the Sunday School and the Treasurer of the Church, Sister Anna DuPree as Financial Secretary, Sister E. Jackson as the Church Clerk, and Sister Colleen Cole as President of the Pastor’s Aide Board.

On Sunday, July 20, 1969, Christ Temple Baptist Church (Pastor Princeton McKinney), located at 16200 S. Wood in Harvey, helped us install all officers to their position, and 34 members joined the fellowship. Through much prayer, on July 27, 1969, Pastor Epsie Lee opened his doors at Greater St. John M.B. Church, located at 141st & Seeley, for us to hold afternoon worship services and nine more members joined that day. Brother James McGrew served as Minister of Music. We moved to 143rd and Wood Street until June 1973, after which we moved to 3628 West 137th Street in Robbins, IL.

In 1976, we moved to 11 East 152nd Street in Harvey. Sister Janet Robinson became our Minister of Music in 1977, and on the second Sunday in July 1979, GOD allowed us to march to our church home, where we worship today. We celebrated our mortgage burning of this edifice on January 9, 1994.

Our Founder, Pastor Zonas L. Dabney, went home to be with the LORD on July 5, 1995. Our overseer was Dr. Emma Dabney as we prepared for our next Pastor. After much prayer, fasting and shut-in, the Lord sent Elder Ira J. McDowell as our Pastor and leader. On July 18, 1999, Pastor McDowell proclaimed our first Founder’s Day. After beholding a vision of organizing and becoming the founder of his own Church, Rev. McDowell left SSMBC, October 12, 1999. Minister Harold France was appointed Interim Pastor that same day and elected Pastor, February 2000. On February 4, 2001, Pastor France resigned from his position. We pressed forward, once again, under our overseer, Deacon LaVonn Traylor, Sr., seeking the favor of GOD for a new leader.

In September 2001, we welcomed Reverend Dr. Michael Jones as our Pastor and Shepherd. Dr. Jones and his wife, Co-Pastor Annette Jones, organized our School of Ministry that later became Bible W. M. Jones Bible Institute, International, with over 100 students training for ministry and obtaining advanced degrees. Pastor Jones ordained twelve deacons for Christian service: Deacon Albert Abney, Deacon Stephen Barrett, Deacon Brunetta Biggerstaff, Deacon Keith Clancy, Deacon Levester Dean, Deacon Barry Dunbar, Deacon Carolyn Jones, Deacon Gregory Kidd, Deacon Norma Ratliff, Deacon Denise Scott, Deacon Travaras Scott, and Deacon Anjanette Young.

Pastor Michael Jones licensed and ordained five ministers: Elder Victoria Eason (2004), Co-Pastor Annette Jones (2006), Pastor Devlin Scott (2015), Reverend Isaac E. Hayes (2016), and Reverend Melanie C. Jones (2016). Under his leadership, SSMBC celebrated several firsts: the first women ordained to the ministry, the first women ordained as deacons, the first woman to lead the Deacon’s Ministry, and the first Co-Pastor. Dr. Michael Jones taught fervently about the power and purpose of praise and worship. Dr. Michael Jones was an incredible blessing to this ministry as he shepherded our Church for 18 years before the Lord called him home on August 30, 2019.

On September 29, 2019, Reverend Dr. Annette Jones accepted her assignment as Interim Pastor of SSMBC. Elder Dr. Victoria Eason was appointed to serve as Interim Co-Pastor before accepting another assignment. In January 2020, SSMBC welcomed three new ministers: Minister Stephen Barrett, Minister Zaneta Y. Dabney, and Minister Dennis Foster II. SSMBC launched its virtual ministry in 2020 during a global pandemic to connect and share weekly worship services worldwide.

Covenant Partner Bishop Victor D. Agee (Pastor of New Vision Baptist Church in East Orange, New Jersey) installed Pastor Annette Jones as the Fifth Senior and First Woman Pastor of South Suburban Missionary Baptist Church on April 25, 2021. God is moving in this ministry as we seek to live abundant lives. We have come this far by faith and there is a mighty move of God in our midst. “A Church Where God is Up to Something” is our motto, and we believe God is up to something BIG. May God’s favor continue to rest on South Suburban Missionary Baptist Church, our Pastor, leaders, members, covenant partners, and friends.