The Mount Carmel Missionary Baptist Church was organized on October 10, 1945 with a fourteen member congregation and their first Pastor, Reverend Joseph B. Felker.
The church was initially located at 22 East 31st Street, Chicago, Illinois where we remained until Easter Sunday 1952. That Sunday brought a celebration march into our current location, 2978 South Wabash Avenue, Chicago, Illinois. Reverend Joseph B. Felker’s Pastoral Service to his congregation and community led him to receive God’s directive into a Missionary Extension journey. This field of mission brought Pastor Felker into an outreach plan for God. He later journeyed to Liberia, Africa and labored in Monrovia, Liberia’s capital city. Numerous accomplishments were made in Liberia by Reverend Joseph B. Felker.
On February 3, 1957 the Reverend Joseph B. Felker turned over the Mount Carmel Missionary Baptist Church into the capable leadership of his son, the Reverend Joseph B. Felker, Jr. where he was duly and unanimously elected as Pastor.
Reverend Joseph B. Felker, called by God into eternal rest, departed this life after serving God and having pastored the Mount Carmel Missionary Baptist Church for 12 years.
The church experienced tremendous growth under the leadership of Reverend Dr. Joseph B. Felker, Jr., though obstacles had to be confronted, God did not allow them to prevail. Numerous accomplishments for Christ, Church, and Community have been made during the 51 years of Reverend Dr. Joseph B. Felker’s Pastorate (not counted in the 51 years are his years of service as minister to the church prior to being elected as Pastor). While God has blessed Mount Carmel to add souls to the body of Christ – they are too numerous to list. We have also been blessed to touch the lives of those in our community and surrounding areas. As we continue to pursue the work of Our Lord and Savior, Jesus, The Christ, we know that He will continue to bless our work and we will remain, “The Church Where You Are Always Welcome!”
As our legacy to the community continues, the Reverend Dr. Joseph B. Felker, Jr. after 51 years of faithful service retired from the Pastorate and became Pastor Emeritus, a title and recognition deserved for such a servant of God!
On February 15, 2009, the Reverend Dr. Robert Charles Jones, Jr. was installed as the third Pastor of the Mount Carmel Missionary Baptist Church. With the guidance of God, the accomplishments and foundations laid by the leadership of Reverend Joseph B. Felker and Reverend Dr. Joseph B. Felker, Jr. and the leadership of Pastor Jones, we will continue to do God’s will toward our members, the un saved, the un churched, and the community.
On Sunday May 23, 2010, the Mt. Carmel Missionary Baptist Church Educational Building was renamed and dedicated as the DR. JOSEPH B. FELKER, JR. FAMILY LIFE CENTER. The Message for the dedication on that day was preached by, Dr. L.K. Curry, Pastor Emeritus of the Emmanuel (God with Us) Baptist Church, with Dr. A. William Staten, Moderator of Greater New Era District was present to give remarks and present the preacher. The Cornerstone was installed by the members of the St. John Grand Lodge, Willie C. Jenkins, Grand Master and Hilda Spencer, Grand Matron.
To date with our supportive lay-leadership and congregation, we have active ministries and activities all designed to worship and praise God while strengthening our congregation, witness to the unsaved, reach out to the un churched, and teach all ages to observe all things, missions, education, evangelism, stewardship, fitness, and good health. If indeed you are not reading this history from the website, we invite you to go to our alive and active site at mtcarmelmbchurch.com and explore our bible studies, church school lessons, calendar of events, and much more.