ABOUT US
OUR STORY
Pilgrim Baptist Church of South Chicago was born in 1917 when eleven faithful members stepped out from New Hope Missionary Baptist Church with a calling they could not ignore. They gathered first on South Baltimore Avenue, planting the seeds of something that would outlast them all.
In 1945, the congregation made a candlelight procession to our current home at 3235 E 91st Street — a building steeped in the legacy of gospel music. Thomas Dorsey composed some of his most beloved hymns within these walls. Mahalia Jackson lifted her voice here. James Brown once stood where our choir stands today.
But Pilgrim has never been defined by its past alone. For over a century, this church has served as a gathering place for families in South Chicago — a neighborhood built by steel workers, shaped by close-knit bonds, and held together by faith. Under the leadership of Pastor Corwin D. Lasenby Sr., we carry that same spirit forward: reaching people with the gospel, reviving weary hearts, restoring broken lives, and retaining every soul God sends through our doors.
OUR PASTOR
Pastor Corwin D. Lasenby Sr. leads Pilgrim with the kind of warmth that changes lives. He knows his members by name — and their children, too. He hugs everyone on the way out. He shows up when storms hit, when families are hurting, and when the community needs an advocate.
His preaching is rooted in Scripture and built for the realities of everyday life — work, home, relationships, and everything in between. Whether addressing the congregation from the pulpit or sitting beside someone in prayer, Pastor Lasenby carries the same message: you belong here, and God has a purpose for your life.
Under his leadership, Pilgrim has deepened its commitment to community outreach, children’s ministry, and spiritual development. His door is always open.
WHAT WE BELIEVE
OUR MISSION
Everything we do at Pilgrim is guided by four pillars:
Reach — Going into our community and beyond to share the gospel of Jesus Christ.
Revive — Renewing weary hearts through worship, prayer, and the Word of God.
Restore — Walking alongside those who are broken, with gentleness and grace.
Retain — Caring for one another as family, because we are our brother’s keeper.
We exist to lead people into God-given purpose through faith, fellowship, and service.
OUR DENOMINATION
Pilgrim Baptist Church of South Chicago is an independent Missionary Baptist congregation. We are rooted in the historic Baptist tradition — affirming believer’s baptism by immersion, the authority of Scripture, the autonomy of the local church, and the priesthood of all believers.
As a Missionary Baptist church, we are called to share the good news of Jesus Christ both locally and beyond. That missionary impulse has been part of our DNA since those first eleven members stepped out in faith more than a century ago.
