We are a community brought together through friends and family.

Our Church History

(Organized in 1924) 

In 1922, a small group of devout Christians assembled from house to house and called themselves “The Prayer Band.” Feeling the need for a permanent place to worship, they established a Building Aid Club for the purpose of raising money to buy two lots for a new church. 

The Building Aid Club members consisted of: Sis. Lillie Nelson, President, Mother Carrie Wylie, Secretary, and others. They continued to worship for approximately two years purchasing two lots. In 1924, they started building and eventually completed a frame church building. They immediately held a meeting in the home of Mrs. Bertha Weathington, mother of our long time now deceased member, Sis. Mary Wylie. They had great hopes for this humble frame church building, worshiping God and rendering service to mankind. 

The Church was named, “Great Hope Baptist Church”, in the year of our Lord 1924.  Reverend Frank Snead was immediately called as the first Pastor. Other Pastors included: Rev. Jackson, Rev. Oscar Nash, Rev. I. S. Strong, Rev. D.T. Moore, Rev. E. R. Williams, Rev. Matthew Anthony, Rev. Clifton J. Brown and Rev. Dr. Walter L. Cook, Sr. who served faithfully as our Spiritual Leader and Pastor until the Lord called him home. 

Deacon Boards: Bro. Jeff Moore Sr. was the 1st Chairman. Other Chairmen that followed were: Brothers Jasper Anderson, Louis Anthony, Henry Clemons, Arthur Cook, Eugene Cook, Paul (Pearl) Grier, Harrison Hawkins, Caleb Johnson Jr., Bruce Kelly, George Kimball, Ivory Traylor, and DeWitt Williams. Other Deacons all now deceased included: Brothers John H. Allen, Steve Allen, Walter Barnes, Clarence Bell, Frank Brown, Walter Echols, Paul (Pearl) Grier, Charles Harvey, Oscar Hooks, Walter Long, John H. Mason, Joseph Moore, Ernest Nelson, Baker Ray, George Wallace, Johnny Watts, Walter Wylie Jr., William O. Wylie, Sr., William Yearby, and Curtis Young. Our present Deacons are: Brothers Edward Bankston, Walter Cook Jr., Eddie Dent, Abayomi Oluwole, Ron Robinson Sr., and our present Chairman is Bro. Lorenzo Brown.

Trustee Boards: The 1st Chairman was Bro. Raymond Weathington; Other Trustees and Past Chairmen were: Brothers David Adams, Tracy Belion, George Bonds, J. H. Brodie, James Cephus, Leon Curry Sr., Sterling Gosa, Rogers Harvey, Joseph Jacques, Lynnie Johnson Sr., Roy King, William Kochinsky, Ernest Lemon, Newton Plunkett, Luther Rollins, Robert (Bobby) Rollins, Johnny Stewart, Fletcher Tillman, Matthew Webb, Joseph Williams, Leroy (Pete) Williams, Oscar Wilson, and Rev. Edward Wright Jr. The present members are: Brothers Horace Banks, Shermon Brown, Chester Elion, Clarence Givens, Collin Halliman, Sister Lenore Guyton who is the first woman to serve on the Trustee Board and Trustee Emeritus Bro. Roy King. Our present Chairman is Bro. Chester Elion.

 Sunday School Superintendents: Our 1st Superintendent was Bro. Jeff Moore Jr.; Others to follow were: Brothers Steve Allen, Carlyle Carey, Arthur Cook, Paul (Pearl) Grier, Bruce Kelly, George Kimball, George Wallace, and Dr. Carrol A. Wylie-Wilson. The current Superintendent is Sis. Lula Blake.

Mothers & Deaconess Boards: Sis. Carrie Wylie was our 1st President; Others were: Sisters Christine Allen, Katie Anderson, Edna Anthony, Hattie Bennett, Georgia Clemons, Annie Cook, Julia Cook, Mastic Cook, Ruthie Dent, Mary Dotson, Anna Glover, Fannie Grier, Lottie Harvey, Hattie Hawkins, Sadie Hampton, Ida Herring, Sarah Hubbard, Willie B. Hubbard, Ola B. Knockum, Iola Littlejohn, Ruth Osborne, Julia Page, Lizzie Patterson, Katherine Plunkett, Arzella Randolph, Mary Ella Ray, Lula Richardson, Constance Riggins, Thelma Robinson, Mollie Strong, Rebecca Traylor, Delia Turner, Ollie Walker, Pinky Williams, Sallie Williams, Alice Wright, and Mother Emeritus Frankie M. Wylie. 

Mission Society: Sis. Mollie Strong was the 1st President; Others were: Sisters Christine Allen, Georgia Blake, Lebora Brown, Charity Jones, Iola Littlejohn, Harriet Turner, Bernice Webb, Pinky Williams, and Alice Wright. Our current President is Sis. Tanya Cook. 

Church Clerks: Bro. Joseph Moore Sr. was our 1st Clerk; Others were: Sisters Alberta Curry, Florence Hawkins, Bro. Joseph Jacques, Sisters Cordelia Johnson, Mollie Strong, Pinky Williams, and Sallie Williams. Sis. Brenda Allen is our present clerk. Sis. Lula Blake is our assistant clerk and church secretary.

Treasurers: Sister Mary Wylie, was our 1st Treasurer; Others were: Brothers George Bond, John Ford Sr., Joseph Williams, and Reverend Edward Wright Jr., and our present Treasurer is Sister Barbara Williams-Johnson.

Finance Committee: Deceased members: Sisters Vivian Collins and Carolyn Davis. Current members: Sisters Lenore Guyton, Barbara Johnson, and Brother Chester Elion. Sister Eleanor McCammon is our current Chairman.

Senior Choir: Mrs. Ernest Nelson was our 1st President; Other presidents included: Brother Eugene Cook, Sisters Florine Banks, Alberta Curry, Bernadata Evans and Eleanor McCammon. The present President is Sister Shirley Clemons. Sister Priscilla Thompson is our Organist and Brother Ron Robinson Jr. is our Drummer. Bro. Roy King  directed the choir for over 40 years and Bro. Jalen Edwards was our past Drummer. Sister Angela Johnson is our present Director.

Usher Board: Sister Mattie Gilmore was the 1st President; Others were: Sisters Janie Brown, Irene Carey, Elizabeth Phillips, Smila Williams and Brother Fletcher Tillman. Brother Shermon Brown is the current president.   

Nurses Board: Past members included: Sisters Lenore Guyton and Loretta Rollins. Deceased members: Sisters Freda Adams, Julia Cook, Johnetta Guy, Hazel Newell, Ora Weatherspoon, Helen Rowe Williams, and Reba Webb. Current members are: Sisters Yolanda Loving, Angela Johnson, and Dr. Tina Halliman.

Many other auxiliaries and ministries were organized to carry on God’s work.

 A young determined minister by the name of Reverend E. R. Williams came to Great Hope Baptist Church and served during the late 20’s and early 30’s at the time of the great depression. He immediately felt the need to modernize the old framed church building, thus, he and the congregation decided to build a new church. In 1939, a completely new modernized church building was completed. Great joy heralded the opening of that church building. 

Under the leadership of Reverend Matthew Anthony, the membership continued to grow and a new left wing was added for bathrooms, choir room, usher’s room, and the Pastor’s Study. 

On September 23, 1959, Reverend Walter Lee Cook, Sr. was called to lead and Pastor this congregation. The church continued to prosper in service to God and man. In another forward move, on July 6, 1980, the congregation moved into a completely new, ultra modern edifice with 12 lots, a white granite marble and red brick building, under the pastorage of Reverend Walter L. Cook, Sr. Under Dr. Cook’s leadership, Reverend Dino Kemp, Reverend Clarence Dailey Jr., Reverend Desmond Dailey, and Reverend Juan Ellis were licensed to preach the gospel. The following ministers were also ordained and licensed to preach the gospel: Reverend Herman Davis, Reverend Dr. Homer Allen, Reverend Donald Ray Cook Sr., Reverend Dr. Edward Wright Jr., Reverend Clarence Dailey Sr., Reverend Tyrone Baity, and Reverend Malcom Thompson. 

Reverend A. D. York was named assistant to our Pastor until his passing in 2009.  Reverend Donald Ray Cook, Sr. was officially appointed Assistant Pastor in 2010.

In 1991 a scholarship fund was established. It was dedicated on February 9, 2003 and named the “Deacon Caleb Johnson, Jr. Scholarship” in honor of his memory. This scholarship contributes toward the advancement of youth in our Church. 

In 2011, an elevator was installed. Drums were added to the music department and Jalen Edwards became our first drummer. Our current drummer is Ron Robinson, Jr.

In the summer of 2013, Sister Katrina Brown worked diligently with the Village of Robbins and Springfield, Illinois on dedicating Lawndale Avenue from 137th through 135th street in honor of Reverend Dr. Walter Lee Cook, Sr. the late pastor of Great Hope Baptist Church. On the 29th of June 2014, a dedication ceremony was held. This was the first time a street in Robbins, Illinois was dedicated honoring an individual. Great Hope Baptist Church currently resides on this stretch of Lawndale Avenue/Dr. Walter Lee Cook, Sr. Avenue.Reverend Dr. Walter L. Cook Sr. Which was the first honorary street name changed in Robbins, Illinois. 

On November 15, 2015, Reverend Donald R. Cook Sr. was installed as Pastor by Reverend Dr. Carsie E. Barnes III, Pastor of Antioch Missionary Baptist Church, Chicago and Moderator for the Salem Baptist District Association. 

In the fall of 2015, Brother Collin Halliman suggested the church needed a website. Brother Halliman, Sister Katrina Brown and Pastor Donald R. Cook Sr. formed a committee and in the spring of 2016 the website was up and running at www.greathopembchurch.org. Our website is currently managed by Sister Katrina Brown. 

As God continues to bless our church and congregation, we look forward to the continuation of God’s work.