Interior of a church during a congregation meeting, with stained glass windows and ornate arches, people seated in pews, and speakers at the front.

Ways To Give

Support the ministry of New Mount Pilgrim

Stained glass window with the word 'Remembrance' encircling an abstract human figure, surrounded by smaller circular designs including a map of Africa and symbols.

The Spirit of Village, in the Heart of the City.

New Mount Pilgrim Missionary Baptist Church exists to advance God's Kingdom by proclaiming the gospel, making disciples, and having a maximum impact in the community and world for Jesus Christ. —Acts 1:8

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EVENTS

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OUR MINISTRIES

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OUR PASTOR

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OUR CHURCH

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COMMUNITY OUTREACH

About Us

Interior of a church with ornate architecture, featuring stained glass windows, decorative paintings, and red upholstered seating arranged around a central pulpit. A large screen is suspended above the altar area.

Organized in 1950 by African American migrants from the south, New Mt. Pilgrim M.B. Church is a dynamic congregation with deep roots in its’ community,

New Mt. Pilgrim M.B. Church is “Missionary Baptist” and serves to make a “maximum impact for Christ locally and globally”. (Acts 1:8) It’s ministry vision in West Garfield Park seeks to “Restore the Spirit of Village in the Heart of the City”.

The church initiated the formation of the Garfield Park Rite to Wellness Collaborative which won the $10 million dollar 2022 Pritzker-Traubert Foundation “Chicago Prize” to build the $45 million dollar “Sankofa Village Wellness Center” to house a federallyqualified health provider (Erie Health), a family medicine program (Rush Medical Center), physical fitness programming and daycare (YMCA), a credit union branch (Leaders Network/Great Lakes Credit Union), and Westside United’s main offices.

Expanding the church campus, watch the groundbreaking here.

Join Us

Since COVID-19, we are streaming all services.

View our latest Sunday School Review

Black Church Art

MAAFA Remembrance Window

In 2000, the church installed “MAAFA Remembrance,” a twenty-five-foot memorial window which has become the largest iconic display of the “Middle Passage” in the world. It pictures an African representation of Christ whose torso contains the well-known “Brookes,” a schematic of a slave-ship first propagated in the late 18th century.

The window’s themes are Remembrance and Sacred Communion. It honors the memory of the enslaved Africans who did not survive the horrific voyage across the Atlantic, and charges the descendants of its survivors—and other viewers—to commit to “redeeming the MAAFA” and the world.

Stained glass window featuring a central figure in a flowing robe with arms outstretched. Surrounding text reads "EMBRACE MERCY." Circular designs include a map of Africa, a scroll, and a jug. Colors are predominantly blue and gray with yellow accents.

Sankofa Peace Window

In 2019, the church unveils its third stained glass window completing the trilogy of African-inspired spiritual art. The window is named, “Sankofa-Peace.” The term Sankofa is derived from the Twi dialect in West Africa, referring to the principle of gleaning the wisdom offered from the past, and utilizing it to imagine a better future.

The window aims to do just that. The depictions of the “Four Little Girls” who were killed in the 1963 Birmingham bombing, along with the likenesses of contemporary young martyrs of Chicago violence, encircle the window’s central figure depicting an African Jesus returning the children to a “Beloved Community.”

This vision and theme drives the community development goals of New Mount Pilgrim.

Stained glass window depicting a central scene of a figure in white leading a group of people towards a landscape with a river, mountains, and sunrise. Surrounding portraits of individuals and African symbols in circular panels.

North Star Window

The Northern Rose Window, commissioned in 1999 is deemed the “North Star - Great Migration Window.” It commemorates the journeys of African Americans in the “Great Migration” of the early to mid-20th century—escaping the terrors of the Jim Crow Era of racial oppression in the American South.

The church’s baby blessing with the North Star backdrop comes directly from the Alex Haley “Roots” televised series. It highlights the theme of divine deliverance and African Spiritual Traditions. The newborn child is lifted to the heavens and celebrated as living hope with the words “Behold, the only thing greater than yourself.”

Stained glass window depicting biblical scene at New Mount Baptist Church with figures and decorative elements.
Interior view of a church featuring a large stained glass window above a pipe organ. The window depicts colorful religious figures and symbols. The organ is surrounded by ornate wooden carvings and columns.

New Mount Pilgrim’s motto “Mega Impact” comes from Acts 1:8. For over 30 years, the church’s ministries have worked to impact thousands of families in West Garfield Park and across the city of Chicago. These ministries are the life-blood of New Mount Pilgrim, taking its mission and impact beyond the four walls of the church.

A group of people in black and white shirts with 'MAAFA' written on them, standing on a playground structure in front of a blue mural with the words 'CHOOSE LIFE - Deuteronomy 30:19'. The mural features an artistic depiction and the scene is set outdoors with autumn foliage and a building labeled 'Sankofa School' in view.

Community Outreach Initiatives

Our work extends beyond the sanctuary as well. The MAAFA Redemption Project recruits emerging adult men ages 18-30 to invest in them with housing, employment, educational opportunities, spiritual life-coaching and wrap-around social services. The Beautiful Seed Foundation helps young women of color recognize their greatness, utilize their gifts and impact the world. The Fish and Loaves ministry provides over 9,000 meals per year to West Garfield Park Community residents and families. The West Garfield Park Legacy Families organize and empower community members and stakeholders. The Sankofa School for the Arts offers classes in Musical Theater, Ballet Modern, Jazz Hip Hop, Content Creation, D-Jing. to youth ages 4-18.