New Landmark Missionary Baptist Church

History and architecture

The beginning took place in January, 1946. The first meeting was held in the living room of Deacon Sample Lawler on 2934 W. Fulton St. in Chicago. The meeting began to progress and then were held in the home of Mrs. Ella McCarthy. These meetings soon grew to become prayer services held by a group of believers. The believers present were Deacon Lawler, Sister Lawler, Brother and Sister Will Elliot, and Brother and Sister Dave McCarthy. LMBC (Landmark Missionary Baptist Church) was established on May 13, 1946, under the leadership of Reverend Grant Tilford. Starting off with approximately twenty-five members, three trustees, and four deacons, the church continued to grow. LMBC’s growth later forced the move to 2300 W. Lake St. in Chicago Illinois. In 1947 the church purchased its first building on 1751 W. Lake St. The Church board consisted of Deacon Lawler as chairman of Deacons, an organized Missionary Society, Sunday school, and the Willing Worker Club. In 1952 Rev. Grant Tilford resigned as pastor. In February 1953, after serving as acting pastor, Rev. Dr. Joseph Sylvester was ordained and called to serve as pastor. In 1953, LMBC bought an empty lot space on the corner of Wilcox and Washtenaw as a site for a new “church home”. The building process was finished a year later and on November 28, 1954, Rev. Sylvester and thirty-five members marched into the new church. Landmark missionary Baptist church became the second Baptist church to be built on the Westside of Chicago. The current sanctuary and the three story educational building were finished in the year of 1975 at the cost of $400,000.00. By 1979 Landmark Missionary Baptist Church was paid in full. Landmark continued to grow under the leadership of Rev. Sylvester. Many clubs and auxiliaries were created to support and advance the church. The church bought a bus, elevator, real estate property and other enhancements. In November 1993, California Ave from Lake Street to Ogden was renamed the “Reverend Dr. Joseph Sylvester Street” in honor of his many contributions to the community. On May 15, 2001, after 48 years of pasturing Landmark Rev. Dr. Joseph Sylvester died, leaving behind a “rich legacy”. In the month of July in 2000 Minister Cy Maynard Fields, an associate Minister, became Interim the (temporary) pastor. On June 17, 2001, he was collectively elected as pastor of Landmark. Min. Fields was “sworn in” by Reverend Wilson Daniels of United Baptist Church on July 29, 2001. On March 1, 2003, the church name Landmark Missionary Baptist Church was changed to New Landmark Missionary Baptist Church.

Church properties

New Landmark Missionary Baptist Church owns six residential buildings and has four empty lots in which they are used for parking vehicles. The church's architectural form was created so that the church could be connected to one of the residential buildings that it owns. The building is known as the 2710 building. The church has over twenty rooms excluding the sanctuary and bathrooms. New Landmark holds over 400 people within its sanctuary.

Clubs and auxiliaries

Even to today New Landmark has over thirty ministries. These ministries include:

1. Ambassadors for Christ Youth Ministry Bible student
2. Audio Media Ministry
3. Brotherhood
4. Club #4
5. Club #5
6. Drama Ministry
7. Finance Committee
8. Floral Club
9. General Missionary Society
10. Hospitality Ministry
11. Junior Usher Board
12. Kids For Christ Junior Praise Dance
13. Marriage and Family Ministry
14. Membership Ministry
15. Men’s Chorus
16. Men’s Ministry
17. Mother’s Board Ministry
18. New Member’s Orientation Ministry
19. Nurses Board
20. Praise and Workout Ministry
21. Praise Team
22. Reverend Dr. Joseph Sylvester (RDJS) Youth and Young Adult choir
23. Scholarship Committee
24. Security Ministry
25. Senior ministry
26. Social justice and Social Peace Ministry
27. Sunday School
28. Trustee Ministry
29. Usher Board
30. Voices Of New Landmark Choir
31. Women’s Ministry
32. Youth Ministry.

Services

New Landmark has a full schedule of prayer, and various meetings throughout the week. NLMBC also provides services for special occasions such as weddings, funerals, baptisms, and other engagements such as choir concerts. The church provides fellowship outreach to the neighboring communities, cities, and states.

Use in popular culture

The church was popularized in the song, "The Old Landmark".