Our Church History
1972: The Beginning
- Greater New Hope Missionary Baptist Church started out as a small congregation with a big heart devoted to doing the will of God.
- God used the Rev. Joseph Wills, Sr. to birth the church into existence on October 13, 1972 at the Mt. Moriah M.B. Church in Otto Township, Illinois.
- The Rev. J.A. Lane acted as moderator at the meeting, and Rev. William S. Hill acted as recording secretary.
- The seven charter members present were:
| Rev. Joseph Wills, Sr. | Eliza Mae Wills | Joseph Wills, Jr. | Howard Wills | Alice Stubblefield | Willia Smith | Eunice Norwood |
- They voted unanimously to elect Rev. Joseph Wills, Sr., as pastor and to accept the proposal of Joseph Wills, Jr. that the church be named Greater New Hope Missionary Baptist Church!
From 1972 to 1974: The Early Years
- The small congregation agreed to rent a vacant church at 574 North Cottage Avenue in Kankakee, Illinois where they worshipped for two years.
- Wills’ family was there by his side using their God-given gifts to edify God and the church. First Lady Eliza Wills supported her husband serving in various ministries in the church.
- Their children Joe, Jr. and Howard served as deacons and Sunday School teachers and sang in the choir.
- Alice faithfully served as the church musician. Jerry was the choir director, and Dorothy also sang in the choir.
- Charter members Eunice Norwood and Willia Smith also served in the church.
From 1974 to 1977: From Tents to Solid Ground
- After leaving the location on Cottage, church services were held from place-to-place:
- From the basement of Joseph Wills, Jr.
- To the garage of Sis. Alice Stubblefield
- To the gymnasium at Franklin School for a short time.
- The church grew spiritually and numerically under the preaching and teaching of Pastor Joseph Wills, Sr.
- In 1975, Pastor Joseph Wills, Sr. was divinely led to purchase property at 1591 East Cedar Street which was the site of a two-story house. It was renovated for worship and the church settled there for a while.
- When the decision was made to build a new edifice at this same location, the church was able to continue worshipping at another property they had purchased at 1573 East Cedar Street. Services were held there while the new edifice was being built.
- In 1977, Howard Wills announced his call into the ministry and preached his first sermon, “Ye Must Be Born Again” on the fourth Sunday in June 1977.
1978 – Working on the Building
- God’s hand continued to lead, guide, and direct Pastor Joseph Wills, Sr. a little higher.
- In 1978 he announced to the church that God had instructed him to build a new edifice.
- Howard Wills worked faithfully as an Associate Minister alongside his father, but he didn’t quite see the vision God had revealed to him because there was only $125 in the church treasure and they had fewer than 100 members.
- Yet out of obedience to his father, he made arrangements for materials and a contractor to do the work.
- The small membership faithfully followed the leadership of Rev. Joseph Wills, Sr., and God worked a miracle.
1979 – A Dream Fulfilled
- The building was completed in the fall of 1979.
- On September 16, 1979 Greater New Hope marched into its new edifice singing, “We’ve Come This Far by Faith.”
1980 to 1984 – A Change in Leadership
- Joseph Wills, Sr. led this congregation through unchartered waters, guided by the Holy Spirit.
- In January of 1984, he made the decision to retire due to unstable health and recommended that the church consider his son, Rev. Howard L. Wills, Sr. as the new pastor. The church voted unanimously to accept his recommendation.
- But Rev. Howard Wills, Sr. had been called upon by four other churches to consider the pastorate:
- Christian Hope Missionary Baptist Church in Pembroke Township.
- Shiloh Missionary Baptist Church, of Kankakee
- Zion Gates Missionary Baptist Church, of Kankakee
- Christian Hope Missionary Baptist Church of Chicago, Illinois.
- After a time of much prayer and fasting, Rev. Howard L. Wills, Sr. felt led by God to accept the call at Greater New Hope Missionary Baptist Church. He was installed as Pastor on February 12, 1984.
- We thank God for the leadership of our first Pastor, Rev. Joseph Wills, Sr. which led to spiritual and numerical growth in the congregation.
- Through his dynamic leadership the church purchased additional properties on Cedar Street which were all paid off along with the original church mortgage.
From 1984 to 1988: Building on the Legacy
- Knowing that God’s word says, “Where there is novision, the people perish,” Pastor Howard L. Wills, Sr. continued to build on his father’s legacy.
- As Rev. Howard Wills took the gavel, he received devoted and dedicated support from his wife – First Lady Carol Wills, his family, and the membership.
- Under Pastor Wills’ guidance, new ministries were organized; church leadership was expanded, and God miraculously grew church membership.
- Following the pastor’s business insight, the church purchased other property as visions for the future were planned.
- In 1988 the membership had outgrown its facility and God led Pastor Wills to build a new place of worship with more space for ministry and outreach
From 1988 to 1999: A Time of Growth and Preparation
- God guided Pastor Howard Wills to build the people and let God build the church.
- Following his father’s example, he faithfully taught and preached the word of God.
- A building fund was started in 1992 for the new edifice. The congregation worked hard, prayed much, and faithfully gave of their resources.
- On October 3, 1997, God called our first pastor, Rev. Joseph Wills, Sr., home to his reward after decades of faithful service.
- The groundbreaking for the new church took place in the Spring of 1999.
- Construction for the new 1.5-million-dollar facility began in the Fall of 1999.
2000 – A New Building
- Greater New Hope moved into its new sanctuary in October 2000.
- Truly God’s presence has been with this church as we journeyed from 574 North Cottage to 1591 East Cedar Street.
- To God Be the Glory!
2000 to 2018: Growth and Change
- Over the next 18 years, God continued guiding Pastor Howard L. Wills, Sr. in leading Greater New Hope Church to higher levels.
- Membership has grown; ministries are operating and effecting the lives of church members and the community.
2019 – 2020: Equipped for Service
- Ephesians 4:11-12 says, “Christ Himself gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the pastors and teachers, to equip God’s people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up.”
- Over the years God has equipped Greater New Hope with such gifted people to build and strengthen the ministry of the church.
- In particular, God has provided specific leaders to hold up the arms of the pastor.
- In 2019, Associate Minister Rev. Joseph Lightfoot, Jr. was installed as the Assistant Pastor at Greater New Hope following the appointment of Rev. Howard Wills, Sr. and the unanimous acceptance by the congregation. The members were charged with accepting and following the Assistant Pastor’s authority in his role of assisting Pastor Wills.
2020-2021: Change from the Outside
- The restrictions of COVID-19 changed how we had service at Greater New Hope.
- Due to the CDC guidelines restricting large gatherings, we learned how to use new technology so that we could stream service live on Facebook.
- This allowed us to advance the Kingdom of God beyond the church walls.
- But it was difficult to not be able to encourage one another face-to-face.
- In spite of that, the membership remained faithful in their giving and in their support of the church and one another.
- We have gained a new view of what it means to intensify our mission.
- On May 16, 2021 we joyfully resumed on-site services after nearly one and a half years of virtual worship.
2022 – Milestones
- On April 24, 2022, the church held a 38th Year Appreciation Service in honor of the 38 years Rev. Howard Wills, Sr. has been our pastor.
- Along with the 11 years he had served as Assistant Pastor under his father, Rev. Howard Wills, Sr. reached the milestone of having served at Greater New Hope for a total of 49 years.
2022 – Mortgage Burning
- This year we will celebrate the burning of two mortgages held by the church.
- The total mortgage of $65,000 for the North Cottage property is paid in full.
- The total mortgage of $997,000 for the East Cedar Street property is paid in full.
- Because of the faithfulness of God’s people in giving, God has honored His Word to open the windows of Heaven and pour out blessings.
2022 – 50 Years of Blessings
- Greater New Hope would not be here today without the committed, faithful, and dedicated hardworking leadership of Pastor Joseph Wills, Sr., and Pastor Howard Wills, Sr., of the Assistant Pastor, Associate Ministers, Deacons, leaders and members that God has divinely placed in this church.
- We agree with the songwriter that “We’ve come this far by faith, leaning on the Lord. Trusting in His holy word; He’s never failed us yet.”
- There is no turning around. We will continue to wait on the Lord’s leading for the next phase in this timeline of blessings – because God has shown us that He is truly faithful!
- Our history is truly HIS story of faithfulness.
2024 -A Changing of the Guard
- On January 7, 2024, Pastor Wills announced his retirement to the church and communicated that the Lord had resolved in his spirit that the next pastor would the church’s Assistant Pastor – Rev. Joseph W. Lightfoot, Jr. Thus began a 6-month church transitional process.
- Pastor Wills officially retired from the pastoral position on June 2, 2024, and he appealed to the congregation to accept Rev. Joseph W. Lightfoot, Jr. as the newly appointed Pastor of Greater New Hope Missionary Baptist Church by standing to their feet. The approval was unanimous!
- On June 9, 2024, Pastor Lightfoot mounted the pulpit as our newly appointed pastor.
- On July 28, 2024 Pastor Lightfoot’s official installation service was held, and the mantle was officially passed from Pastor Wills’ 40-year tenure to Pastor Lightfoot’s new journey.
- We thank God for the vision and leadership of Pastor Wills and for the smooth transition for Greater