About Our Church

Through the divine guidance of Jesus Christ, founder of the church, the Pearly Gate Missionary Baptist Church was organized under the leadership of Rev Johnnie H Head. On April 9, 1950, the Rev J H Robinson, served as the moderator to elect and install the Rev Johnnie H Head as the Pastor of Pearly Gate Missionary Baptist Church. At that time, services were being held at 1980 Erksin Street. The Rev T H Carter was a minister on staff and was a very faithful member in the church to assist Pastor Head with the church services. In the beginning, there were very few members, but they were faithful and attended church regularly. Through Pastor Head’s leadership, he organized the Senior Choir with Trustee Mercer Grace as the president. There were only five members in the choir, but through the divine guidance of God and the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, the choir was able to lift up the name of Jesus through singing. In September of 1959, Pastor Head organized the Usher board and selected Mother Rozener Head to serve as the president because he saw a need for a door keeper to seat and greet members and guest and to keep order in the church. In March of 1951, he organized the Nurse Guild and selected Sister Leonya Madison to serve as the president and she was a faithful nurse to the pastor. Not only did Pastor Head preach the word but he was a phenomenal servant of God in the church. He would play the piano, sing, teach and pick up the members in his station wagon for every service that was held at church. Then the Lord sent Sister McKinney who came to assist as the musician for the church. Next Sister Watson became the musician and then finally in 1954 Sister Roberta Grace became the musician for the church.

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in 1956 the word of God was preached by radio broadcast on WJLB - AM and the goodwill singing union each Sunday evening from 9:30 p.m. to 10:00 p.m. for one year and the church continued to do God’s will. As the membership continued to grow, the church moved to several locations. We had service at 5703 St Aubin, then on Dubois Street, then to a location on Herbert and Kercheval and then to 1403 Townsend and Agnes. It was then that Pastor Head organized the Young Adult Choir and the Youth Choir and selected Sister Mary Ann Hawkins as the Director, and Mother Rozener Head was the President. 

In September of 1970 Pastor Head was hospitalized at Burton Mercy Hospital.  It was during this time that the Rev Sill Grier was inspired to serve under Pastor Head in his time of need. Rev Sill Grier was a great help to our Pastor and the entire church.  Rev Grier would do the teaching and Pastor Head would do the preaching.

The membership steadily began to increase and there was a need for a larger church. Then the church finally moved to our current location at 13213 East Canfield on June 22, 1975.  On December 11, 1979, the Pastor and organizer of Pearly Gate Missionary Baptist Church, the Reverend Johnny H Head was called Home to be with the Lord. It was after the passing of Pastor Head that Rev. Sill Grier was duly chosen to carry on where its former leader had left off.  On May 10, 1980, after proven himself as a humble follower and effective leader, the Reverend Sill Grier was elected as the Pastor of Pearly Gate Baptist Church.

Much has been accomplished at Pearly Gate church under the leadership of Rev Dr Sill Grier. One of the most outstanding accomplishments was on July 7, 1985, when the Pearly Gate church was paid off and the mortgage was burned. On April 16, 1989, the Lord enabled us to lay our church cornerstone to let others know what has been accomplished at our church. Also, Pastor Grier organized several auxiliaries in our church. The Pastor’s Aid Society, The Pastor’s Chorus, The Missionary Society, Inspirational Chorus, Male Chorus, SGS Choir, The Wiling Workers, The Flower Club, Nurses Guild and The Matrons were all organized under his leadership. There have been many ministers and pastors who have benefited from Pastor Grier’s wealth and knowledge and experience here at Pearly Gate Baptist church. Some of the minister’s staff that have been a part of Pearly Gate were Reverends Frederick DeBerry, Rev Bennie West, Rev Ray Croft, Pastor Stanley Ball Sr, Pastor Leonard Bosley Jr, Rev Eugene Murry, Pastor Robert Perry and Rev Dontanyal Reed who have all gone on to be with the Lord.  Also, Pastor Pinnell A. Horn, Rev Dorian Fenderson, Rev Stanley Ball Jr. Pastor Michael A Grier, Rev Sanders Hawkins, Pastor Aaron Bosley, Rev Kenneth Shazer and Rev D’Angelo Toliver are all still working on the battlefield for the Lord and the Pastor Milford Netterville Sr, who is now the current Pastor of our Pearly Gate Baptist church.

On Sunday, July 9th, Pastor Grier called Rev Milford Netterville Sr to assist with the church while he was away. He told the members of Pearly Gate to work with Rev Netterville and stay with him to support the church. That next day on Monday, Pastor Grier was hospitalized, and on August 17, 2017, Pastor Grier made his transition home to be with the Lord. Later that year, Pastor Michael Grier served as the moderator to elect our new pastor. Then on January 7th, 2018, the Rev. Milford Netterville, Sr. was installed as the Pastor of Pearly Gate Baptist church. It has been a tough time for our church but through Pastor Netterville’s great leadership, our church has grown by the grace of God. We are thankful to God for blessing our church with our new Pastor. His mission for us is that we Love God, Love People and Make Disciples.