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28 years is a long time for any organization to be in existence. People come and go so much in your life that it gets hard sometimes to remember. We ask you to look back 28 years ago to 1992 a young, tall, overweight, light brown woman started a journey. Not knowing which path to take or who to ask for guidance she turned to the one true love in her life. “Father you have asked me to take this mission and I am scared, nervous and not sure what I am doing. Who will follow me? Who will think that I am making a fool of myself? Who will question my methods and decisions? Will I fall on my face and have to turn back?” These are just some of the questions this young woman probably asked her heavenly Father.
Where shall I set-up was the first question that needed to be addressed. Owning a 2-flat building in the Woodlawn community seemed the most logical place as there was no money available to rent a location. She went to several folks telling them of her new mission. Some were excited to join in and help her, others laughed in her face. The mocking did not stop her for she knew the living word (St. Luke 9:62). She was determined to let her hand stick to the plough like she had super glue on it, and not look back.
After agreeing on the location with some of the members, she announced the name “God Is Able Missionary Baptist Church” it sounded good to all. For we know what II Corinthians 9:8 says about God being able. On the first Sunday in February, 1992 our Founder the Late Rev. Claudia Gaines and 20 members set the ship on the waters and the sail up in the wind. Now folks were still laughing and mocking her as the members sold dinners had cake walks, teas, raffles, prayer breakfasts, BBQ, car wash, and the famous salad spread to raise money to find a location.
As months passed while at 7113 S. University, Chicago, IL some members complained about worshiping in a home “When are we going to get a location and get out of this apartment” was a question Pastor heard quite frequently. While working at St. Columbanus on 71st & Calumet, Pastor noticed a small store front that had a for rent sign, she brought this to the members attention and they took a ride down and saw the place. It was not too big and not to small. We had just enough room to get our praise on. We stayed at 342 E. 71st street for about a year. We had planted, watered and God was giving us increase. That’s when the enemy decided it was time for us to move.
A friend of Pastor told her about another store front on 55th & Racine that was vacant. We again took a ride over and fell in love with the place. This was bigger for it had a back apartment that we could convert to a kitchen, dining area and even an office for the Pastor. So 5524 S. Racine, Chicago, IL became our new home. Again we planted, watered and God gave increase.
More dinners were sold; shut-in prayer services and weeklong revivals were held. Blessings have been coming through healing, jobs, homes, cars, marriages, babies, families being mended, souls being saved. The main motto our founder taught us was to get the word down in your heart and no one can take it from you. Members came and members went, still Pastor did not let this stop her from carrying out her mission. Folks even told her to "stop playing church and go back where she came from." March 2000 was a major turning point in God Is Able. God’s plan for Pastor Gaines was almost complete, II Timothy 4:7 says it so well, on September 8, 2000, God said well done thy good and faithful servant and called Pastor Claudia Gaines home to rest.
Now the ship is still sailing for God’s plan is not done and a new captain has taken the wheel. Rev. Shirley Bearden accepted the responsibility of pastoring God Is Able Missionary Baptist church and for the next few years God Is Able has been moving in a positive direction.
On the first Sunday in October, 2008 God decided it was time for God Is Able to change its course. The members arrived for Sunday morning service only to find the ceiling had fell, and water had been leaking for several days from a broken pipe. The church building was in no condition to hold worship services. The second Sunday in October 2008, the ceiling was still leaking and the pews and floors were still wet and smelled a foul odor. This time a Good Samaritan stepped in and made arrangements for God Is Able to come view a new worship location at 8000 S. Aberdeen. They were told that the space was not big or fancy, but would be a clean and safe environment to hold services. For the next two Sundays the members fellowshipped with various other churches around the city and on the First, Sunday in November, began holding worship services in the basement of First Church of Spirit and Truth, where Rev. Robert Purham, is the Pastor.
January 2012, God decided it was time for a change in the regualarly scheduled service. We are now currently worshiping in the facilities of Greater New White Cloud, 5925 S. Racine, Dr. Rev. Robin Rasmey, Pastor; and Rev. Baylis Ramsey is Co-Pastor.
Now at this point in time, the members have decided to regroup, redesign and reorganize. We have started an aggressive building fund project, to raise funds for a permanent building to hold worship services. We have also taken a more out-reach approach and started a website www.giambchurch.org so that the message “God Is Able” can reach lost souls.
In 2020 we took our message "God Is Able" to social media outlets and now you can like us on FaceBook, follow us on Instagram and view us on YouTube.
Members have come and members have gone. Folks thought that the ship was going to sink, but here we are 28 years later still riding out our wave. We know where we have been, however, God holds our future.
God Is Able M.B. Church Official Staff