He also ran in the 2011 Chicago mayoral race, but pulled out two months before the February election -- which Rahm Emanuel won. The Rev. Charlie Dates will take over as pastor of Salem Baptist Church.

So she dialed up the site on her Gateway computer, and soon she was singing along with the choir as the words “Welcome to the Salem Baptist Church of Chicago” appeared in purple on her screen.

James William Meeks reared three Sunday school teachers and the Rev. James T. Meeks, founder of Salem Baptist, the biggest African-American church in Illinois, with an estimated 15,000 members.

The Rev. James Meeks stepped down as senior pastor of the Roseland-area church Sunday on its 38th anniversary. His next mission: building 1,000 homes in Roseland.

At age 42, Pastor Dates leads one of the largest African American churches on Chicago's Far South Side -- Salem Baptist.

Progressive Baptist Church and Salem Baptist Church of Chicago are putting on the "Jesus on the Red Line" campaign.

Jamell Meeks, wife of pastor James Meeks of Salem Baptist Church, served as host. The event seeks to empower those in attendance by highlighting the integral role women play in ministry.

He founded the Salem Baptist Church of Chicago in 1985 after five years of serving as the pastor at Beth Eden Baptist Church in East Wilken Park.

"Looks like an arena. Feels like a church," said the Rev. James Meeks, who leads the Salem Baptist Church and its effort to build the $50 million House of Hope facility on Chicago's South Side.

After 42 years in ministry, most of which were spent as pastor of Salem Baptist Church, Rev. James Meeks will step aside in January of next year, he told his congregation this weekend.

Rev. James T. Meeks Rev. James T. Meeks is the founder and pastor emeritus of Salem Baptist Church of Chicago, which has been recognized as one of the fastest growing megachurches in the United States ...

“Morning Star Baptist Church embodies the social history of Bronzeville's development as a ‘Black Metropolis,’” an ordinance for the landmarking reads. It was an “anchor for African Americans who ...