New Evangelical Bible Church
Pastor Willie J. Sams
History of New Evangelical Bible Church
Willie J. Sams, a native of Columbus, Mississippi, is the Pastor of New Evangelical Bible Church (House of Prayer) located in Chicago, Illinois. He has been the only Pastor since its establishment in 1968.
The year of 1965 was outstanding, as this was the beginning of many new and blessed events. Beginning in the basement of our humble Brother and Sister J.D. Green’s residence, located on 1535 S. Kostner in Chicago, a unique Bible study and training class were started. The class consisted of about 10-15 regular students from different religious backgrounds. It was taught by Rev. J.H. Konelson of the Christian Educational Services of Wheaton, Illinois. Classes were held every Friday night for two years and Brother Willie J. Sams served as chairman.
In January of 1967, Willie J. Sams made an open confession of his calling to proclaim the gospel. In April of 1967, he preached his first sermon. He brought the Word from Romans 1:16, “For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek.”
In 1968, Brother Willie J. Sams was ordained.
On July 15, 1968, he established the New Evangelical Bible Church (House of Prayer). In the basement of 1535 S. Kostner, Brother Leroy Yates of West Lawn Bible Church assisted him with organizing this blessed event. Many members stood faithfully and prayerfully alongside Pastor Willie J. Sams, as the membership increased. Pastor Sams’ desire was to secure another place for the people of God to learn and worship.
In March of 1970, Pastor Willie J. Sams moved into a new church home. A sign was hung that read: New Evangelical Bible Church, 4636 W. Washington Blvd., Willie J. Sams, Pastor. New Evangelical Bible Church housed many different auxiliaries and community outreach ministries under his leadership. His congregation continued to increase and so did his desire to build an extension to the existing church. With Pastor Sams as the Contractor and many of his faithful congregation members, a New Sanctuary was erected along with several classrooms.
In 2000, Pastor Sams and his faithful congregation burned the Mortgage belonging to New Evangelical Bible Church. This was the beginning of a new vision that God had laid on his heart. The vision was to build a Community and Outreach Center, to prepare God’s people for community and world outreach. He didn’t hesitate to follow through on another one of God’s wonder-working powers. The plans were drafted, submitted to the congregation and to the powers to be. Shortly thereafter, the process had begun. Pastor Sams and the congregation anticipate the establishment of the new Community and Outreach Center.
To this date, Pastor Sams and his congregation still reside at 4636 W. Washington Blvd. in Chicago, Illinois. He continues to give thanks to God for so many accomplishments and for allowing him to share the good news of the Gospel. The Pastor stands firmly on his belief: “Everybody needs to know who Jesus is.”