On December 4, 1983, West Phoenix Missionary Baptist Church was organized by Rev. Daniel and Jeanette Watkins, Dcn. James and Virginia Walls, Emily Hudson, and Elsie Burnie.
The first service was held at the home of the Watkins, with subsequent meetings at the Greater Phoenix Urban League Manor. Rev. Dale E. Johnson led this brand new family of believers from December 1983 to January 1984 as the first pastor.
Rev. John Wilson led the congregation soon after from March 1984 through September 1987. Under his leadership, membership grew enough to move out into a four-bedroom house at 2539 North 51st Avenue that began an immediate consecration and gradual conversion into a place of worship. Many families were added because of Pastor Wilson’s loving and helpful spirit. His willingness to work and his faithfulness to the Christ’s church kept the family faithful and tightly knit.
Rev. Eugene J. Dew led congregants six months after Pastor Wilson followed God’s call to another assignment. From February 1988 through December 1988, Pastor Dew kept the family together and brought members into a place of unity and togetherness. Pastor Dew’s teaching encouraged many to understand the value of growing spiritually in Christ.
From December 1988 to February 1990, the West Phoenix Baptist Church family was without a pastor and was led by the faithful deacons and leaders of the church. During this pastoral vacancy, members remained steadfast and faithful in ministry to each other and to the community.
Rev. L. Gary Ransom took up the mantle as pastor on February 2, 1990, nearly two years after Pastor Dew’s departure. A graduate of Bishop College, Pastor Ransom finalized the ten year journey of converting the original property from a house of man to a house of God in 1994. The family continued to grow through his personal preaching and teaching style and many families were added to the church.
In March 1997, God gave Pastor Ransom a message entitled “I Smell Rain!”—a prophetic word that revolutionized, redirected, and revived members for their next level of faith as a family in God. In just over a year, God poured tremendous growth into the congregation and changed the name to Greater Progressive Christian Church. This name change reflected the next level: a place not bound by geography, but free to move forward for the sake of God’s Kingdom.
In February 1998, the church relocated to 1529 West McDowell Road, our present location. Since that time, Pastor Ransom led hundreds of lives saved for the cause of Christ. Members and leaders alike contributed to this growth through obedient diligence and witness of the gospel to those that were in need. A Pastoral Council—including Rev. D. Previn Carr, Dr. Willie G. Finch, Rev. Byron Garrett, and Rev. Hiram Johnson—was created to deliver Pastor Ransom’s vision and direct a renewed startegy for meeting the needs of congregants and the community.
From June 2006 to February 2009, the Lord gave the Greater family a laser focus on witnessing to win souls above all else. Pastor Ransom’s heart centered on evangelizing and discipling the very people we see almost daily—family members, coworkers, neighbors, and friends. Since then, obedience continues to fuel member relationships in numbers and in spirit which enables Greater to be a beacon light in our community.
The Lord continues to bless the health of the Greater family to this day. It was only His grace and mercies that directed each pastor’s path toward a vision of promoting Christ, community outreach, and the faithful witness, study, and teaching of God’s Word. This allows us to share our love of God and love of His creation among the lives of people living in (and passing through) the Greater Phoenix Metropolitan Area.