Rev Louis Boddie was born September 16th, 1878 in Nesbit, Mississippi, but in early childhood his parents moved to Memphis, Tennessee. For nearly 17 years he was employed by the Illinois Central Railroad. He then moved to Chicago and secured employment in the Swift Packing House.
At an early age he was called to the mark of a high calling in Christ Jesus. Out of his calling Greater Harvest was born. He organized it with one woman and one man on April 10, 1912 at 4419 South State street. Later, the church moved to 4423 S State, then to the old Atlas Theater at 4711 S State where it remained until 1925. The church had enough money to purchase a lot on the corner of 46th and Dearborn. There a tent was erected and services held until 1927.
A frame was erected under the tent and remained there until 1934. In 1934 a foundation for a new church was laid. The church as called The Little Wigwam because it was built over the tent. All the work was done by volunteers. Rev Boddie hauled bricks, mortar and cement in his Lincoln, because he was not concerned about material things.
The church consisted of a dirt floor, pot belly stove and chairs donated by O.F. Douglas Funeral Home. There was no baptismal pool so Rev Boddie would use the pool at St John A.M.E. Church or go to Lake Michigan. His struggles were numerous at the beginning. Sometimes his only meal would be cookies and he wore a robe because of patches in his pants. During the depression he had a soup line and provided shelter for the homeless in the lean years. A curtain was hung in the back of the church so that families could live there until they could find a place.
The choir consisted of 10 members. After the choir sung, they would help to make up the congregation. Under the direction and dedication of his wife, Sylvia who was a composer, singer and musician, the choir grew. Through a vision she was shown the black jumpers and white blouses the choir wears today. She organized (2) groups, The Harvest Gospel Singers that consisted of (Rosetta Golden, Frances White, Minnie Forston and Sylvia Boddie). The Boddiettes came about in 1944-1948 and consisted of (Vivian Brisker, Mary Clay, Beatrice Johnson, Opal Stewart, Jessie Williams and Ann Yancey) all were choir members. Through the friendship of Rev Boddie and Rev Cobbs, Greater Harvest and First Church were bonded together. They were known throughout the country and became the talk of the city as The Rock and The Light.
In 1945, Rev Boddie began to broadcast over radio station WAAF from 3:00 to 4:00 pm every Sunday which aired coast to coast. Some of the leading ministers went to the station to have him taken off the air because they felt ignorant and unlearned: They didn`t succeed. Management told Rev Boddie that he could stay on as long as he wanted to because they liked him and his program. The church grew to such an extent that services had to be moved to the Coleman School at 46th and Dearborn.
In the late 1950`s, a severe flood took place in Fayetteville, Tennessee. Rev Boddie sent truck loads of clothing and gave money to help set up a tent city for the homeless. Later he traveled there to see what the extent of the damage was. He sent 250 of his own personal suits. Clothing stores always gave him clothes, which kept him well dressed. After he cleaned out his closet he wore a black suit with a bishop collar or a robe. He never worried about material things, his mission was to feed and cloth the poor. He never worried about building a church, so his dream church never got built.
Rev Boddie was a devout minister, his words had power, his inspiration and guidance came from the Holy Ghost. The Noonday Service, Wednesday night prayer meeting (altar call), and Tarry were set up at the beginning of his ministry through the spirit, All seekers would kneel in front of chairs on the dirt floor. Rev Boddie would pray and lay hands and souls were filled. Rev Boddie was a healer, prophet and master teacher. Ministers would fill Altar Call and Tarry to hear him teach the word of God. He never lost faith in God and referred to him as `My Rock.` Gospel Music was not welcomed in most Baptist Churches in the early 40`s. Rev Boddie would all quartets as aspiring singers to have programs and sing on his broadcast. Some went on to fame such as Mahalia Jackson, Albertina Walker, The Barrett Singers and Shirley Caesar, just to name a few.
There are many ministers influenced by Rev Boddie, such as:
Rev Boddie had a unique ministry where he taught holiness, the Holy Ghost and speaking in tongues. The National Baptist Convention barred his church because it wasn`t considered Baptist but rather sanctified. In 1949, Greater Harvest marched from the Coleman School to our present edifice, which had once been a garage and funeral home. The services were filled to capacity each Sunday and every night there was some activity going on. Anyone coming from the north, south, east or west would make their way to Greater Harvest to see the `Little Man with the Big Voice." Rev Boddie started an ambulance service so that the people didn`t have to go to the hospital in a paddy wagon. He also purchased two Greyhound buses for traveling, opened a kitchen and dining room where you could get a meal for fifty cents or free if you had no money. He provided a community center for the less fortunate and they were fed (3) meals a day. The center was closed in later years because of the cost of permits and insurance. There was an employment and housing service in the church office. Rev Boddie said if we failed to feed the poor, the spirit of God would leave this place. Greater Harvest is registered at City Hall as the Free Food Pantry on the South Side. At Christmas over 2,000 complete dinner food baskets were given.
The Travelers aide, Red Cross, Fire department, Police Department and city hall called on him whenever there was a disaster such as the one in 1950 where a gasoline truck and streetcar collided. This accident burned passengers and destroyed a whole block leaving many people homeless. Families were brought to the church and seats were taken up and cots put down for them to have a place to stay. The missionaries , under the direction of Mother Catherine Bracken and guidance of Rev Boddie visited the sick in the nursing homes where they washed, ironed, cooked, cleaned and bought medicine, went to hospitals, nursing homes and the Tuberculosis Sanitarium taking with them the essentials needed by the patients. They were known all over the city for their dedication. The ladies in blue (Prayer Band) was organized under Rev Boddie where some were elevated to wear white and became the Pastor`s Cabinet.
Rev Boddie preached in the King Fish Tavern and from that service he got a faithful and loyal Deacon. The Christian Informer was started in the 1940`s by Bessie Davidson our first radio announcer and continues to this day.Rev Boddie went to the holy land in 1953 and brought back water from the river Jordan that he prayed over and gave to the people for their minds and the infirmities of the bodies. We are yet benefiting from the water crocks. A portion of State Street was dedicated and named after Rev Boddie on November 1992. For 53 years he fed his flock and ministered to the sick, shut-in, down trodden, homeless and buried the dead. He loved God and humanity. His spirit and great work lives in those whose lives he touched.
Rev Henry Bracken was born to Mr. and Mrs. Doc Bracken on March 6th, 1904 in Paducah, Kentucky. The family moved to St Louis, Missouri and later to Benton Harbor, Michigan. Rev Bracken was converted at the Pilgrim Rest M.B. Church in 1925 under the leadership of Rev Baco. He was baptized at the 2nd Baptist Church (Pilgrim Rest was too small for baptizing). He married a very fine Christian, Catherine Cox, who later became known as Mother Catherine Bracken. Upon moving to Chicago, Mother Bracken joined the Greater Harvest M.B. Church under the leadership of the Rev Louis Boddie. Rev Bracken joined later.
Rev Bracken was filled with the Holy Ghost and Fire. When he was called to preach, he shared this information with Rev Boddie. Rev Boddie said that the Lord hadn`t told him anything, but Rev Bracken stood firm and steadfast on the grounds that the Lord had called him and wouldn`t take it back. Rev Boddie knew that the Lord had called Rev Bracken but he wanted him to know it for himself.
Rev Bracken was licensed to preach on February 17th, 1949. He moved back to Benton Harbor, Michigan and was ordained to preach by Rev Ellis at the Pilgrim Rest M.B. Church on May 7th, 1950. When he moved back to Chicago, Rev Bracken resumed his duties of driving the ambulance and caring for the sick. Eventually Rev Boddie made Rev Bracken his assistant. Rev Boddie often said that he had one man in the church that he could trust and that was Rev Bracken.
The spirit of the living God in Rev Boddie chose Rev Bracken to follow him as pastor of the Greater Harvest M.B. Church. In 1965, upon the transition of Rev Boddie, Rev Bracken became the pastor of the Greater Harvest M.B. Church. As Pastor, Rev Bracken continued in obedience to the will of God with the programs and ministries initiated by Rev Boddie. Greater Harvest remained "The Church Serving Humanity". The hungry were yet being fed, the naked clothed, the sick are cared for, spiritual needs were being met. Rev Bracken proved to be a teacher, preacher, healer, humanitarian, father and a mighty good soldier. Greater Harvest prospered under the leadership of Rev Bracken because he would not change.
Rev Bracken stood watch for us. He taught and rebuked, he loved and forgave. On many occasions his timely sense of humor would catch us off guard in the services and his good natured laughter would fill the room. Rev Bracken was an excellent leader because he was an excellent follower. He came up the rough side of the mountain and we have benefited from his way of living. Rev Henry Bracken moved on up a little higher on Saturday, December 10th, 1994.
Rev A.C. Coleman was one of twelve children born to the proud parents of Azelia Cadney Coleman and Eugene Coleman Sr. in Fayette, Mississippi on May 21st, 1921. Rev Coleman was the seventh child of the eight surviving children (7 boys and 1 girl).
Rev Coleman attended junior high school in Fayette, Mississippi and graduated from senior high in Greenville, Mississippi. Rev Coleman served in the United States Navy from 1941-1947. While in the Navy, he took correspondence courses for two and a half years in bookkeeping and accounting at the United States Armed Forces Institute in Madison, Wisconsin. He attended Bryan Stratton College and worked for Electro Manufacturing Company for eight years as supervisor. Rev Coleman also worked at General Telephone and Electronic as a trained Electronics Tester for thirty years. From 1975-1981 Rev. Coleman was the soul bookkeeper for Yellow Checker Cab Company, local 777. Rev. Coleman worked for the Chicago Public Library from 1987-1998.
On June 1st, 1953 he was united in matrimony to a sweet, elegant and refined lady, Ida B. Adams, by the late Rev. Louis Boddie. This blissful union abided for forty five years.
Positions Held:
On February 8th, 1993 he answered the higher calling and was ordained as a minister of God by the former Pastor, Rev Henry Bracken. He was assigned to teach the weekly services as well as Sunday Morning 11:00 A.M. Service. Rev Coleman fulfilled all the duties that were assigned to him and in February of 1995m by a major vote of the membership, was elected as Pastor of the Greater Harves Missionary Baptist Church. Rev Coleman was a progressive man and a man of vision with a goal. He was called home on Saturday, July 25th, 1998 at 11:00 A.M.
Rev. Robert L. Polk was one of fourteen children born to Charles and Ida Polk. He grew up in Chicago where he attended Farren and Burke Elementary Schools. He served in the Armed Forces during World War II. Robert Polk joined Greater Harvest Baptist Church in 1947 under the leadership of our founder, Rev Louis Boddie. Under Rev Boddie`s leadership he joined the Choir and was later appointed to the Deacon Board. In 1958 Robert Polk was ordained a minister by Rev Boddie. He worked for United Parcel as a journeyman mechanic. Rev Polk studied at Moody Bible Institute and Chicago Bible Institute.
He married Mary Pepper a choir member and they had five children together. During his fifty-five years at Greater Harvest he served in the junior church, President of BYPU, visiting minister to the sick and shut-in, Sunday school teacher and Associate Minister.
After the demise of Rev Andrew Coleman, August 3rd 1998, the church elected Rev Robert L. Polk as pastor in 1999 and he was installed on April 9th, 1999 by the Rev Clay Evans. Rev Polk has continued the programs of our founder, Rev Boddie. The missionaries have been reinstated, the word is yet being taught in altar call and friday night healing service. The poor and needy are being taken care of.
Born on February 13, 1968, his musical gift was immediately demonstrated at age 3. He began playing tunes by ear before receiving formal piano lessons. God inspired him to write his first song at the age of 4, entitled, “A Man Called Jesus”. His mother, Eleanor Thomas, raised him and his five siblings in the fear and admonition of the Lord. He was taught to always put God first in his life.
Elder Thomas is a product of Greater Harvest Baptist Church where he has been a lifetime member. He began his spiritual growth under the leadership of the late Rev. Henry Bracken. At age 7, under the direction of his grandmother, the late Mildred Cole, he played the piano for the Sylvia Boddie Youth Choir at Greater Harvest. He was inspired and trained by two great Ministers of Music, the late Dr. Robert E. Wooten Sr. and the late Professor Joseph Henderson. He began taking music lessons at 9 years old from Dr. Wooten, and later studied classical music under Professor Felix Gang at Roosevelt University. Elder Thomas has been an organist at Greater Harvest even before his feet could comfortably touch the organ peddles. He sought God early and was filled with the Holy Ghost at the age of 12. He was officially appointed as Minister of Music under the leadership of one of our former pastors, the late Rev. A.C. Coleman. He renders his talents to all three choirs, Sylvia Boddie Youth Choir, Young Adult Choir, and Radio Choir.
Elder Thomas is an accomplished anointed musician, composer and producer. He has shared his talents with such groups as the Wooten Choral Ensemble, Walter Whitman and the Soul Children of Chicago, Mark Hubbard and the United Voices for Christ, The Chicago Mass Choir, The African American Religious Connection Mass Choir, Dennis Cole and the NU City Mass Choir, and Reginald McCracken and the Voices of Praise. He has worked as an organist for various churches including St. Sabina Catholic Church under the leadership of Father Pfleger, Fellowship Baptist Church under Rev. Cay Evans, First Church of Deliverance under the leadership of the late Rev. Eugene Gray and the late Rev. Harold D. Porter and Sweet Holy Spirit Baptist Church under the leadership of Bishop Larry Trotter. He has also accompanied such artists as Richard Smallwood, Donnie McKlurkin, Jennifer Holliday, Clifton Davis, Kirk Franklin, The Barrett Sisters, Dorothy Norwood, Tremaine Hawkins, Darryl Coley, Yolanda Adams and the late Thomas Whitfield. He has traveled throughout the United States playing at the White House as well as in foreign countries including Switzerland, Israel, Sweden, and Canada.
Even as a musician, Elder Eric Thomas has always had a heart for his church. He has chaired many programs and special drives to help edify the body of Christ both spiritually and financially. He is known for thinking “big” and “outside of the box”. He puts no limit on God and is a strong believer in God’s favor for those who obey his word. He also has a passion for reaching out to hurting people.
Answering God’s call to the ministry, Elder Thomas was ordained on February 28, 1999. He was appointed as Assistant Pastor of Greater Harvest M.B. Church under the leadership of our late Pastor, Rev. Robert L. Polk. Elder Thomas was a faithful and humble Assistant Pastor until Rev. Polk made his transition. Elder Thomas was officially elected as Pastor of Greater Harvest M.B. Church on February 21, 2007. He is husband to First Lady Tasha Thomas, and the proud father of four beautiful girls: Erica, Ariana, Kayla, and Madison.
“Eyes have not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of men the things which God hath prepared for them that love him. I Corinthians 2: 9.