Beautiful Zion Missionary Baptist Church was organized on July 8, 1945 with 16 members, under the leadership of the Late Rev. L.W. White.  The Church was named by the late Mother Lula Hawkins.  Rev. C. J. Rogers, President of the Brotherhood District Association, was the moderator of the organization council and Rev. Harding and Rev. Allison were members.  Brother Walter Hawkins was the only crowned Deacon and was placed on the Deacon Board.  The Church was organized at 3160 S. Cottage Grove in Chicago.

The following auxiliaries were developed:  The Mothers Board, Sunday School, The Ushers Board, the Gospel Chorus and the BYPU Department.  The late Mother Lula Hawkins named the Church.  Rev. C. J. Rogers, President of the Brotherhood District Association was the moderator of the organization council and Rev. Harding, and Rev. Allison were members.  Sister Nelson was elected Church Secretary and served until August 19, 1945 when Sister Rose Hawkins was elected, and Sister Mary Bell Green was her assistant.

As progression continued, Brother Eddie Bentford and Brother David Coleman were placed on a 60-day trial before being placed on the Deacon Board. Brother Walter Hawkins was appointed Chairman of the Deacon Board.

On August 20, 1945, a financial breakthrough allowed the Church to open its first bank account at the Westside National Bank, on the corner of 47th and Cottage Grove Ave.

On July 7, 1946, The Church celebrated Rev. L. W. White’s “First Pastor’s Anniversary.”

In 1947, Beautiful Zion held services on Sunday afternoons in the Church home of Morning Star M.B. Church, until Morning Star no longer wanted them.  Rev. L.W. White, as a good shepherd will do, called his small congregation together and advised them not to be discouraged because the Lord would make a way.  The Pastor and Officers started to look for a place to worship and found two temporary locations at 37th & State Street and 4653 S. Wentworth while looking for a permanent home.  Brother David Coleman and Brother Walter Hawkins found a house at 2830 South Cottage Grove, and the building was converted into a small church.  The building was purchased subject to all indebtedness.  It had taxes due from 1932, and the top was torn off.  A new front was put on at a cost of $1,500.

The first Sunday in November 1948, Reverend L. W. White announced to the congregation that he had been called to pastor a church in Missouri, leaving Beautiful Zion without a pastor.

A committee from the Deacon Board was to meet with Reverend Marshall J. Richards, Pastor of Highway Missionary Baptist Church.  Reverend Richard called his officers together, Brother Samuel Gunns and Brother William D. Payton.  The meeting was held at the home of Reverend Richards on 35th Street.  The committee asked Reverend Richards if he would Pastor Beautiful Zion M.B. Church. Reverend Richards informed them that he would give them an answer after he had discussed the matter with the officers and members of Highway M.B. Church.  After meeting with his members, Rev. Richards informed the committee that he would accept their offer if he could merge Highway M.B. Church and Beautiful Zion Missionary Baptist Church together.

On November 17, 1948, a special business meeting was called, and Rev. Marshall J. Richards was elected Pastor of Beautiful Zion Missionary Baptist Church.  The members agreed to pay him a monthly salary of $110.  On November 28, 1948, 125 members joined Beautiful Zion Missionary Baptist Church.

At the time Highway M.B. Church and Beautiful Zion merged, Highway had a sum of $581 in the Building Fund, which was turned over to Beautiful Zion’s Building Fund.  Rev. Richards called a meeting of his officers to get firsthand knowledge of the conditions of the church.  The church owed for the new front and other repairs, which were paid off.  The Church was not incorporated thereby subject to real estate taxes.  Brother William D. Payton was assigned the task of finding out what could be done to have the Church incorporated.  After searching the Church records, he found that the Church had taxes due since 1932.

The Lord blessed Beautiful Zion with so many new members that the Pastor and Officers had to look for a larger building.  One was found at 6201 South Morgan.  The building was purchased and Beautiful Zion Moved into their new home on July 4, 1954.  Extensive work was done on the building and the basement was converted into a dining room.

Again, the Lord blessed Beautiful Zion with many more new members and our current home became too small.  The building was sold and the Zionites had services at Strangers Home M.B. Church until a permanent Church home was found.  On the Second Sunday in January, 1965, Beautiful Zion Missionary Baptist Church marched into 1406 W. 64th St., Chicago, Illinois 60636.

In May 1970, after many hard years of toiling, failing and succeeding, Rev. Marshall J. Richards was called from labor to reward.

And in August 1970, Rev. Vernon B. Harris was elected Pastor of Beautiful Zion Missionary Baptist Church.   Under the leadership of Reverend Harris, the Church has shown excellent growth.  Twenty-nine brothers were called to the Ministry at Beautiful Zion, and some are now pastors or assistants at other churches.  We boast proudly of numerous well-functioning auxiliaries that are highly active in our church.  Several Christian Education programs were designed to meet the spiritual needs of our members.  We are proud of our food and clothing programs for the needy, our Outreach Ministry for our substance abuse members that are hurting.  Our choirs have been internationally acclaimed through the recording of two very successful albums.

In 1987, through the insight of our Pastor, 8:00 a.m. worship service was implemented to accommodate those who were unable to attend 11:00 a.m. service and to provide additional Bible teaching.

Along with the advancement of the church, Pastor Vernon B. Harris Sr., had shown significant growth.  On May 4, 1984, he received his Bachelor’s Degree.  He has received numerous awards in recognition of his outstanding work in the ministry.  On May 25, 1985, he was awarded the Honorary Degree of Doctor of Divinity from Brewster Theological Clinical and School of Religion.  On May 18, 1987, he received his Master’s Degree in Theology. On December 6, 1989, in Nashville, TN, our Pastor was honored as Outstanding Pastor in the Nation.  He was also named the monthly contributor to the publishing board.

In 2007, Dr. Vernon B. Harris announced to the Zionite Family that he would be retiring.  Dr. Vernon B. Harris toiled, failed and succeeded as the Pastor of Beautiful Zion for 37 years, and part of this Church family for more than 47 years.  He instituted many programs that are still utilized by this Church and Community.

In 1994, the Stair Chair Lift was installed and is used to aid our disabled members and visitors.
On May 8, 1995, the Outreach Ministry celebrated its first Anniversary.  The purpose of this ministry is to minister to those who are suffering or have suffered from drug and/or alcohol abuse, as well as supporters.  On June 17, 1995, Pastor Vernon B. Harris, Sister Ether L. Rush, sister Hester Hamer, Deacon George Dupree, Sister Betty Jean Dupree, Deacon Annias Willis, Sister Roberta Hawkins, {the 16 founders} Rev., L.W. White, Deacon Walter Hawkins, Sister Pinky McKinney, Sister Lula Brown, Brother Willie Thompson, Sister Mary Wilson, Deacon David Coleman, Sister Dennis Covington, Mother Lula Hawkins, Sister Rosie Hawkins, Sister Mary Murphy, Sister Aceania Thompson, sister Fannie Barnes, Sister Ada Anderson, Deacon Seaborn Hawkins and Mother Pearl Young were all inducted into the Hall of Fame.

In 1996, Loomis Boulevard from 64th to 65th street was renamed Rev. Vernon B. Harris Drive, and for this recognition we are very proud.

Dr. Harris’ recommendation for Pastor was Rev. Russell B. Harris Sr. and in April 2007, Rev. Russell B. Harris Sr., was elected Pastor of Beautiful Zion Missionary Baptist Church.  Rev. Russell B. Harris’ accomplishments include but are not limited to: President of the Music Department and Vice President of Education of the United Baptist State Convention of Illinois and he has served as the General Secretary of the Emmanuel Baptist District of Chicago and vicinity. He has served as 1st Vice President of the United Baptist State Convention of Illinois Incorporated, Worship Leader of the National Baptist Convention, USA, Incorporated, Moderator’s Division, and in August 2013, he became the proud Moderator of the Emmanuel Baptist District Association of Chicago & Vicinity.

Beautiful Zion Missionary Baptist Church experienced phenomenal spiritual growth under the leadership of Pastor Harris.  An anointed preacher and teacher, he drew on his own shortcomings to deliver God’s Word.  He encouraged the hopeless with messages that were inspirational, timely and relevant. The Lord gave Pastor Harris a vision to lead the people of God to new dimensions in Christ. With his God-given talent and special anointing, he inspired and transformed the lives of many.

In March 2022, Pastor Harris submitted a letter of resignation and was relieved of his duties at Beautiful Zion M. B. Church. Rev. John H. Robinson, Jr., was named Interim Pastor, and the search for new pastoral leadership began. We thank God for Pastor Robinson and his family’s faithfulness to our church, the same church where he received his calling.

After an extensive search for new church leadership, the Rev. Ricky Darnell Dixon was voted in as Pastor Elect of Beautiful Zion Missionary Baptist Church and began his assignment on February 5, 2023. With more than 12 years of pastoral experience as the under-shepherd of Mt. Calvary Missionary Baptist Church in Sun River Terrace and many years as an Associate Minister—most recently at Antioch Missionary Baptist Church of Chicago, where he is a member—Pastor Elect Dixon has shown himself most qualified to lead the members of Beautiful Zion Missionary Baptist Church through his preaching, his teaching and his love for the members and so many others. He spends many hours daily reading and studying God’s Holy Word thus shewing himself approved unto God, a workman that needed not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the work of truth (2 Timothy 2:15).

On July 30, 2023, Rev. Ricky Darnell Dixon was officially installed as Pastor of Beautiful Zion Missionary Baptist Church. Since that time, under his visionary leadership, the church has experienced a renewed spiritual fervor and community connection. Membership has grown, and the church has seen God’s hand in every area—from worship to outreach to physical restoration.

In 2023, Beautiful Zion celebrated the 50th anniversary of the iconic gospel recording “I’ll Make It Alright,” a musical treasure still played on gospel and secular radio stations nationwide. The recording garnered renewed attention through an article in the Chicago Tribune, shining a spotlight on the church’s rich spiritual and musical heritage.

In early 2024, the church was faced with a critical crisis: gas leaks throughout its 100-year-old building. Although the gas was shut off, Pastor Dixon remained undeterred. He continued holding services in the cold sanctuary, determined to keep the doors of the church open. Miraculously, within six weeks, every gas line was replaced at a fraction of the cost, and the warmth of worship returned to the sanctuary—another example of God’s divine provision.

Another major challenge arose in the form of a longstanding and overwhelming water bill. After two years of diligent advocacy with the City of Chicago, and under Pastor Dixon’s leadership, the church was granted a financial resolution that reduced the debt by half. In July 2025, the remaining balance was paid in full. This victory became a defining moment, birthing the “Paid in Full” Campaign, a movement of faith and financial stewardship, ensuring that the church’s legacy remains strong for generations to come.

In tandem with this effort, Pastor Dixon launched the “Seeds of Hope” Capital Campaign to fund vital renovations and structural upgrades. Due to the generosity of members, community partners, and donors, several improvements were made both inside and outside the building.

Since February 2024, Beautiful Zion has gathered nightly at 6:30 p.m. for prayer—seven days a week—uniting members from near and far, including those in Jamaica and other parts of the world. This prayer call, instituted by Pastor Dixon, reflects the biblical mandate in 1 Thessalonians 5:17 to “pray without ceasing.”

On the third Sunday of every month, we fellowship with our Beautiful Zion members over at the Montclare JoAnn Thompson Senior Residences of Englewood. This is such a special fellowship. Outside of the third Sundays we also come together with them on Martin Luther King Jr. holiday. When our members can come to the Beautiful Zion building, they come. We truly love them and they love us.

In 2025, God’s favor continued to rest upon Beautiful Zion as the church was awarded a grant from Landmarks Illinois to clean and repair the building’s historic limestone exterior. The receipt of this award was featured in the Chicago Sun-Times. Thank you, Landmarks Illinois! Then, on June 27, 2025, an unexpected electrical fire—caused by a transformer—damaged the rear of the church. By God’s grace, the power was restored within hours, and further repairs were completed at no cost to the church.

Under Pastor Dixon’s leadership, the church has embraced a spirit of revival, resilience, and restoration. His unwavering faith, pastoral compassion, and commitment to sound biblical teaching have solidified his place in the legacy of Beautiful Zion. Today, Pastor Dixon continues to lead the congregation into a new era of promise and purpose, proclaiming that the best is still yet to come.

The 80th Anniversary Year

As Beautiful Zion Missionary Baptist Church concluded the celebration of its 80th Anniversary, the congregation reflected on eight decades of God’s unfailing faithfulness. What began on July 8, 1945, with sixteen faithful believers has grown into a vibrant ministry committed to proclaiming the Gospel of Jesus Christ, serving the community, and transforming lives. Throughout every season, God has faithfully provided visionary leaders, strengthened His people through challenges, and continually poured out His grace and favor upon Beautiful Zion.

The 80th Anniversary year was marked by extraordinary milestones under the leadership of Pastor Ricky Darnell Dixon. Inspired by a desire to demonstrate Christ’s love beyond the walls of the church, Beautiful Zion launched its 80 Random Acts of Kindness initiative. Throughout the anniversary year, members extended compassion, encouragement, and tangible acts of service to schools, senior citizens, hospitals, community organizations, first responders, neighborhood families, and countless others throughout Englewood and beyond, fulfilling the church’s mission of sharing God’s love through action.

The congregation also celebrated the success of its Paid In Full Campaign, a powerful testimony of God’s provision and the faithfulness of His people. Through sacrificial giving and steadfast commitment, longstanding financial obligations were eliminated, positioning Beautiful Zion to move forward with renewed strength, financial stability, and an even greater focus on ministry.

God’s favor continued to rest upon Beautiful Zion as the long-awaited Building Envelope Renovation Project officially commenced. Through God’s abundant blessings and the generosity of many partners and supporters, the church embarked on one of the most significant restoration efforts in its history. Improvements included the installation of new energy-efficient windows and exterior doors, modern HVAC systems, masonry restoration, accessibility enhancements, electrical upgrades, and numerous additional capital improvements designed to preserve and strengthen the church’s historic home. These investments ensure that the sanctuary standing at 1406 West 64th Street will continue serving as a place of worship, hope, and community for generations to come.

As Beautiful Zion enters its 81st year of ministry, the church does so with hearts filled with gratitude for its remarkable legacy and unwavering confidence in God’s promises. Guided by the leadership of Pastor Ricky Darnell Dixon and sustained by the prayers, faithfulness, and generosity of its members, former members, friends, and community partners, Beautiful Zion remains steadfast in its commitment to preach the Gospel, serve God’s people, strengthen the Englewood community, and glorify Jesus Christ in all that it does.
Looking back over more than eight decades, one truth remains constant: God has been faithful every step of the way. His hand has guided this ministry through seasons of joy and sorrow, abundance and adversity, always proving Himself to be a faithful Keeper of His promises. As Beautiful Zion continues its journey of faith, the congregation moves forward with great expectation, believing the words so often proclaimed by Pastor Dixon: “The Best Is Still Yet To Come.”

To God Be the Glory—For the Great Things He Has Done, Is Doing, and Shall Yet Do Through Beautiful Zion Missionary Baptist Church.