Welcome to shilohmbcwest.org

Rev. Shaune Thompson is a native Chicagoan, raised on the southside. He is a product of Chicago Public Schools, graduating from Near North Career Academy in 1991. He briefly attended Northern Illinois University before joining the United States Army Reserve where he served for 9 years. Rev. Shaune is a graduate of Chicago Baptist Institute, where he received a bachelor’s degree with an emphasis in Theology. Rev. Shaune is also a graduate of McCormick Theological Seminary, where he received a Master’s in Divinity Degree. 

 Rev. Thompson is married to Edwina, they share their lives with his two daughters, Eryn, and Myra, and their son Shaune II. He works as a Staff Chaplain at Advocate Christ Hospital. Rev. Thompson is a Captain in the United States Army Reserve and serves as a Hospital Chaplain. He is a proud member of Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc. Omicron Mu Mu Graduate Chapter. Rev. Thompson serves as the Assistant Grand Chaplain in the Most Worshipful Prince Hall Grand Lodge of Illinois. 

Rev. Thompson was raised by a single mother, and grandparents who were active members of Shiloh Missionary Baptist Church, Shaune accepted Christ at the early age of eleven and was baptized by the late Rev. Gordon A. Humphrey Sr. Under the leadership of the late Rev. Gordon A. Humphrey Jr. and Rev. Rodney Patterson, Rev. Shaune acknowledged and accepted his calling into ministry and was licensed to preach the Gospel in July of 2006. In November of 2008 Rev. Shaune was Ordained at Shiloh Missionary Baptist Church and served as Assistant Pastor. In January of 2021, during the post-pandemic church shift, Rev. Thompson was called to pastor Shiloh Missionary Baptist Church 3162 W. Monroe Chicago, IL. Rev. Thompson is the 5th Pastor of this church.

In October of 1935, a group of people under the leadership of Rev. H. C. Bryant and the congregation from the Beulah Missionary Baptist Church met together and decided to organize as the Shiloh Missionary Baptist Church, with Rev. H. C. Bryant as pastor. This pastor and congregation located an old church building at the comer of Campbell and Lake Street as its house of worship. The two fiat church building at 2506 West Lake Street housed two churches at the beginning, Shiloh, which seated almost one hundred people and the other church (Pilgrim Primitive Baptist Church) who owned the building, occupied the second floor. The rent at that time was six dollars per month. 

Most of the congregation had just settled into Chicago from the South and were trying to make ends meet in their own homes. They had to adjust from having church services once a month to opening the doors every Sunday. But their belief and faith in God kept them moving and building. 

Somewhere between the years of 1936 and 1937, Rev. Bryant died and the church was without a pastor until the late Rev. N. Smith was elected. 

In 1939, it was recorded in an old minute book, that the collection each Sunday never amounted to more than three to four dollars. In May of 1939, there were twenty-two members on roll (three were Deacons), most residing within a ten block radius of the church. 

Rev. Smith pastored Shiloh from 1938 through 1939 when his health failed him. On the fifth December 29, 1939, a man was elected pastor of Shiloh, who was to lead this congregation for the next forty-two years, in the person of Rev. Elijah J. Hatch. 

In 1940, Pastor Hatch organized four auxiliaries. They were the Pastor’s Aid Club, Missionary Circle, Usher Board and the Choir. These auxiliaries along with the ministry of the pastor caused the membership to grow from eight members to one hundred members in 1950. With the addition of more auxiliaries, the membership grew to over 500 registered members and eleven auxiliaries by 1979, an average growth of over a hundred members a decade.

Between 1939 and 1951, the membership enlarged so that larger quarters were sought. On the first Sunday in July of 1953, Shiloh moved to 3162 West Monroe, approximately fifteen blocks away. The new building, which was originally occupied by a white congregation, seated about 300 people. The cost of the building was $25,000, so a down payment of $2,000 was made.

As stated, this building housed two floors and a basement, but didn’t have a baptismal pool. A pool located in the building is a very important structure for a Baptist Church. “For it is here that new converts are baptized into the fellowship. ln 1962, Bro. Leon Hargrett built the baptistery. 

On December 4, 1966, after paying the last payment of $3,406 on the building, the mortgage was “burned”. The building now belonged to Shiloh Missionary Baptist Church; a group with a very humble beginning could now beam with pride.

On July 28, 1981, Gabriel blew his trumpet and Pastor Hatch answered the call; his work had been done. He left a challenge for those who witnessed his faith and leadership to carry on.

The church began to search for a pastor, a person who was already an associate minister of the church, a person who was willing, able, knowledgeable and full of wisdom. They found all of that and more in the personage of Rev. Ferdinand W. Hargrett. Rev. Hargrett was elected as pastor of Shiloh on September 4, 1981 and assumed pastorate on September 20, 1981. On Sunday, October 18, 1981, Pastor Hargrett was installed as pastor of Shiloh. 

Rev. Hargrett became a member of Shiloh at the age of 12 years old. Over the years the future pastor of Shiloh had served in various capacities while a member of the church. Some of these positions included superintendent of the Sunday Church School, choir director and director of Christian Education. He publicly acknowledged his call to the Gospel Ministry in January 1976, preached his first sermon on February 28, 1976, was licensed to preach March 21, 1976 and Ordained January 27, 1980. All of this was done under the auspice of the Late Reverend E.J. Hatch. 

Under the great leadership of Pastor Hargrett the Shiloh Church refurbished the Sanctuary twice, purchased the adjoining property now valued at over one million dollars, established education ministries, outreach ministries and worship ministries. He has baptized and married scores. He’s also eulogized scores including the late Pastor E.J. Hatch. 

Pastor Hargrett kept the church active in many affiliate denominational organizations. Some of these included the Illinois National Baptist State Convention, the Midwest Baptist Youth Conference and the National Baptist Convention of America, Inc. He was also the last Moderator of the Friendship Baptist District Association which was one of the oldest Baptist Fellowships in the city of Chicago.

On March 8, 2020, Gabriel once again blew his Trumpet and Pastor Hargrett answered. 

The church was able to meet one last time Saturday, March 14, 2020 to funeralize our beloved pastor of 38 years. Little did we know that by March 16, 2020 the world would come to a stand still due to a global pandemic. The doors of the church were closed and we were without a pastor. In the midst of these adversities, the people of Shiloh remained prayerful and steadfast that God would send us a leader who would carry on the work that was started in 1935.

During this time our Media ministry was started as way to keep our members connected to the church. 

Just like the children of Israel in their wilderness experience, we had our moments of discomfort and concerns of not knowing where we were going or what would come next. We had no doubt that God was testing our faith while at the same time making us stronger and more confident in knowing that He would continue to be with us.

On December 12, 2021, God answered the prayers of the faithful members of Shiloh and sent us a Pastor in the personage of Rev. Shaune F. Thompson. Under his leadership, church attendance increased and the foundation of the church was again stabalized both physcially and spiritually. In 2022, the “Feeding” ministry was revitalized, the sanctuary was refreshed. To reintroduce ourselves to the community, we held a back to school end of summer festival and was able to feed over 200 people and gave away over 100 bookbags. 

To God be the glory for our past and our promised future!