The GETHSEMANE CHURCH OF GOD IN CHRIST was established in the year 1957. The Elder Samuel Steven McCarthy began this ministry as a mission in the basement of his home. His family being the first and only members did not discourage him. With determination he continued in the work God ordained him to do.
1959 – Moved to the ITT building located at 30th State Street.
1960 – The churched moved to 840 w. 59th Street.
1964 – Gethsemane purchased their first edifice, our present location, 6959 South Elizabeth, Chicago, IL
1983 – Pastor Samuel McCarthy began the renovation process to update our church.
On March 25, 1984, the dedication service of the newly remodeled Gethsemane Church commenced. Our theme was taken from Genesis 28:17, “This is none other but the house of God and this is the Gate of Heaven”.
That same year, our Morning Worship Service was taken to the radio air waves on station 1270 AM. Pastor McCarthy sang his theme song, “If Everybody Was Like Jesus” for all to hear.
Over the years, several ministries were birthed out of Gethsemane which took these Pastors to different cities and states fulfilling the scripture to go into all the world and preach the gospel.
Pastor McCarthy was elevated to the Superintendent position and served years as Superintendent over the Macedonia District.
September 1993 — Our church celebrated the appointment of Pastor Samuel S. McCarthy to the office of the Bishop of the Fifth Jurisdiction of Illinois.
December 12, 1999 — Bishop McCarthy appointed Dr. Dion A. McCarthy as Co-Pastor.
The year 2000 brought on several innovative programs;
2003 brought the completion of us naming our street after our founder and pastor Bishop Samuel Steven McCarthy. The dedication of the sign on March 27, 2004 commenced with a grand celebration honoring our Founder and Pastor-Emeritus. After visiting the Alderman of the Englewood District, Alderman Latasha Thomas, Mother Leutitia Flint was successful in her task of seeing to our street being named “Bishop Samuel Steven McCarthy Way. Bishop McCarthy could not have been more honored to see this blessed event.
August 20, 2004 – Our Founder, Bishop Samuel S. McCarthy, officially appointed Dr. Dion A. McCarthy, pastor of the Gethsemane C.O.G.I.C.
October 13, 2004 – We opened up a Food Pantry and Soup Kitchen. This program serves hot soup or a meal to the residents of our community and provides a bag of groceries to those who sign up for the program. Our Food Pantry is open every Wednesday from 11:00 a.m. until 1:00 p.m. and being part of the Greater Chicago Food Depository, we are able to service hundreds of families monthly. We also provide social service resources and medical screening to our clients. Since the opening of the Gethsemane Food Pantry we have served more than 20,000 people.
November 28, 2004 – We celebrated, with a special service, “The Passing Of The Mantle” from our Founder, Bishop Samuel S. McCarthy, to his son, and now our Pastor, Dr. Dion A. McCarthy.
On February 3, 2005 – We lost our Founding Pastor, Bishop Samuel S. McCarthy and celebrated his home-going on February 8, 2005 with a Local Service under the direction of the newly appointed prelate, Bishop James C. Austin, Sr. On February 9, 2005 our National Bishop and his cabinet came in to honor our Founder with a special Home-going celebration where our former Presiding Prelate, the late Bishop Gilbert Earl Patterson delivered the eulogy.
2005 also brought about several renovation projects, including a wheel chair ramp was added and an expansion of our steps (nurse’s board); the adding and furnishing two new offices; refinished our ceiling in the basement; refinished our men’s bathroom; added heating ducts to our basement (women’s dept.); and remodeling our kitchen (women’s dept).
December 1, 2005 — We celebrated our 48th Year Anniversary with a Christmas Church Anniversary Dinner at the Crystal Light Banquet Room. Although this marked our Pastor’s 1st year anniversary, he suggested we raise the money to handle expenses of the church.
December 16, 17, 2006 – Our 1st Major Christmas Drama Production entitled “At The Manger” was a great success. It was highly anointed and spiritually motivating.
December 13, 2007, 50th year anniversary celebration dinner. It was an overwhelming success.
1959 – Moved to the ITT building located at 30th State Street.
1960 – The churched moved to 840 w. 59th Street.
1964 – Gethsemane purchased their first edifice, our present location, 6959 South Elizabeth, Chicago, IL
1983 – Pastor Samuel McCarthy began the renovation process to update our church.
On March 25, 1984, the dedication service of the newly remodeled Gethsemane Church commenced. Our theme was taken from Genesis 28:17, “This is none other but the house of God and this is the Gate of Heaven”.
That same year, our Morning Worship Service was taken to the radio air waves on station 1270 AM. Pastor McCarthy sang his theme song, “If Everybody Was Like Jesus” for all to hear.
Over the years, several ministries were birthed out of Gethsemane which took these Pastors to different cities and states fulfilling the scripture to go into all the world and preach the gospel.
Pastor McCarthy was elevated to the Superintendent position and served years as Superintendent over the Macedonia District.
September 1993 — Our church celebrated the appointment of Pastor Samuel S. McCarthy to the office of the Bishop of the Fifth Jurisdiction of Illinois.
December 12, 1999 — Bishop McCarthy appointed Dr. Dion A. McCarthy as Co-Pastor.
The year 2000 brought on several innovative programs;
- Prison Ministry – Ministering regularly at the Cook county Prison on California
- Summer Youth Program – offering recreational, educational and nutritional services to up to 50 neighborhood children
- Television Ministry entitled “Things Eternal”
- Extended Hands Ministry – ministering to the lost and substance abuse victims
- 1st Church Anniversary Service to initiate funds to benefit the upkeep of the church.
2003 brought the completion of us naming our street after our founder and pastor Bishop Samuel Steven McCarthy. The dedication of the sign on March 27, 2004 commenced with a grand celebration honoring our Founder and Pastor-Emeritus. After visiting the Alderman of the Englewood District, Alderman Latasha Thomas, Mother Leutitia Flint was successful in her task of seeing to our street being named “Bishop Samuel Steven McCarthy Way. Bishop McCarthy could not have been more honored to see this blessed event.
August 20, 2004 – Our Founder, Bishop Samuel S. McCarthy, officially appointed Dr. Dion A. McCarthy, pastor of the Gethsemane C.O.G.I.C.
October 13, 2004 – We opened up a Food Pantry and Soup Kitchen. This program serves hot soup or a meal to the residents of our community and provides a bag of groceries to those who sign up for the program. Our Food Pantry is open every Wednesday from 11:00 a.m. until 1:00 p.m. and being part of the Greater Chicago Food Depository, we are able to service hundreds of families monthly. We also provide social service resources and medical screening to our clients. Since the opening of the Gethsemane Food Pantry we have served more than 20,000 people.
November 28, 2004 – We celebrated, with a special service, “The Passing Of The Mantle” from our Founder, Bishop Samuel S. McCarthy, to his son, and now our Pastor, Dr. Dion A. McCarthy.
On February 3, 2005 – We lost our Founding Pastor, Bishop Samuel S. McCarthy and celebrated his home-going on February 8, 2005 with a Local Service under the direction of the newly appointed prelate, Bishop James C. Austin, Sr. On February 9, 2005 our National Bishop and his cabinet came in to honor our Founder with a special Home-going celebration where our former Presiding Prelate, the late Bishop Gilbert Earl Patterson delivered the eulogy.
2005 also brought about several renovation projects, including a wheel chair ramp was added and an expansion of our steps (nurse’s board); the adding and furnishing two new offices; refinished our ceiling in the basement; refinished our men’s bathroom; added heating ducts to our basement (women’s dept.); and remodeling our kitchen (women’s dept).
December 1, 2005 — We celebrated our 48th Year Anniversary with a Christmas Church Anniversary Dinner at the Crystal Light Banquet Room. Although this marked our Pastor’s 1st year anniversary, he suggested we raise the money to handle expenses of the church.
December 16, 17, 2006 – Our 1st Major Christmas Drama Production entitled “At The Manger” was a great success. It was highly anointed and spiritually motivating.
December 13, 2007, 50th year anniversary celebration dinner. It was an overwhelming success.
