Pastor Wheeler Parker Jr. and his wife, Dr. Marvel Parker, led the church through a centennial celebration honoring a century of spiritual leadership and community service.
Pastor Wheeler Parker Jr. and First Lady Dr. Marvel Parker invited the community to celebrate 100 years of faith, family, and fellowship at Argo Temple Church of God in Christ on Sunday, Sept. 13, at 7435 W. 64th Street in Summit.
The church held two services that day—one at 11 a.m. and another at 4 p.m., with guest speaker Pastor Reuben Goodwin of Prayer Tower COGIC addressing the afternoon congregation. An “Argo Night” service took place Friday evening, Sept. 11, at 7 p.m. Between services, the church served a big meal and cake in the basement.
Argo Temple was founded in 1926 by Evangelist W.M. Hall, Mother Hall, Elder George Jones, Fannie Westley, Bea Petty, and Missouri Petty in the home of Mother Alma Spearman at 7632 W. 64th Street. The congregation later moved to a permanent building at 7433 W. 64th Street.
The church’s early years saw pastoral turnover. From 1926 to 1933, seven pastors led the congregation, including Elder William Smith, Elder James Harris, Elder B. Fitzgerald, Elder George Jones, and Brother Bennie A. Brown—the father of Louise Lynch and grandfather of Elder Samuel Lynch, Ethel Lynch Machen, and Willie Lynch.
Building From Faith and Sweat
Brother Alex Mallory purchased three lots from Argo State Bank and donated one to the congregation. In October 1933, construction began on a new building through fundraising and volunteer labor from devoted members like Bro. Arthur Curry and Bro. Albert Duncan.
The women of the church lightened the financial burden through their own efforts. Sister Doris Samuels cooked and sold buffalo fish dinners for fifteen cents. Mother Alma Spearman and Sister Marie Carthan sold barbecue sandwiches. Shiloh Missionary Baptist Church and Reverend Charles Williams provided their sanctuary free of charge as a temporary worship space.
The basement of the original church was completed in late 1934. Services were held there until the main building was finished and dedicated.
Bishop Charles Harrison Mason, founder of the Church of God in Christ, visited Argo Temple—then called the Sanctified Church—multiple times to teach about holiness. At one service, Mother Gamble invited renowned musician Sister Rosetta Tharpe to lead worship.
A Second Building, a Paid Mortgage
As the congregation grew, the church purchased two more lots and began construction on a new building on September 27, 1970. Again, Shiloh Missionary Baptist Church and Reverend Nedical Porter provided their sanctuary as a free worship space during construction.
The new church was dedicated on August 22, 1971. Through what church records describe as “God’s rich blessings,” the congregation paid off the mortgage in seven years. The mortgage was burned on August 14, 1977.
Parker’s Path to Leadership
Reverend Wheeler Parker has been a member of Argo Temple since 1947, serving in various roles. He accepted his call to ministry in 1977, was ordained in 1978, and served as an associate minister before being appointed assistant pastor in 1992. On December 5, 1993, he became pastor.
In 2017, Parker was elevated to superintendent of the Good Tidings District, 5th Jurisdiction Illinois-West.
Parker married Dr. Marvel McCain Parker in 1967. She serves as assistant supervisor of the 5th Jurisdiction Illinois-West Women’s Department, is a trustee in the Village of Summit, and is president of the Wheeler Parker Jr. Foundation. Together, they have traveled to Africa, Egypt, Israel, Italy, France, England, Switzerland, Germany, Central America, and the Caribbean.
Their missionary work extends to Belize City, Belize, where they support Calvary Temple School and are building a church in the capital city of Belmopan.
“God Was Always Preparing Me”
In a message to the church family, Rev. Parker reflected on his unexpected rise to leadership.
“I never envisioned an ascension to this level of leadership, but as I look back over the years, I see that God was always preparing me for it,” he said. “I learned so much from my predecessor, Bishop Bennie E. Goodwin. He saw what I did not see and mentored me for this position. My parents were examples of faithfulness and were here to see me accept this great challenge, and for that I am grateful.”
He credited his wife’s partnership. “My wife, Dr. Marvel McCain Parker, has been by my side for fifty-nine years. Working together we have come a long way. As we continue through this season of celebration, I encourage each of us to remain steadfast in prayer, faithful in worship, and committed to showing Christ’s love in our homes and throughout the community.”
First Lady Dr. Marvel Parker, after a busy weekend of celebration and hosting, offered a brief reflection on the milestone: “There is more work to be done.”
