The Illinois Midwest Ecclesiastical Jurisdiction was founded by Bishop Willie J. Chambliss (top photo) in 1996. After 18 years of devoted leadership, Bishop Chambliss passed the mantle to Bishop Darrell Hines, Sr. (bottom photo), who passionately led our jurisdiction for a decade. As a community within the Church of God in Christ (COGIC), the largest Pentecostal denomination in the United States, founded in 1907 by Bishop Charles Harrison Mason, we believe that the Bible is the Word of God and contains one harmonious and sufficiently complete system of doctrine, including belief in the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit.

Currently, under the leadership of Jurisdictional Prelate Bishop David Todd Whittley, IMEJ is committed to promoting and representing Holiness, continuing the Christian work we’ve got to do. As a spirit-filled community, we strive to achieve four main goals and objectives:
1. Training and Development
2. Economic and Social Empowerment
3. Fellowship, Community Outreach, and Marketing
4. Community-Driven Worship