In 1993, under divine inspiration, Bishop Agee established Praise Temple Church Baptist – A Ministry of Restoration. Following God’s direction, Bishop Agee gathered four individuals from diverse denominational backgrounds—Rev. Martha Robinson, Bernadine Sandifer, Dean Tate, and Courtney Jones—to join him in prayer and discernment regarding the founding of this new ministry.

The name Praise Temple was revealed to Bishop Agee by the Lord in 1987, inspired by 1 Corinthians 6:19, which teaches that our bodies are the temple of God and a dwelling place for His Spirit. We believe that if His Spirit dwells within us, our lives should continually reflect His praise. The name is both a declaration and a blessing—one that speaks to our mission and identity.

The foundational meetings were held in the homes of Rev. Martha Robinson and Bishop Agee, as well as at the Dorolyn Academy of Music, where the church’s organizational structure was prayerfully finalized. The first worship service was held on Resurrection Sunday, 1993, at the Fifth City Center in Chicago, Illinois.

In the earliest days, the founding members prepared the worship space themselves—cleaning after secular events and transforming it for the sacred purpose of Sunday worship. After two weeks at Fifth City Center, the church moved to a storefront location at 5316 West North Avenue, which they renovated into a sanctuary. In December 1993, due to the sale of the building, the congregation temporarily worshipped in the sanctuary of a local funeral home before securing a new space at 5416 West North Avenue in January 1994. That same year, Praise Temple became affiliated with the Full Gospel Baptist Church Fellowship.
By 1996, through prayer, financial pledges, fundraisers, and the steadfast commitment of its members, Praise Temple purchased a permanent facility at 4244 West Madison Street in Chicago.

From the beginning, Praise Temple has embraced its God-given calling as A Ministry of Restoration—ministering to those burdened by sin, sickness, oppression, betrayal, and other hardships. This ministry focuses not on condemnation, but on providing solutions, encouragement, and the healing power of the Gospel. It is a ministry of inclusion, welcoming the operation of all spiritual gifts, and grounded in the disciplines of prayer, Bible study, the Lord’s Supper, baptism, and tithing.
As a teaching ministry, Praise Temple is committed to strengthening believers through preaching and instruction in God’s Word, fostering spiritual growth, and advancing the Kingdom of God through evangelism and missions—both local and global. Weekly Bible study, Sunday School, and various seminars, workshops, and training sessions are held throughout the year to equip and edify the body of Christ.

Over time, God expanded the ministry beyond the original five founding members. The church name was later revised to Praise Temple of Restoration – “God’s Church for ALL People” to better reflect its mission. Outreach efforts have included contributions to relief efforts in Rwanda, assistance to those in need within the local community, and the development of ministries such as The Daughters of Grace and The Brothers of Restoration, which address gender-specific spiritual needs.

Other key ministries include:
• R.E.A.D.Y. Ministry – offering spiritual support for individuals recovering from or struggling with substance abuse.
• Youth Ministry – providing ongoing programs that nurture the spiritual growth of young people.

In 2004, the church launched The Nehemiah Plan to acquire a new facility. On January 28, 2007, the congregation celebrated the move to its new location at 5443 West Huron in Chicago with a motorcade from the Madison Street location, followed by the inaugural worship service in the new sanctuary.

Throughout its history, Praise Temple has faced challenges, yet God’s faithfulness has never failed. We testify that there is no trial so near that God is not nearer still.

In the fall of 2016, our sister church, New Vision Full Gospel Baptist Church in East Orange, New Jersey, suffered the loss of its Founder and Senior Pastor, Bishop Andre L. Jackson. Having shared more than 20 years of fellowship with New Vision, Bishop Agee was invited to serve as Interim Pastor. In 2017, he accepted the call to serve as their Senior Pastor and was formally installed in March 2018.

With Bishop Agee’s transition to serve as Senior Pastor of New Vision Baptist Church at the Cathedral in New Jersey, Rev. Larry Lawrence, Jr. was elevated to the position of Senior Pastor of Praise Temple of Restoration and was installed in October 2017. Under his leadership, the church has continued to grow spiritually and in its outreach efforts. Now in his sixth year of pastoral service, Pastor Lawrence faithfully shepherds the congregation as they worship at their current location, 301 North Mayfield, Chicago, Illinois 60644.

We honor our history, celebrate God’s ongoing work, and look forward with faith, declaring:

“We Celebrate What God Is Doing Just for You!”