The Rev. Micheal Henderson had no plans to return to the icy winters of Chicago after 22 years of school and shepherding churches in the South. But the minister decided he was ready for a change, even if it meant zipping up boots and a parka to lead the congregation at the Second Baptist Church of La Grange, 26 Washington St.
Q: Where had you lived and what did you like about it?
A: I went to school in Mississippi and Atlanta and then pastored churches in South Carolina for the last 11 years. The South was good for me. It slowed me down and gave me polish, experiences I would not have had, if I had stayed in Chicago. I was in small towns in Mississippi and South Carolina, and it was a great change. It will be hard to leave the essence of the South.
Q: What prompted you to begin looking for other opportunities?
A: When I turned 40 in November, I decided I needed a change. My mom, my sisters and nieces and nephews are here, and family has become very important to me. I looked on the Illinois Baptist website, and two churches were seeking pastors, La Grange and Centerville, which is near St. Louis.
Q: What was the church selection process like?
A: I sent my resume to the La Grange church in March of 2014 and had an interview in July. I came and preached in October and again in November. Members of the church visited me at my church in South Carolina in February, and they officially extended an invitation for me to come here in April.
Q: When did you arrive in La Grange?
A: I came in June. My installation was Sept. 13, and I was very pleased to have the pastors of the First Baptist, the First United Methodist and the United Church of Christ here with us that day.
Q: What do you like about La Grange?
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A: I’ve learned, in my small time of being here, everyone is connected in some way and there are strong ties here. The community is close enough to the city, but far enough away from it, too.
Q: Why did you decide to become a minister?
A: Church has been a part of my life all my life. It’s ingrained in me. If I was not a minister, I would be a counselor, teacher or chaplain. I’m a lover of people.
Q: When did you hear the call to ministry?
A: I’m a church kid. I’ve always loved church. I started preaching when I was 13, even though I felt the call a little before then. When I went to high school, I knew exactly what I wanted to do that I’d either be preaching and teaching or working in a hospital. At Marshall High School, I went through the nursing program.
Q: How do you view your role at Second Baptist?
A: My main job is to reach God’s people. It doesn’t make any difference what color they are. This is not just a church for African Americans, but for whosoever will come.
Q: What would you like to accomplish?
A: My prayer is to bring pride back to being a part of Second Baptist Church. My vision for this community is that nothing will move without our input.
Q: How do you view the proposed BEDS center for the homeless across the street?
A: When that comes here, the housing values will plummet. Homelessness is not just an African American issue; it’s everyone’s issue, so don’t try to plop it here in the heart of the African American community. I support it, but I support it being somewhere else.
Q: What is your vision for the church?
A: My dream here is to build an educational wing with a kitchen. We have no classrooms here. I would like to find the niche of things not going on and loop into it, but we are limited in space now. And I would like to reach the young people, born between 1980 and 2000. The message has to be interesting, yet timely.
Twitter: @janemichaels22
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Family: Single and no children; mother, Alisha Henderson; two brothers; eight sisters; nieces and nephews
Hometown: Chicago’s West Side near Faraday Elementary School
Education: Rust College, Hollis Springs, Miss. and the Interdenominational Theological Center in Atlanta
Hobbies: walking, cooking
Favorite finds in La Grange: Blueberry Hill, Fireside Pizza and the Carousel resale shop