In 2011, at age 30, Rev. Charlie Dates became the youngest Senior Pastor in Progressive Baptist Church’s rich 93-year history. In 2002, he served as an apprentice to Pastor K. Edward Copeland and started his formal, practical training at the New Zion Baptist Church of Rockford, IL. In 2006, he began serving as the primary preaching assistant to Rev. James Meeks at the Salem Baptist Church of Chicago.

Rev. Charlie Dates earned a Bachelor of Arts at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign and a Master of Divinity Degree at Trinity Evangelical Divinity School in Deerfield, Illinois. He is currently working toward a PhD in Historical Theology at Trinity Evangelical Divinity School.

Faith & Religion, Christian, Preacher,