Meet the Pastor of Daniel Chapel A.M.E. Zion Chapel
Meet the Pastor
Rev. Dr. Derrick T. Simmons acknowledged his call to the ministry in 1994 at St. Mark A.M.E. Zion Church, East Chicago, Indiana under the spiritual guidance of the Rev. Dr. Kenneth Arrington, Sr. On January 27, 2001, he was ordained as an Elder in the A.M.E. Zion Church by the late Bishop Enoch B. Rochester.
Dr. Simmons attended Western Michigan University where he was a collegiate athlete graduating with a Bachelor of Science degree. He then worked in the transportation industry working in various positions of management and sales before being called to the pastoral ministry.
Dr. Simmons has a Master of Arts in Theological Studies from McCormick Theological Seminary. He achieved a Master of Divinity Degree from Vanderbilt University, where he was a Kelly Miller Smith Scholar. Pastor Simmons received his Doctor of Ministry degree from The Chicago Theological Seminary.
Pastor Simmons previously served as pastor at the First A.M.E. Zion Church in Knoxville, Tennessee. Presently, he is serving as pastor at the Daniel Chapel A.M.E. Zion Church in Phoenix, Illinois where he has brought about a tremendous season of spiritual revitalization to this faith community. In addition, Dr. Simmons serves as the finance chairman for the Michigan Annual Conference, the treasurer of the Chicago District, and the president of the Chicago District Ministerium. As well, he serves on the Theological Seminary Board for the A.M.E. Zion Denomination. Dr. Simmons also serves on the Community Advisory Council for Chicago University Ingalls Hospital.
Pastor Simmons is married to the love of his life, Debra Simmons. She is an Elementary School Teacher. Also, she is a Local Preacher in the A.M.E. Zion Church.
Derrick Jr. is a graduate of Northern Illinois University and Bradford is a graduate of Governors State University.
Ministry Team
Rev. Christine Gutridge
Retired Minister - Serves as Bible Study Teacher, Evangelist and Encourager. She has over 30 years of ministry experience.
Rev. Melville King Jr.
Sunday school Teacher, Leads our Senior Care Ministry and serves in ministry at local nursing homes
Rev. Dr. Michael Rouse
Retired Pastor serving in Pastoral Ministry for 40 years. Previous Pastoral Appointments - Clement Memorial A.M.E. Zion Church, Milwaukee, WI, - St. Matthew Gordon A.M.E. Zion Church, Chicago, IL - St. Catherine A.M.E. Zion Church, New Rochelle, NY - Served as Presiding Elder of the London England District for the London Midland Annual Conference
Bro. Vernis 'Tony' Mims
Local Preacher serving as our Minister of Outreach. He is a Self Employed Truck Driver.
Sis. Debra Simmons
Providing encouragement with a Word from the Lord, engaging in becoming an active minister in the A.M.E. Zion Church, and teaching Sunday school as she also performs in her career by teaching students with disabilities.
Church History
Daniel Chapel A.M.E. Zion Church was organized in Phoenix, Illinois on July 17, 1938 in the home of Mr. and Mrs. Alfred Grayson by Rev. Thomas L. Daniel. Services were held in the Grayson's home for about five weeks until the Community Club House was secured.
Dr. Silas Samuels, who was then our presiding Elder, held the first Quarterly Conference. With the help of God, our membership increased and allowed the opportunity to purchase a building at 15110 9th Avenue.
In July 1954, Rev. Daniel was assigned to pastor St. John A.M.E. Zion Church in Hammond, Indiana. Rev. Ernest Benford was sent to pastor the people at Daniel Chapel. Rev. Benford worked hard during his short tenure, for one year later, in October 1955, Rev. Benford was called home to be with the Lord.
At that time, Bishop W.J. Walls appointed Rev. Henry Miller the charge as pastor to the people at Daniel Chapel. Rev. Miller was a good, young minister with progressive ideas. The membership was willing to work, so Rev. Miller set forth with plans to move from 9th Avenue to the present location. Groundbreaking ceremonies were held here at 15250 3rd Avenue on May 1, 1963.
Rev. Miller, having led the congregation in the building of this new facility, its administrative wing, and its parsonage had yet another dream. He witnessed and shared the concerns of those who were unable, due to physical handicaps, to attend service or transverse the steep and sometimes dangerous steps to the sanctuary. His dream was to create a clean, safe, and spacious environment that would accommodate the needs of the handicapped while adding convenience, beauty, and easy access to the sanctuary and fellowship hall.
In 1988, the officers and members set out to change the facade of the church and to provide, to all who would come, a place for comfortable worship. The plans were laid, the sketches were complete, and the design was approved. One year later, in 1989, the work was completed.
In 1990, Rev. Miller decided to retire from being a full-time pastor. In February 1991, Bishop Clinton R. Coleman appointed Rev. Harry Spigner to the pastorate of Daniel Chapel. Rev. Spigner went to work immediately after meeting with the officers to eliminate the church mortgage. He determined that with a mortgage balance of $120,000 and an annual interest of over $15,000, something needed to be done.
He challenged the Building Fund Committee, the officers, and the church family to retire the mortgage in 18 months, by October 1992. After only 14 months of work, giving, and sacrifice by the members, in June 1992 enough funds were available to effectively eliminate the mortgage.
It was under Rev. Spigner's leadership that the Antioch addition was established for the church building, adding more space for teaching opportunities. The congregation continued to grow in spirit and ministry as he introduced an Annual Evangelistic Street Crusade held outside on the corner of 153rd and 8th Avenue, where many souls came to know Christ through effective witnessing.
In October 2005, Bishop Milton Williams appointed Rev. Spigner to pastor Jones Tabernacle A.M.E. Zion Church in Indianapolis, IN. It was then that Rev. Dr. Derrick Simmons came to pastor the people at Daniel Chapel. Pastor Simmons immediately went to work, on the spiritual as well as the physical makeup of the church.
Rev. Simmons made vast improvements in enhancing and improving the sound system. New pew cushions were permanently installed. As well, a new roof and new kitchen appliances were purchased. Spiritually, the class leader system was revamped; the prayer ministry was revitalized, and we now have an 8 am as well as an 11 am worship service every Sunday.
Church School is available to adults at 9:30 am (along with crafts for children) and to children and youth at 11 am. Additional ministries have been developed that are providing opportunities for many members to use the gifts that the Lord has provided them. Plus, Rev. Simmons has brought exposure to the church with the creation of this website you are viewing now into the realm of social media, such as Facebook. Each of these elements is proving to be a blessing to the members as well as to the community at large.
Today, as we worship, we can truly say that God has blessed us. Rev. Daniel planted, Rev. Benford, Rev. Miller, Rev. Spigner, and Rev. Simmons have all watered—but it was GOD that gave the increase. We thank God for sending us true servants to lead us along the journey.
The entire congregation of Daniel Chapel continues to give praise of gratitude to God for all the things that He has done in the life of this ministry!