Rev. Ira J. Acree was born in Osceola, Arkansas on February 13, 1965. After moving to Chicago as a toddler, he was educated at Nash Elementary School and Steinmetz High School. In high school, he ran track and was vice-president of the Afro American Club. 

Pastor Acree accepted his call to the gospel ministry December 8, 1984, being well gifted and an astute learner, he was soon ordained a minister of the gospel April 28, 1985.

Pastor Acree furthered his education by attending University of Illinois at Chicago. He graduated with a BA degree in Political Science and a minor in Black Studies in June of 1988. 

Pastor Acree served faithfully as an associative minister at Mt. Vernon Baptist church under the tutelage of Pastor J. I. Miller from 1985 to 1989. It was there, where he also met his better half Lady Margaret Acree. They were united in holy matrimony March 19, 1988.

He credits Margaret and his mother Mrs. Alberteen Brown for playing pivotal roles in his success. Nineteen eighty-nine was a significant year for Pastor Acree. On May 14, 1989 he became the pastor of Greater St. John Holiness Church, and yet in the same year his father, William Acree, succumbed by the way of a massive heart attack.

Pastor Acree had led Greater St. John through the good times and bad from basements to storefronts, to our present edifice.

Greater St. John Church now has more than 1200 active members and two. convenient Sunday morning worship services. Growth and expansion has caused us to hold worship services temporarily at Ella Flagg Young School on Sundays at 1434 N. Parkside.

Pastor Acree has received many awards for his outstanding leadership. Just a few are:

2004 Spiritual Perspective Newspaper honored him as a man of Valor 2004‑Shorebank also honored him with a Community Impact Award 2001 Dominick honored him as one of the States Outstanding Young Ministers.

In 1999 he received honorary doctorate degree from Gospel Ministry Outreach Theological Seminary of Houston Texas. Pastor Acree has attended Moody Bible Institute and numerous seminars and conference throughout America.

Pastor Acree is a true servant of God. He is a former President of the Rainbow Push West, he is a member of the Stand Against Cancer HeaIth Network, and he is a member of the New Baptist Ministers Fellowship of Chicago & Vicinity Westside Baptist Minister Conference. 

Pastor Acree led his church through the 40 days of Purpose in 2004, and on Sunday April 25, 2004,

He was on the front page of Chicago Tribune, Q section, story entitled "Living with Purpose." 

2005 is Pastor Acree's 4th year sacrificing his anniversary to give scholarships to college students. With such a great passion for education, he has collaborated with many partners, parishioners, & friends this year to be able to give out $25,000 to students in North Austin.

Pastor and Sister Acree also have two beautiful children Marcus 15 and Nicole 12. He and Sister Acree feel that God has divinely placed them at Greater St. John to play a pivotal role in strengthening families, transforming this community and to change the world.

Pastor Ira J. Acree, Rev. Bernard Lilly, Man of Valor Award, Community Impact Award, Outstanding Young Ministers, Gospel Ministry Outreach Theological Seminary, Moody Bible Institute, Rainbow Push West, Stand Against Cancer HeaIth Network, New Baptist Ministers Fellowship of Chicago, Vicinity Westside Baptist Minister Conference, Living with a Purpose