“I will lift up mine eyes unto the hills from whence cometh my help.” These words inscribed above the entrance of Reeds Temple Church of God in Christ in Chicago reverberate with the spirit of Overseer Joe B. Reed, the church’s founder. Established in 1953, Reeds Temple began as a humble storefront on 59th and State Street. It was here that Overseer Reed, with his wife and two small children, a deacon and his family, and Sister Mary Washington, set out to spread the word of God. They called the church “Pentecost Church of God In Christ” and held services every other Sunday. It was a time marked by prayer, faith, and unwavering hope, where Mother Lucille Fowler became the first member saved under Overseer Reed’s leadership, breathing life into the nascent church.
Overseer Reed possessed a powerful faith, a belief that led him to move the church to a new location on 5539 South Wentworth in 1954. It was during this time that Overseer Reed, guided by his faith and the conviction that God would provide, took a leap of faith and left his job to devote himself fully to the church. While the church’s offering was just $8.00 every other Sunday, Overseer Reed, a man of prayer, knew he was on the right path. He dedicated himself to prayer, spending 15 days and nights, and then 21 days and nights, pleading for a church building, a larger space to house their growing congregation. God listened to Overseer Reed’s prayers, revealing to him a church located west of Harvard Street.
In 1964, the church moved into a majestic building at 6500 S. Stewart, seating approximately 1,500 worshipers. It was here that the church adopted the name “Reed’s Temple,” a name that reflects the unwavering faith and dedication of its founder. Through the years, the church prospered, a sanctuary where miracles took place. People were saved, healed from illnesses, blinded eyes were opened, and women who had long desired children were blessed with their own. Reeds Temple became a beacon of hope, a testament to the power of faith.