Stratford Revival Center Southside Move of God Church

“Every brick here tells a story,” a passerby might say, gesturing at the Stratford Revival Center Southside Move of God Church. This church, a beacon of faith in Chicago, wasn’t always housed in this grand Stratford Theater. It began its life in 1954 as the South Side Move of God Church. Back then, it stood at the corner of 64th Street and Eggleston Avenue, a pioneer in the movement of interracial churches. The congregation, led by the late Reverend Richard W. Baker, flourished. By 1956, they needed a larger space. They found it in the Stratford Theater, breathing new life into the old building. Throughout the 1960s, the Stratford Revival Center pulsed with energy, hosting legendary evangelists like Bob Dunbar, A. A. Allen, and the fiery Robert Shambock. The theater buzzed with the energy of thousands seeking spiritual guidance. However, by 1967, Reverend Baker felt a shift in direction. He transitioned from weekly revivals to weekly Bible studies, a tradition that continued under the leadership of Pastor Odell Townsend, Sr. Pastor Townsend took the helm in 1996, carrying on Reverend Baker’s legacy. Under his guidance, the church expanded its outreach, spreading its message further afield. The Stratford Revival Center Southside Move of God Church stands as a testament to the enduring power of faith and community, evolving with the times yet holding strong to its core values. Its story is etched not just in bricks and mortar, but in the lives it has touched across the years.