Chicago Miracle Temple Reaches Out to the Hungry Hearts of the Heights

Paralyzed from the waist down at the age of 28, the Rev. William P. Anderson was diagnosed with six major afflictions, each one carrying a potential death sentence.

"It was a rough time," Anderson said. "I said to the Lord in intensive care, 'Lord, if you get me back to where I was, I will serve you the rest of my life.'" 

His prayer was answered. Today Anderson and his wife, Co-Pastor Cheryl Anderson, serve Chicago Heights with servants’ hearts through Chicago Miracle Temple.

Patch stopped by the non-denominational church, at 34 E. 16th St., to learn more about their history and their vision.

Patch: How long have you been in Chicago Heights?  

Anderson: The church has been in existence for 28 years, we have been in Chicago Heights for almost 16 years.

What has been your most important contribution?

We have a food pantry at our church, which is open every Saturday from 9 a.m. until noon. We always have from 150-200 people per week. The Chicago Food Depository delivers a lot of food, but with the need, it only lasts about two weeks. The other two weeks we buy. So, we are always taking food donations as well from the community. We used to feed hot meals to the homeless from 1997 until 2005. We honor police officers and firefighters at our annual Red & Blue Sunday. We also host the annual Chicago Heights Martin Luther King program. We give out brand-new toys to the children on Christmas. Each child gets two to three toys. We also give out mittens, thermals, scarves and warm clothes. We just want to continue helping out the community.

Who are some notable members of your congregation?  

Sister Baldwin, elder, and Sister Scroggins, Sister Minnie Sorrell, Sister Walker, Sister Pearl, Sister Mary and Rev. James Moore. These are members that began with the church. 

Tell us about your congregation or church.

God blessed us to come to Chicago Heights in September of 1995. We have won awards from Chicago Heights, the state and corporations throughout the United States. Jewel and Quaker Oats gave us awards for serving children and families in Chicago Heights. We've been given proclamations from former Chicago Heights mayors and former Gov. Blagojevich. It's not about the awards but the rewards of serving others. 

We also assist in all types of disasters in offerings. We assist ministries in third-world countries. The church as a whole assists the community from the young people to the elderly. We helped one young man go to Prairie State College. He became an electrician. 

What is the hope for the future of the church?

We trust to have more members, more dedicated Christians. We would like to see more people coming to get saved and dedicated. We are planning more outreaches, more counseling with the community. We're planning to organize something for the teenagers on Friday nights. We don't want them to be bored and (we want them) to have fun. Jesus expects you to have fun.  

I am grateful to be a servant of the Lord. It is a great opportunity to serve people both saved and unsaved in the church and out of the church. Every human being is made in God's image. He expects us as Christians to have the same love for them, whether they serve Him or not.