About Bishop Moody

Bishop Moody was born December 16, 1934 to Mr. Booker T. and Geneva Moody, in the city of Tifton, Georgia.

He was saved in September, 1944 and accepted the call to preach in July, 1946 in the city of Waukegan, Illinois. In October, 1950, he was ordained by the late Bishop W. M. Roberts. At the age of 16, he established a small church in Waukegan on Market Street with approximately forty members. In 1951, he founded a church in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Later he was impressed of the Lord to submit each group to an older pastor in each of these cities. He took the group that was in Waukegan to St. James Temple Church of God In Christ in North Chicago, Illinois where the late Superintendent James W. Markham was the pastor. The group in Milwaukee was advised to go to Elder Dennis Flakes, who is now Bishop Flakes.

Bishop Moody served as Youth Pastor at St. James Temple and as District Sunday School Superintendent for the North Shore from 1952 until 1957.  On September 3, 1955 Bishop Moody married a wonderful young lady, Mary Alice Byrd, who joined him in the ministry.

In 1956, Mother Sadie Adams and her son Elder Eugene Adams went to the late Bishop L. H. Ford and asked him to send Bishop Moody to Evanston, Illinois to establish a church.  Following the Lord’s will, Bishop Moody came to Evanston on January 7, 1957 and organized a church of only six members. The Lord gave him to name the group "Faith Temple". The Lord confirmed this name in the scriptures:

Philippians 4:6-7 Be careful for nothing; but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known unto God. And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep you hearts and minds through Christ Jesus. Hebrews 13:8 Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and today, and forever.

Since that time, the Lord has blessed the congregation to grow from six persons to well over two hundred families and six hundred members!

In January of 1970, Bishop Moody began international ministry travel and has since ministered in over thirty-five countries.

Bishop Moody has served as Vice-President of the Black Ministers Alliance of Evanston, Illinois. He has also served as a member of the Curriculum Council for the Evanston Township High School.

In 1975, Bishop Moody was appointed International President of the Home and Foreign Missions Department of the Church of God in Christ Worldwide, which serves fifty-two countries. As International President, Bishop Moody serves as general overseer for all local and foreign missions initiatives.

In 1976, he was elected to serve as a member of the Advisory Committee of the Pentecostal World Conference.

In September, 1980, a new dimension was added to the church’s ministry. Bishop Moody opened the first Protestant Christian Academy in Evanston, Illinois, "Faith Christian Academy", with grades kindergarten through eight.  Faith Christian Academy, a fully accredited institution, served the church and its community for more than twenty-three years.

In 1982, Bishop Moody completed his studies with the International Bible Institute and Seminary, obtaining both a Bachelor and Master’s of Ministry.  Bishop Moody was also consecrated as Missionary Bishop in the Church of God in Christ.

In 1986, Bishop Moody was appointed Jurisdictional Bishop for the Republic of Germany.

In January, 1996, the city of Evanston recognized Bishop Moody’s outstanding contributions to the community by renaming Dewey Avenue (where the Faith Temple Church of God In Christ complex resides) to Bishop Carlis L. Moody Avenue.

During the 2004 Pastor’s Appreciation Breakfast, Bishop Carlis Moody Sr. was notified that he was selected (by a unanimous vote) to receive the biennial award of an Honorary Doctorate of Divinity. This prestigious distinction was given to Bishop Carlis Moody Sr. by the Interdenominational Theological Center/ Charles Mason Theological Seminary.  The official award ceremony was held May 7, 2005 in Atlanta, Georgia.

Mother Moody serves by her husband’s side in directing the ministry of Faith Temple. She is chairperson of the Minister’s Wives Council.  She is also Executive Director of the Hospitality Committee. Mother Moody also oversees many other areas within the ministry.  Bishop and Mother Moody are the proud parents of four children: Mrs. Sideary King, Pastor Carlis L. Moody Jr., Elder Anthony Moody Sr. and Minister Jeffrey Moody.

The Lord continues to bless the ministry He’s given Bishop and Mother Moody. Praise God for His faithfulness!