Suffragan Bishop Eddie G. Richards began his pastorate of the Hazel Crest Assembly Church on December 3, 1989 in the Hazel Crest Community Center. Bible class was conducted at his home on Wednesdays and prayer on Friday night. Later, the Hazel Crest Assembly Church leased space from the Lutheran House of Prayer until July 1993.

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At that time we purchased our first church at 17801 S. Cicero Avenue, Country Club Hills, IL and retired the mortgage in three years. In 2003, Hazel Crest Assembly Church broke ground (on their existing land) for their new building and moved in March 2005. "We truly thank God for what He has done and what He is doing at Hazel Crest Assembly Church".

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Pastor Richards was ordained in the Illinois District Council, April 1991; promoted to District Elder in 1992 and later served as the Council's Vice Chairman for three years. He was promoted to Suffragan Bishop in July of 2007.

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He was a member of the Apostolic Pentecostal Church of Morgan Park for 13 years prior to his being called to pastor, serving faithfully under Suffragan Bishop Robert E. Baggett. Pastor Richards received his Masters Degree in Public Administration in August 2007 from Governor's State University. Suffragan Bishop Richards retired from the Chicago Transit Authority in January 1997 after 25 years of service. He has been married to Sister Marjorie Richards for 43 years; they have six children (one deceased).