A Dream, A Goal, Never a Reality

About the Book

This is a powerful and dramatic story of Superior Movement, five young African American males growing up in the 70’s and 80’s on the Westside of Chicago. Through many obstacles, blood, sweat and tears, Superior Movement were determined to succeed as they strived to break into the music industry.

After 17 years of performing all over the Midwest, these young men’s dream came to an end as they were deceived by several people and eventually lured into the activity of drugs and incarceration. After incarceration and then pardon by the Governor of Illinois, Stanley Ratliff lives to tell of this extraordinary story of God's redemption and restoration of the members of Superior Movement.

About the Author

Stanley Ratliff
Co-Founder & Director of Hope House Ministry
Co-Director of Celestial Ministry
Minister of Music at Lawndale Community Church
sratliff@lawndalechurch.org

 
Stanley Ratliff’s full-time ministry is in Chicago’s Lawndale Community where he also resides with his wife, Antoinette and two of their sons. Stanley has served as Co-Founder & Director of the Lawndale Community Church’s (LCC) Hope House Ministry, since 1995.  The Hope House Ministry is a residential program, designed to help equip and encourage men, striving to re-enter society after prison and/or recovery from substance abuse, to be productive Kingdom men.

Stanley and wife, Antoinette are co-founders and directors of Celestial Ministries School of Fine Arts, music and dance ministry, to further serve children of incarcerated parents by teaching music theory,  percussion and modern dance. Celestial’s Marching Band and Dance Troupe have performed city-wide.

Stanley, a Music Major, received his Bachelor’s Degree from Northeastern University in 1992.  He serves as Minister of Music for LCC and has recently completed his latest Praise and Worship CD project with the Hope House Men’s Choir entitled “I Will Ever Sing Your Praise”. This CD project also contains testimonials of those coming out from under substance abuse and/or prison.

In 2006, Stanley received the 3 prestigious awards for Outstanding Public Service: The Thomas Jefferson Award, Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis Award, and The North Lawndale Spirit of Youth Development Awards. Stanley also traveled to Romania where he served as minister of music to a Romanian congregation.

Stanley and his bride of 15 years, Antoinette, have 3 sons -Antonio, Antwane, and Andrew.