Meet The Need . . .

God loves cities. The Old Testament’s most (in)famous missionary, Jonah, learned of God’s love pointedly: “And should not I pity Nineveh, that great city, in which there are more than 120,000 persons who do not know their right hand from their left, and also much cattle?”

Should we still go into the “great city?”

For the first time in history, 50 percent of the world lives in a city. Our generation has experienced an unrivaled urbanization. In developed nations, almost 5 million people move to urban areas every month. In the United States, our largest generation, the millennials, live, or desire to live, in a city. (Wall Street Journal, The Atlantic)

As a church, it is critical that we respond. Planter, pastor, and professor Tim Keller says it well:

“I would argue that there is nothing more critical for the evangelical church today than to emphasize and support urban ministry...If Christians want to reach the unreached, we must go to the cities. To reach the rising generations, we must go to the cities. To have any impact for Christ on the creation of culture, we must go to the cities. To serve the poor, we must go to the cities.”

As is the case with most major urban areas in our country, the city proper of Chicago has its ministry challenges. Most people are either unchurched (people who’ve never been part of the church) or de-churched (people who have left the church). Moreover, racial tension, neighborhood segregation, crime, poverty, and a culture of “post-Christian” skepticism present significant challenges. But challenges breed opportunity.

Church plants are the most effective means of reaching these groups.

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National Christian Foundation

Name of Fund: Chicago 7/20 Vision Single Charity Fund

Fund #: 2687871

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FAQS

Why Chicago?

We love cities. We love church planting. For over two years, Cathy and I have been prayerfully considering moving out again in a new ministry adventure. 

In 2017, we compiled a list of 12 cities we believed needed church plants.  Our hearts were drawn to each of these cities – each rich in culture, history, development, influence, ethnic diversity, food (of course), and spiritual need. Each having a history of glaring community struggles and tensions, crime and economic problems.

Chicago was #1 on our list.  We can’t get this city off our hearts! We know the work will be challenging, but Christ has inspired us to embrace the challenge.  We believe that, by his grace, and the support of his people, we are called to step out in bold, expectant faith.

What’s your target?

Initial Narrow Ministry Target - We will prayerfully seek Christ’s Spirit to empower us to relationally connect to and serve urban professionals, the arts community, the college/university/graduate school students.  Most in this demographic are center-city-focused singles, marrieds, and families, most of whom are culture makers and civic leaders.  This is the most unchurched/de-churched demographic in America; however, this crowd, to a significant degree, has an ingrained justice ethic and pro-world vision.  They resonate with the Shalom/Peace vision of the scriptures.  Reach them for Christ and they will respond to his call to earnestly labor for the healing of the torn social fabric of Chicago. By the grace of God and for his glory, they will use their influence to spread the fragrance of Christ in every arena of society. 

Broader Ministry Target – By the power of Christ Jesus, we will labor for city flourishing, church flourishing and world flourishing. At the proper time we will strategically target the other 6 church planting sites in Chicago. We will share in Kingdom ministry to the whole of the urban community fabric in Chicago and share in the global mission of God. We will partner with non-profits and other ministries who serve the urban poor and marginalized, pursue Biblical justice and works of reconciliation, promote cultural enrichment, and community renewal. We believe the gospel leads us to seek the flourishing of individuals, families, neighborhoods, and the marketplace.

What will the churches be like?

Our churches will value incarnational ministry where people share life with their neighbors, love them where they are, provide people a safe process to consider the historic Christian faith, and persevere in faithful service to their neighbors regardless of their response.

We will prayerfully labor to be a multi-ethnic church planting movement.

We will be committed to catholic, evangelical and reformed orthodoxy and faithful devotion to sacred scripture. We will be committed to lovingly speaking the truth of Christ’s word in a contextual fashion that addresses modern people’s questions and struggles. We will minister the grand story narrative of Jesus Christ into the story narratives on which modern people are basing their lives.

Our worship will be liturgical and soulful. We will emphasize our ancient-future faith in a heartfelt accessible manner.

We will be Gospel-centric churches emphasizing the power of Christ Jesus to reconcile us to God, one another, ourselves and our calling in God’s world.

We will maintain a spirit of unity, showing respect and gratitude for the broader body of Christ’s church.

We will teach a public/political theology that equips believers with the ethic of Christ’s kingdom.

Our governance will be Presbyterian.

Our emphasis will be urban center city ministry.