LIVING HOPE CHICAGO
Chicago, IL
Living Hope Church is PCA church plant on the south side of Chicago that reaches both the Woodlawn neighborhood and The University of Chicago, a very diverse group of people from different colors, classes, and cultures. We are from many worlds, one family of faith with a living hope in the redeeming grace of Christ.
Chicago is the third-largest city in the U.S., but 6 of the 8 million people in the Chicago metro area do not attend any kind of church. Here on the south side, the University of Chicago is world-renowned as a bastion of intellectual rigor that produces Nobel-prize winners, yet nevertheless is known as the place “where fun [and faith] comes to die.” The Woodlawn neighborhood just south of the wealthy and powerful University is home to many impoverished and broken schools and homes, with gang shootings every week as if this is the place where hope comes to die. The unemployment in Woodlawn is 21%, three times the national average.
But God is bringing a living hope through the redeeming grace of Christ. People from diverse races and nations, both rich and poor, gather together as one family to worship and serve our Lord. And through Hope Works, a Living Hope-based community development organization, we are helping those in need to find employment, housing, other resources, and we’re even starting our own thrift store to generate jobs and income. The church is advancing, the needs of hurting people are meeting God’s grace and help, and the gospel is being displayed in word and deed.
NEED + OPPORTUNITY
We have completed and are renting out three of the four apartments, but we can still use skilled and “teachable” volunteers to help rebuild the final apartment. Also, every summer, we run a six-week gospel-based kids camp for 60-70 neighborhood children. We have built a reputation among families as an ideal summer camp, yet far less expensive than other camps in Chicago. Volunteer teams are needed to help provide support for our camp as well as the construction. We welcome teams any time of year, though, to help us with construction and on-going special outreach events.
Teams will sleep at Living Hope and prepare their meals or purchase meals from local restaurants.
Most groups stay at the church. We have showers and a kitchen and plenty of place for your air mattress/sleeping bags!
Transportation
You need to have adequate transportation while in the city. Vans are recommended.
Depending on the size of the group and arrival/depature time we could provide transportation from the airport. It's best if you have a vehicle for your stay here (for groceries and other needs). It also helps our youth ministry in the summer, if you have a van.
TEAM SIZE + LEADERSHIP
Team size varies. We have facilitated teams of up to 100 members strong.
Group leaders must be present with the group at all times. If young men and women are along, at least one male and one female leader must also accompany the group.
We can work with a group to fit who is coming. We can use help with youth programming, planning/doing outreaches, construction. We also have a program to help people find jobs/housing etc. We can divide large groups into teams to work with different church ministries. Most of the work would be at the church building.
LOCATION + WEBSITE
Living Hope Church
6414 S Cottage Grove Ave
Chicago, IL 60637
708-280-8779
$325 per participant. This includes resource materials, lodging, breakfast and lunch each day. Fees are paid directly to Hope for the Inner City. The fees you pay are for the sole purpose of covering costs for the ministry or church with whom you are serving; MNA receives no income or financial benefit from the fees you pay.