What is a church?
Many would answer that question by saying, "It's the building down on the corner with the tall 'thing' with a cross on top". You get the point! Often we think of the church as a building.
Still, others would say the church is the people who meet at a church building. The church is a smattering of people who get together on Sunday morning for a few hours, while they sing and share in listening to a Bible message. They may or may not see one another, or even talk to one another, during the week - but they are the church. Yet, even this definition of church as people misses the mark.
The church is those people, not who go to church together, but are bound together in a caring community. It is in this caring community bound together by the love of Christ that loves, encourages, supports, accepts and honors one another that we live as a church. Church is not just a hand-shake and a howdy. It is the laughing and crying, the helping each other up and the setting each other straight, all in the context of relationships that we honestly, authentically and thoroughly care for one another.
It is that kind of community that we are attempting to foster at First Christian Chicago. As a multi-ethnic, multi-generational congregation we have so many relationship issues that could become barriers to love and acceptance. But as we have learned to love another, so many of those walls have been replaced by a sense of caring, compassion and community.
Christianity Today - web magazine that provides articles, news, and commentary about relevant world issues from a Christian perspective.
Jesus Creed - a weblog by Scot McKnight that addresses current issues and debates relevant to living as a Christian.
God Speaks - hear a message from God through the testimony of others, and find out how you could share a word from God with others.
World Vision - explore how you can participate in what God is doing in the world through this web page for one of the largest organizations attempting to address the issues of poverty and world hunger, as well as the crisis of AIDS.
Christian Bibles & Books - Bibles at cost - the best price on a great selections of Bibles for all ages.
Christian Book Distributors - a great source for all kinds of Christian books and other products at discounts of 40% or more.
Steve came to Chicago in 1996 after God prepared him for urban ministry with 4 1/2 years of wandering in the wilderness of North Dakota. He now lives in the Ashburn neighborhood, where the church is located, along with his wife, Laira, and five children. Yes, the number is five! Recently, Steve was name the Senior Minister after 10 years as the Minister of Outreach and Discipleship.
therine has proven her value to the ministry since 2002 as a Moody Bible Institute PCM student, and as the Teen Ministry intern. Catherine, born a Canadian national, became a US citizen at 17. When you see her, help her feel at home by giving her hearty 'How's it goin', eh?', and a booming chorus of "O Canada".
