Chicago is overflowing with opportunities and challenges
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 the third largest metro area in the United States and a global financial, architectural, and cultural leader. Chicago’s influence over the Mid-Western United States, its attraction to global commerce, and its legacy of cultural prominence make it a strategic place to promote gospel-centered churches.
As a church it is critical that we respond.
Chicago is home to 3.2 million people across 77 neighborhoods. Across the city, belief in God and faith involvement are dramatically lower than the national average. Lakeview, a neighborhood of 107,000 residents, is the second most unchurched neighborhood in the city. It is predominantly populated by highly educated singles and young families who are largely millennials and Gen Z’ers expressing “very low” religious preference in surveys.
Establishing a missional church in the heart of the city.
Like most urban areas in our country, ministering in the city of Chicago is challenging. 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.
Resurrection City Church Chicago will intentionally be a multigenerational church the reflects the diversity of the target area. While churched Christians will be essential to a successful launch, this church’s mission will be uncompromisingly aimed at reaching our unchurched/de-churched neighbors.
“...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.”
— TIM KELLER, CHURCH PLANTER, PASTOR, AND AUTHOR