- Church planting & multiplication
Charles M. Butler was 15, living in a new neighborhood, when he saw a bunch of teenagers heading down the block one Friday night.
The following Friday, all these teenagers again walked past his house. They were heading somewhere just like the week before. They'd disappear into a home and reappear hours later.
It wasn't long until Butler learned what was bringing them together. A couple had organized a Bible study for these teens to know and follow Christ. That was a lifestyle utterly foreign to Butler.
"I started going," he said. "I'd never read the Bible."
It was there the Detroit native encountered the love of God and hope of faith. Now, he's helping others find the hope of God through the word by pastoring a new Chicago church.
"We are a church for Chicago," he said. "Our hope is in the Lord as we understand him from his word. His truth is our hope."
A church that values hospitality
Many in Chicago, who often have Catholic heritage, have told Butler how church doesn't give them hope. They see a society that's getting unmoored, so they want a community of faith.
However, Butler has heard that people often get an organization that wants their time and money but doesn't offer connection and belonging.
In response, Hope Church Chicago started in December 2019. Since then, the core team has been creating a ministry of hospitality.
They hope to connect believers and those who don't know Christ yet. Butler said the core team wants to use their homes, front porches and coffee shops to reach out and connect with people.
He said doing that can create the trust and familiarity to invite people into worship services or other spiritual gatherings.
"We're looking for ways to build bridges into the community," he said. "We're trying to shift our outreach to people."
Chicagoans respond to marriage workshops and postcards
Hope Church intentionally planted near the center of Chicago. They use oversized postcards to connect to neighbors in a diverse section of Chicago. These cards share that the church offers a marriage workshop, for example, to serve the community.
Butler said these one-day workshops have happened three times. The church welcomed nine to 12 couples who wanted a stronger marriage each time.
Another path of ministry for believers has been fellowship Sundays. The team recognizes that a gathering in a home for a potluck cookout offers opportunities for growth and friendship.
These Sundays become hours-long gatherings as people eat and kids play. Sometime in the middle of the afternoon, Butler will bring a devotional and encourage folks to pray together in small groups.
Scott and Aimee Lilly, a worship leader, drive 37 miles every Sunday to know Christ and others at Hope Church.
"The Lord was so gracious in giving us a place where we knew it was a home filled with people that we love and with a ministry that we are excited about," she said.
These are worshipers with a welcoming spirit
Hope Church Chicago sincerely offers faithful service, devoted worship and warm relationships.
"We are a group of worshipers," Lilly said. "We are all participating in this service together."
To this day, Butler recalls the sight decades ago of teenagers headed somewhere down the street. He knows now what a gift it was to go down that road, trust Christ and be welcomed into the local church.
That's why the Butlers, Lillys and others have started Hope Church Chicago. They want many in the city to know God and gather with his people for worship, fellowship and service.
Lilly said quite a few people have experienced church hurt and felt unwelcome. But she said there's a safe place in Hope Church Chicago. It's a congregation where people can take their eyes off the pain, look to Jesus and see him start to heal them.
"We seek to be a welcoming place for anyone who walks in our door," Lilly said.
Converge's 10 districts have committed to deploying 312 church planters before 2026. Read more inspiring church planting stories and learn about the goal to send out 312 church planters in five years.
