Living Water Community Church (Chicago, Illinois, USA)

From GAMEO
Jump to navigation Jump to search

The Living Water Community Church, Chicago, Illinois, USA, began public worship in 1995 in rented space at the United Church of Rogers Park. The church emerged from members of the Reba Place Church in Evanston, Illinois, who wanted a multi-cultural urban church. Initially, it called itself Reba Place Church of Rogers Park before selecting a new name. It became a full member of the Illinois Mennonite Conference of the Mennonite Church (MC) in about 1996.

In 2001, a fatal drive-by shooting at Pratt Boulevard and Ashland Avenue focused the church’s prayer for that corner and drew attention to the mini-mall at that location. The congregation purchased the building and renovated the 6500-square-foot storefront section> It became its permanent meetinghouse in 2005.

In the 2010s, the congregation helped its diverse immigrant community find sustainable employment, with some initial funding from Mennonite Central Committee Great Lakes. A catering service called Urban Tables operated from the church.

Living Water Community Church has also hosted a "Free Store" and a nursery.

In 2024, Sunday services were primarily in four languages: English, Nepali, Swahili, and Khmer.

Bibliography

Heinzakehr, Hannah. "Living Water pioneers helping members find sustainable employment." theMennonite 20, no. 9 (September 2017): 21-23

Hollinger-Janzen, Lynda. "Living Water rises in the Windy City." theMennonite 4, no. 39 (16 October 2001): 9.

"Our history." Living Water Community Church. 2023. Web. 25 January 2024. https://livingwatercommunitychurch.org/about/history/.

Robinson, Laurie Oswald. "Bread and bridges for body and soul." TheMennonite 12, no. 3 (3 February 2009): 11-13.

Additional Information

Address: 6808 North Ashland Avenue, Chicago Illinois 60626

Phone: 773-764 – 5872

Website: https://livingwatercommunitychurch.org/

Denominational Affiliations: Illinois Mennonite Conference

Mennonite Church USA

Pastoral Leaders at Living Water Community Church

Name Years
of Service
Sally Schreiner Youngquist 1995-2009
Karl McKinney 1995-2000
Joe Manigilia (Youth) 2002?-2007
Amos Shakya (Khmer) 2010-2012
Samrach Nuth 2009-2020?
Kristin L. Jackson 2011-
Stephen M. Lamb (Associate) 2012-
Olak B. Sunuwar (Nepalese) 2010s-
Alexis Ruzahaza (Swahili) 2020?-

Living Water Community Church Membership

Year Members
2000 63
2009 84
2020 190


Author(s) Samuel J Steiner
Date Published January 2024

Cite This Article

MLA style

Steiner, Samuel J. "Living Water Community Church (Chicago, Illinois, USA)." Global Anabaptist Mennonite Encyclopedia Online. January 2024. Web. 6 Dec 2024. https://gameo.org/index.php?title=Living_Water_Community_Church_(Chicago,_Illinois,_USA)&oldid=178283.

APA style

Steiner, Samuel J. (January 2024). Living Water Community Church (Chicago, Illinois, USA). Global Anabaptist Mennonite Encyclopedia Online. Retrieved 6 December 2024, from https://gameo.org/index.php?title=Living_Water_Community_Church_(Chicago,_Illinois,_USA)&oldid=178283.




©1996-2024 by the Global Anabaptist Mennonite Encyclopedia Online. All rights reserved.