Hester Buell - Church Visit #2

Church name: Lawndale Christian Community Church

Church address: 3827 W. Ogden Avenue, Chicago, IL 60623

Date attended: March 30th 2014

Church category: Less liturgical, More than 10 miles from Wheaton, Different racial demographic, Lower Socioeconomic Status

Describe the worship service you attended. How was it similar to or different from your regular context?

I have never been to a church as different from my regular context as Lawndale Christian Community Church, and I loved it. The socio-economic context was entirely different, since my home church is situated in a wealthy, largely white, Christian suburban neighborhood (Wheaton), and LCCC was in a less affluent area near Chicago, with a majority African-American congregation. But the community of LCCC seemed much more tightly-knit than the community at my home church. Even though LCCC has a much larger congregation, everyone seemed to know everyone else and be involved in their lives. As people who were obviously visitors, we were welcomed and engaged at every turn, which was wonderful. The service itself was organized completely differently from my home church, consisting primarily of praise music and an extensive sermon. Even though my church has been called "Pentecostal Anglican," and we pride ourselves on long sermons and exuberant, Spirit-led worship, we were no match for LCCC. I have never seen such physically exuberant worship, or such long and passionate sermons. While my church creates congregational participation through liturgy, LCCC's participation was much more spontaneous, and it made the whole congregation seem like one family––which is how Christianity ought to be.

What did you find most interesting or appealing about the worship service?

The congregation's heartfelt exuberance in worship really moved me. It made even the words of familiar songs come alive in a new way. It was especially beautiful to look over and see the men of Hope House clapping, singing, or going up to the altar to receive prayer from their brothers in Christ. I love how this church has welcomed in these men and given them a home, an identity, and a purpose. I was amazed to hear that around 30% of the men in the congregation were members or alumni of Hope House, and to hear stories from Pastor Joe about all the men who have come to Christ and had their lives completely transformed in this community. It's one thing to clap and sing along to praise music like you mean it, and another to live out the gospel of Christ to show that you do. Lawndale Christian Community Church does both. I not only enjoyed the joyful time of worship, but also the kindness, generosity, and Christ-centeredness of the people.  

What did you find most disorienting or challenging about the worship service?

As someone who obviously didn't fit in, I felt a little awkward at first. I was worried I would do something faux-pas, and that I would be too awkwardly Anglican (or just too physically uncoordinated) to enter into this new worship style, which was very physical and very enthusiastic. I also didn't want to get too into it and embarrass my friends. But the congregation was so friendly, so welcoming, and so nonjudgmental, that eventually I decided to discard my petty, self-conscious thoughts and simply enter into worship with these people. I can't remember the last time I have felt so immersed in joyful worship. (There were a few points when I felt completely lost in the sermon, because it was not as linear as I expected, and I had a hard time understanding the pastor's speech at times. What I did understand though, I appreciated.) 

What aspects of Scripture or theology did the worship service illuminate for you that you had not perceived as clearly in your regular context?

Visiting LCCC made the transforming power of Christ more real to me. It was made real to me in the power of heartfelt worship, where people could scarcely contain their joy and thankfulness for what Christ has done. It was made real to me when people came up to us after the service, and the first thing they did after they introduced themselves was share the work of God in their lives. It was made real to me when I saw men whose lives had been destroyed by drug addictions and prison sentences serving the church, cooking pizza, and helping nurture a loving community of Christ-followers. I absolutely admire these people's faith and perseverance in building this community, and I know that it could only be done through the power of Christ.