How Do I Get Involved?
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First Christian Church of Chicago is not a place for spectators. It is a place for team members. Whether you are a five-year-old child, a ninety-five-year-old grandmother, a busy mom, or a businessman with big responsibilities, we want you to be a part of our vibrant church community. Visit the following pages to see how you can learn, serve, and grow at FCC-Chicago. These pages will give you a next step perspective on how you can get involved at FCC Chicago.
Guests – Get To Know Us
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First Christian Church of Chicago is not a place for spectators. It is a place for team members. Whether you are a five-year old child, a ninety-five year old grandmother, a busy mom, or a businessman with big responsibilities, we want you to be a part of our vibrant church community. Visit the following pages to see how you can learn, serve, and grow at FCC-Chicago. These pages will give you a next step perspective on how you can get involved at FCC Chicago.
FAQs for Your First Visit
When does Sunday Service begin?
Worship begins at 10:oo AM. Our Worship Celebration will last roughly 1 hour and 30 minutes.
Is there a dress policy?
FCC-Chicago has a come-as-you-are atmosphere. If you prefer to dress up for church that is fine. However, if your personal style is more casual that is fine as well – come in dress casual or even jeans and a t-shirt. We only ask that you demonstrate modesty in your attire.
Is there parking?
FCC-Chicago has a 100 space parking lot on the north side of the church building. You can access the parking lot off of Lawndale Avenue.
Where is the entrance?
You can enter the building through the covered double doors by the handicap parking spaces.
How do I get more information?
As you arrive, guest receptionists will meet you at the door to provide you with directions, and information you might need.
Your Next Steps
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Meet the Minister – During Connection Groups take the opportunity to get to know the Senior Minister and his wife. The Senior Minister and his wife will be available to talk in the Parlor, where Hospitality Time occurs. Ask questions about the church. Share your story and hear some of the church’s story, as you take the opportunity for an informal introduction to FCC and the minister.
Connection Groups – Following Worship Service you have an opportunity to really experience church. Connection Groups provide a safe environment to connect with other believers while discussing how the Bible applies to our daily lives. Groups meet on Sunday following Worship Celebration or Bible Study Groups meet throughout the week. Check out our “Groups” page or call the church office for more information of group times and places.
I Would Like To Belong!
What Do I Do?
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In order to become part of the First Christian Church family, you need to first accept God’s offer of grace through Christ. You do that as you follow God’s plan:
(1) Believe what the Bible teaches about sin, Christ and salvation –
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You are a sinner, and because of that are an enemy of God.
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Christ is the divine Son of God come into this world to sacrifice himself for mankind.
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God did through Christ’s sacrifice what we were unable to do ourselves, bring us back into peaceful relationship with God.
(2) Confess – state your agreement with God on the above matters.
(3) Repent – change the direction of your life and start living under God’s authority.
(4) Be Baptized in obedience to Christ’s command. Download the FCC Baptism Book to study this more fully.
If you have already accepted God’s offer of grace by completing the above plan, you may become part of the First Christian Church family by publicly stating your desire.
An opportunity to make decisions for baptism and membership are extended following the morning message.
Groups – Get Growing
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Believers were never meant to do the Christian life alone. We were “born again” to live and function in community. In community, we grow TOGETHER! The Holy Spirit makes us one and draws us together in a bond of love, grace and acceptance. However, this oneness is not just for the sake of fellowship as a social club. Oneness helps us GROW together! As we learn to be a community of faith, we become the support that each of us needs to grow into the Christ-like followers that God designed for us to be. Below are the Connection environments where you can get grow!
Sunday Connection Groups
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Group led by:
Dorothy Collins, Portia Brock,
Tsegaye Klesczcewski, Dionna Bickham,
Richard Bussian, Geoff Shive,
Steve Klesczcewski, and Jerrold Brock
The Sunday message is not just a lesson to be heard … it is a lesson to be lived. In The Sunday Connection Groups you have an opportunity to discuss the Sunday message and how it applies to your life along with others on the same spiritual journey.
Share your lives and pray for one another. There are groups for children through adulthood.
Tuesday Night & Wednesday Morning Bible Study
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Groups led by Steven Chapman
The Bible is critical to our growth and development as believers, however that growth does not occur just by knowing more. It occurs as we live out what we learn. The Bible Study groups seeks to know and live the Bible together through a study that seeks to be very meaningful, practical, and applicable.
A variety of resources are used in this study including original Bible studies and prepared Bible studies in books and video.
Wednesday 10:00-11:00 am.
Tuesday 6:30-8:00 pm
Growth Track Courses
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Group led by Steven Chapman
The road to Christlikeness follows a well worn path of developing a number of habits which reflect Christlikeness. A series of three courses are offered annually that allow people to follow that course of:
– Developing the habits for Spiritual growth in Moving Toward Maturity.
– Discovering your unique SHAPE for ministry in Motivated For Ministry.
– Deploying your ability to influence eternity in Mobilized For MIssion.
This group meets scheduled as special seminars.
Interested in hosting a group either at the church building or in your home? We would love to help you with training and resources to effectively lead a group. Call the church office to share with us your interest in groups.
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Gifts – Get Serving
SHAPE is offered twice a year to those who are interested in discovering how God has wired them for ministry. Ministry is never one-size fits all. Your ministry SHAPE helps identify that special place of personal ministry that is just that right fit for you, and allows you to engage in service for God’s kingdom that is both fruitful and fulfilling. In Motivated For Ministry you will discover your:
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Spiritual Gifts – your special Holy Spirit granted abilities;
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Heart – those issues and concerns that stir passion within you;
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Abilities – the talents and skills you have cultivated over the years;
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Personality – the strengths/weaknesses of your hardwired temperament;
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Experiences – the lessons that you have learned from life.
Ministry Mentoring – After participating in Motivated For Ministry, meet personally with one of our Ministry Mentors, who will help you sort through the information on your S.H.A.P.E. and give you guidance on ministry opportunities that you could fill or create that would be your perfect fit.
Just Do It – discovering your ministry S.H.A.P.E. is not enough, if you don’t do something with the information. Look through the “Ministries” webpage to view the assortment of ministry teams that you can volunteer to be a part of. Information is there to let you know who you can get in contact with to find out more about the needs of team.
Growth – Get Reaching
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Become a Contagious Christian – God has your strategically located in the midst of friends, family, coworkers, as well as many other relational connections, or people who need to experience a relationship with God in Christ, and you have something that is worthy “catching”. Here are ways that you could be a link in the chain that leads others into a relationship with Christ.
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Invite them over to your home and spend some time building a relational bridge;
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Think about how you could steer your “normal” conversations in a spiritual direction;
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Ask them if there is some way that you can pray for them, or if they share something that is bothering them, ask if you can pray with them;
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Invite people who would appreciate or benefit from particular church events or religious events, such as concerts, workshops, counseling, etc.;
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Invite them to join you for church, and lunch afterwards;
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Share the story of how God is working in your life;
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Perform an act of unexpected kindness for someone.
Participate in a Neighborhood Outreach
FCC has an increasing number of ministry teams designed to provide needed services for the community. It might be providing needed home repair through Helping Hands 4 Homes, computer training through GACDC’s computer lab, or Swap & Share. Each ministry provides a tangible means for sharing the unfathomable love God has for the Ashburn community. Learn more about each of these ministries on “Outreach Ministries.”
Join the Faith Promise Mission Team
The Faith Promise Mission Team serves as our congregations living link to our national and international mission partners. They plan the annual Faith Promise Mission campaign, keep in touch with our mission partners, and let the congregation know how we can best serve these partners.
Go On a Short-Term Mission Trip
Plan a week-long, or an even longer trip, to visit and serve with one of our national or international Faith Promise partners, or plan to do a trip with our mission trip partner organization: "Christ-In-Youth".