In Person

An offering time is available during Sunday Worship.

Donations may also be dropped off at the church office.

By Mail

Donations can be mailed to:

New Community Covenant Church
2804 W. Belmont Ave. Suite 101
Chicago, IL 60618

An Opportunity to “Give Back”
Repurposing a Federal Rebate Check for God’s Economy
By Stephen Sharkey

Why buy a building?
By: Sandra Van Opstal and Karl Ostroski

In the short 6 years that New Community has been around no word has had more impact in my personal life than that one word: IMAGINE. Let me share with you how it all began…

Leaps of Faith

“Planting a church is a crazy idea!” I was told. “Most church plants don’t make it past the first couple years!” I was reminded. “What makes you think that you guys can pull this off?” I was sincerely asked. But these questions weren’t just being asked by pessimistic, cynical, “well wishers.” I asked them within my own heart! “Am I crazy? What makes me think that we can actually plant a missional, multicultural, countercultural, church in the city of Chicago? What assurance is there that we also won’t wind up being a statistic?” The reality was that there was no assurance or guarantee. It would require a giant leap of faith in the God that we believed in and served. It was beyond our ability, resources, and experience. In fact, if it were up to us, we’d have no chance of succeeding.

One good thing about church planting is that it forces you to actually seek God in prayer. Praying is something that I have always struggled with, but I soon learned that there was nothing like planting a church to “jump start” your prayer life! It forces you on your knees. And it was on my knees that I received a vision and heard God’s voice say, “IMAGINE…”

In this vision, I found myself standing along the shores of Lake Michigan with a small cup in my hands. Then, I heard God’s voice again, “Peter you can ask Me to fill this cup that you are holding.” Then, I heard Him again. “Or you can ask for something much greater. Look out. Look out to the waters in front of you. Look out and behold the expansive Lake in front of you. WHY NOT ASK ME TO FILL THAT? Why are you asking for so little? Hoping for so little? Expecting so little? Do you not know? Have you not heard? I am the God of the universe! All things belong to me!” And it was at that moment that a passage that I had been studying came alive for the very first time.

God can do anything, you know—far more than you could ever IMAGINE or guess or request in your wildest dreams! He does it not by pushing us around but by working within us, his Spirit deeply and gently within us. Glory to God in the church! Glory to God in the Messiah, in Jesus! Glory down all the generations! Glory through all millennia! Oh, yes!

Ephesians 3:20-21 (The Message).

God was saying, “IMAGINE the impact. IMAGINE thousands of lives changed. IMAGINE hundreds of transformed communities. IMAGINE healed families. IMAGINE restored schools. IMAGINE the city reflecting the glory of God! IMAGINE the impossible! IMAGINE!”

A Promise from God

It was as if a veil had been lifted off my eyes. It was as if my spiritual vision had been restored! I found myself asking, “Why was I limiting God? Why was I expecting so little? Why wasn’t I asking for more?” Not only was New Community Church as possibility but it was a PROMISE! A promise from the God who is worthy of all glory, honor, and praise! This church wasn’t just a good idea. It was a GOD idea! It was birthed out of God’s vision for this city! That’s how this journey began, with God saying, “IMAGINE.” Despite the odds, despite the overwhelming challenges, despite the “well wishers,” IMAGINE not what is humanly possible, but what is possible with God! And the Scripture is clear! Nothing is impossible with God!

We are at another critical juncture in the life of our church, where, once again, we are reminded of God’s vision to “IMAGINE.” We are at another crossroads, standing along the shores of Lake Michigan with a cup in our hands. Once again we have an opportunity to ask God to fill that cup, or fill something as grand and expansive as the Lake itself!

Missional Impact

We are launching a capital campaign to lease and purchase a building in the Logan Square neighborhood. The building is truly an answer to months and months of prayer, as it will allow us to house numerous ministries that will leave a legacy and impact in this community and beyond for generations to come! The building will better equip us to carry out the very mission of our church to be that new humanity, a new society, to be that “city within a city, an alternate Chicago” where men and women can experience the Shalom of God.

The task is daunting friends. Make no mistake about it! Humanly speaking we might as well give up right now! People will say, “The economy is bad. Things look bleak. Your church is too young/transient/inexperienced/ (fill in the blank here).” The reality is that this building project IS beyond our ability and means! But let’s be clear about one thing! This church itself was beyond our ability and means. This church itself is a testimony of God’s gracious provision in our lives! This church stands as a reminder that our God calls us to faith, to IMAGINE not what we can do, but what HE can do! Our God IS able to do immeasurably more than what we ask or IMAGINE!

So we are launching this campaign asking all of you to IMAGINE. IMAGINE the legacy we will leave behind. IMAGINE the lives that will be welcomed into the Kingdom. IMAGINE the impact that we will have on the city of Chicago. IMAGINE every single life that will experience the Gospel through you and your sacrificial giving. IMAGINE the joy and pleasure that we will give to our King and our Lord who has given His all to us.

IMAGINE…

Pastor Peter