How it all started...
It was September, 2019, when Charles & Donna Butler, Steve & Kerri Mason, Kenny Damara, and Scott & Aimee Lilly met to pray and discuss the idea of starting a new congregation. At the end of that meeting, they were encouraged to pursue the idea but knew that God would have to provide a place to meet and funds to pay for the place. Steve and Charles had discussed co-pastoring the church, so they continued to pray and discuss it, but mostly they were waiting on God. They agreed on a name for the potential church startup: Hope Church Chicago.
In mid-October, just before Kenny was to return to India, he and Charles met for breakfast. They sought a restaurant midway between their homes, and the search came up with Chicago Hope Café. The reviews were good, so Charles and Kenny met there to share and pray for one another. On their way out, they saw a sign that said profits from the café went to Chicago Hope Academy—a school founded by a friend of Charles'.
A call to the founder resulted in a warm invitation to meet at the school the following week. That was late October. Steve had been fasting for two days prior to the meeting, unrelatedly, so that he could hear more clearly what the Lord would have him do. That meeting resulted in God providing the place, with the funds being provided immediately afterwards. Hope Church Chicago was becoming a reality.
After a meeting with the school’s president on November 18, 2019, agreements were signed on Wednesday, December 4 and Charles and Steve began holding Advent services the next Sunday, December 8.
Hope Church Chicago was born.
In mid-October, just before Kenny was to return to India, he and Charles met for breakfast. They sought a restaurant midway between their homes, and the search came up with Chicago Hope Café. The reviews were good, so Charles and Kenny met there to share and pray for one another. On their way out, they saw a sign that said profits from the café went to Chicago Hope Academy—a school founded by a friend of Charles'.
A call to the founder resulted in a warm invitation to meet at the school the following week. That was late October. Steve had been fasting for two days prior to the meeting, unrelatedly, so that he could hear more clearly what the Lord would have him do. That meeting resulted in God providing the place, with the funds being provided immediately afterwards. Hope Church Chicago was becoming a reality.
After a meeting with the school’s president on November 18, 2019, agreements were signed on Wednesday, December 4 and Charles and Steve began holding Advent services the next Sunday, December 8.
Hope Church Chicago was born.
unxpected pivots
But in March of 2020, the COVID-19 pandemic hit. The governor of Illinois shut down all schools to mitigate the spread of the disease. It seemed Hope Church was done a mere 16 weeks after its birth.
But even though Steve and Charles were surprised by the pandemic, God was not. Within the Hope Church congregation were three men who worked in information technology and communications. As they discussed what was next for the church, Steve and Charles expressed their concern that Hope Church might be done. One of the men responded that the church could hold services on Zoom. Steve and Charles replied in concert, "What's Zoom?"
The three men—Rick Bovell, Arun Tikoo and Bryan Butler—got Hope Church up and functioning smoothly on Zoom with only one Sunday sacrificed to the pandemic. The church remained on Zoom for 18 months and resumed in-person worship services on Labor Day weekend, 2021.
But even though Steve and Charles were surprised by the pandemic, God was not. Within the Hope Church congregation were three men who worked in information technology and communications. As they discussed what was next for the church, Steve and Charles expressed their concern that Hope Church might be done. One of the men responded that the church could hold services on Zoom. Steve and Charles replied in concert, "What's Zoom?"
The three men—Rick Bovell, Arun Tikoo and Bryan Butler—got Hope Church up and functioning smoothly on Zoom with only one Sunday sacrificed to the pandemic. The church remained on Zoom for 18 months and resumed in-person worship services on Labor Day weekend, 2021.
Where we are headed...
Shortly after re-opening, Pastor Steve began to sense that the Lord might be moving him on. That sense culminated in beginning a process with Winnetka Bible Church, where be began as senior pastor April 1, 2022. Hope Church Chicago continues under Pastor Charles's leadership. Scott & Aimee Lilly, whose personal circumstances had prevented them from participating in Hope Church, were excited to finally join the ministry effort in May of 2022.
Kenny Damara remains in India, where he has launched a preaching, evangelism, and apologetics ministry, Hope In Truth Ministries.
Kenny Damara remains in India, where he has launched a preaching, evangelism, and apologetics ministry, Hope In Truth Ministries.
