Caleb Luk - Church Visit #2

Church name: Lawndale Community Church

Church address: 3860 W. Ogden Avenue Chicago, IL 60623

Date attended: October 25, 2015

Church category: Significantly lower socioeconomic demographic

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

The service was located in a gym, within a health clinic. It was similar in that we sang songs to the LORD before the sermon was given. However, these were songs that were not your typical Hillsong or Chris Tomlin. Rather, these songs focused on our state as people who were saved and cannot return back to where we once came from. The congregation also was very involved in the worship service. It was clear when words that we sang meant deeply to the people. We would hear shouts of ‘Amen!’ throughout the service. The service also had a commander from the police department come and speak to the congregation.

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

The most appealing thing about the worship service was the intentionality of the service to serve the needs of the congregation. I appreciated that Coach brought the commander of the 10^th District to come and speak to the congregation. By bringing in people who were involved in important issues that the community was wrestling with, it was clear that the church was tackling this topic alongside the people. The connection between the church and the community was clear, and how well people knew each other, hugging and greeting others demonstrated that this congregation was closely knit. The message that Coach gave also was pertinent not only for the congregation and the social topics that it is wresting through, but also for those of us who were visiting and not directly facing issues that the community was wresting with on a regular basis. I was also appreciative that Coach was the first to admit his own weaknesses, thus what he is preaching is also extremely pertinent to himself. I was very appreciative of the time that the service had for people to share, both as a means of thanksgiving as well as need. Not only did many people share, but each one was prayed for as well after sharing.

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

It was clear that the congregation was one that was composed of people who knew each other well. Thus, the ways in which the message was shared was a surprise for me. When Pharrell Williams’ Happy was played during service for a slideshow, I was not expecting it at all. Many times, it is easy to separate ‘secular’ and ‘sacred’ music, playing only ‘sacred’ music at church; but this helped me realize that there is no division between secular and sacred. All things belong to God. Also, the slideshow and the pictures that were chosen from online portrayed only black people. As a minority, I understand the tendency for a majority culture to not think twice about race when choosing pictures for a slideshow. When one’s race is not represented, it definitely makes one feel as though one does not matter as much.

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

The impact of the church on the entire community was clear. This church reminds me of the early church in Rome, with people from various socioeconomic backgrounds all glorifying God under one roof. The smooth transition between the worship service to the panel with the commander and a few other police officers afterwards demonstrated that worship was not done after the service. Inside and outside of the service, the church is actively working to help the community, addressing not only their spiritual need, but physical, mental, and social needs as well. The church is not simply a one time a week get-together, but rather a body which works every day to actualize the Kingdom.