New Illinois Conference Churches Granted Standing
In Their Association Within The Past Two Years
God Can Ministries, Ford Heights: The church started on the south side of Chicago and later purchased its home in Ford Heights. The congregation's organizing Pastors and Teachers are the Rev. Sharon Ellis Davis and the Rev. Diana Bradie-Timberlake. God Can Ministries established our UCC presence in the Ford Heights Community. **
Tamil United Church of Christ, Westchester: The congregation is made up of folk from South India. The Westchester Community Church mentored this new congregation into the United Church of Christ. The Rev. Godwin Raj is pastor.
Harvard Family of Faith United Church of Christ, Oak Park: Harvard Family UCC is the new congregation formed by the merger of Family of Faith (Philippine) and the former Harvard Congregational Church. The congregation's pastoral team is made up of student Pastor Carol Shauf and the Rev. David Rennard.
Open Prairie United Church of Christ, Princeton: The congregation was started by former members of Hampshire Colony Congregational UCC. The church has purchased and is renovating its new soon to be church home in downtown Princeton. The Rev. Curran Reichert is the church's pastor.**
Resurrection United Church of Christ, Chicago: This is a new African-American church. The organizing pastor of Resurrection UCC is the Rev. Mary Fairley. The church worships in the building of Bethlehem Seven-Day Adventist Church on the south side of Chicago.*
New Church Starts Presently Receiving
Conference LEEAP Support
St. John's United Church of Christ Latino/a Ministry Project, Waukegan: This is a revitalization project design to reach out to the large Latino/a population of Waukegan. The vision for the future is to transform St. John's into a Multi-Racial and Multi-Cultural church. The co-pastoral leadership are the Rev. Kathleen Bleyaert and the Rev. Maria Puerta.**
Pillar of Love Fellowship, Summit: This new church meets in the building of the First Congregational Church of Summit. It is a growing African-American congregation in a changing neighborhood. The organizing Pastor is the Rev. Phyllis Pennese a recent CTS graduate.*
Iglesia Evangelica y Reformada, Chicago: A latino/a new church start located in the near northwest side of Chicago, meets in the building of St. Nicolai United Church of Christ. The organizing Pastor Edward Lavaire grew up in the Evangelical and Reform Church in Central America. When looking for a place of worship for his congregation he was attracted to St. Nicolai, he saw the E and R identity in the church sign.*
* Receiving Conference support in 2005
** Receiving Conference and National support in 2005
Note: For a printable version of this page click New Churches and New Church Starts
