Church Visit #2 - Lawndale Christian Community Church

Church name: Lawndale Christian Community Church 

Church address: 3827 W Ogden Ave, Chicago

Date attended: March 8, 2015

Church category: Different socioeconomic status 

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

Prior to my visit to Lawndale Community Church, I have never attended a predominantly black service, nor have I attended a service where the majority of the attendees are of a lower socioeconomic status than I. Despite being predominantly black, I observed much more diversity among the attendees – the age demographic was widespread, there were several people in wheelchairs, and it seems like there were people of a variety of occupations and walks of life. This is quite different than the church I normally attend, where the demographic is overwhelmingly student aged or of young urban professionals. The first thing that stood out to me was the layout of the church. I did not know that Lawndale church operated so many other services to their community members (such as health services). The church space was a gym and the stage was at the center. The ushers were extremely welcoming and people were eager to greet each other.

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

I particularly enjoyed the heavy emphasis of music at the church. The choirs were wonderful, and there was also a solo performance by a young lady. The musical performances and style of worship created an extremely strong sense of community and passion for Christ. What I admired the most was the church’s clear commitment to the community. The Hope House Ministry was a clear indication of the church’s purpose to rehabilitate and rebuild lives of the community people who have suffered through severe circumstances. When Pastor Gordon was making announcements, it was heavily community focused – he mentioned the amount of shootings that has happened in Lawndale since the beginning of the year, how the community should build each other up, and mentioned the recent deaths of a few community members.

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

The most challenging aspect of participating in this service is being extremely aware of my own privilege. Since the church was built for the community members, there seemed to be such a strong connection between attendees and the church. For many people, I can imagine that the ministry of this church plays a significant role in their lives. As someone who is just visiting and is very far away from the Lawndale community, the thought of me simply leaving and continuing on with my own life felt quite uncomfortable. The contrast of issues that seemed pervasive in Lawndale’s community and the community I live in was stark.

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

What really stood out to me was how the sermon that Pastor Gordon delivered was extremely catered to the demographics and needs of the church. The theme of the sermon was betrayal, and it was obvious that Pastor Gordon delivered the message in accordance to the specific contexts of the church members. Pastor Gordon mentioned numerously the importance to control anger and to maintain character. The sermon was not laden with complicated theological concepts, because that is not what the church community needs. What may sound foreign, irrelevant or even basic to suburban ears points exactly to the daily life of many Lawndale’s church member. The vocal feedback from the church attendees throughout the sermon points to the relevance of Pastor Gordon’s message. By attending a church whose demographics is very different than the one I am used to, I realized that the gospel and the church serve significantly different purposes depending on the context of the attendees. While the sermons of my church are commonly catered to those who feel self-sufficient and does not necessarily feel the immediate need of God, the message delivered at Lawndale Community Church is centered around rehabilitation.