Joe Tam Church Visit #3

Church name: Grace and Peace Community Church

Church address: 2100 N. Kildare

Chicago, IL 60639

Date attended: 11/6/16

Church category: Different ethnic/racial congregation

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

I entered the foyer of the church and though I didn't know anybody I immediately felt like the people greeting me had known me for a long time. A woman at the door hugged me and kissed both cheeks and then we stepped into the last part of a pre-service prayer time. This was a quieter time with less people in attendance, but a good time of meditation and prayer led by one of the pastors. My church at home does not have prolonged times of prayer together, though we begin each service with prayer. The quieter time quickly gives way to a very lively time of worship. The songs are up-tempo, people are clapping, and dancing along. One song was sung in spanish and I appreciated just worshipping God without necessarily knowing the translation; it’s an exercise in faith in worship. During the singing there are two women flanking the stage twirling flags to the music. I haven’t seen that too often, but have seen it before in a more charismatic church setting. This whole atmosphere is a distinct departure from my home church’s style of worship. Even the sermon is a very lively affair. Pastor John constantly moves around, stopping just next to my seat, scanning the audience and at times shouting to emphasize his points. COME! COME! Come to Jesus! Unlike sermons back home there isn’t as much structure, but there is certainly no shortage of emotion and expressed passion for serving God and His people.

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

What was most interesting about the worship service was the presence of the church’s mission and vision for the future. After the worship service they showed a pretty lengthy video about their work building a much larger building. It’s very interesting because their congregation is not very large. They are trusting in God to bring people in and allow their work to bear fruit. Apart from their specific vision for their church, the Grace and Peace community was very open about praying for revival in Chicago and seeing the hurt of the city. At the same time I never felt like the message was being advanced while neglecting the personal sin of members of the congregation and their lives. The pastor had the church meditate on those we need to be reconciled to, reach out to, or just talk to. For parents he said “talk to your kids, ask, ‘how are we doing’”?

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

I found the usage of scripture most challenging about the service. While I didn’t have issues with the interpretation of it (Luke 19 was the passage), I didn’t feel like the word was necessarily the main focus of the sermon. It felt more like a spiritual pep talk and motivation. I echoed that sentiment coming out of CCDA, but I also recognize that different contexts necessitate that style, especially when churches are going head to head with suffering and corporate sin.

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 story of Zacchaeus was used to emphasize the power of encountering Jesus. We are called to create opportunity, “intentional encounters,” with Christ for others and do so with faith rather than fear. The worship service really convicted me to be more courageous with what I do with my faith. Is it merely mine or am I seeking to interact with others explicitly within it? With this in mind, I was admittedly uncomfortable with the notion (suggested by Pastor John’s life example) of just going up to strangers and boldly confronting them with spiritual conversation. What I have been taught and have experience through short term missions has in part made me skeptical of these encounters that are made without the intention of building relationship or meeting physical needs. My belief in the importance of those latter things will continue to create tension when thinking about boldly encountering others with the Gospel truth. Still I was convicted in thinking that, while it’s good to value relationship and holistic care, I also have to realize that the desire for those things can’t become an excuse for inaction either. I am not the complete rescuer of those who suffer in my life, stranger, family, or friend. There will always need to be a balance of ministering to spiritual and physical needs. Perhaps in some seasons, God’s mediated work looks like me seeing someone, stopping, and having a conversation with them; no expectation necessarily of all I need to do more, but an encounter nonetheless and one that can point someone towards God’s unique saving power.