Chicago Needs Ethos.
Ethos Needs a Home.

The next chapter of Ethos’ vital ministry in Chicago starts with the purchase of a beautiful old church building on the North Side, near the shores of Lake Michigan. Help us bring gospel transformation and community renewal to an awesome, broken city that desperately needs Jesus.

A new home for our church and community

You don’t need a building to share the gospel. You don’t need a physical address to reach out to a friend in need or serve your neighbor.

And seriously, no one knows that better than Ethos: since our launch in 2009, we’ve proclaimed the gospel and served our neighbors while meeting in theaters, concert halls, stores, homes and city parks. We met in so many different places along Lincoln Avenue that our worship band decided to call itself “Nomads of Lincoln.” We’ve found ways to host countless community meals, refugee support efforts, Bible studies, discussion groups, concerts and cultural events, all without a place to call home.

But we’ve reached the limits of that approach, even as we see our city struggle, and believe more fervently than ever that Chicago needs more of what Ethos can give: More gospel, more Jesus, more hospitality, more open arms, more sacrificial service. More wisdom and maturity. More love. More truth. More Spirit at work.  

A building would help provide a foundation for that activity. And we think we’ve found it.

Dawn of a New Era of Ministry 

When the pandemic hit, Ethos gathered for weekly worship at a venue most famous as the site of the last stand of Depression-era bank robber John Dillinger. Dillinger couldn’t escape the Biograph Theater, and Ethos almost didn’t, either: as the theater stayed closed for years amidst the pandemic, the church’s congregation dwindled. Soon its founding pastor retired.

The pandemic could have been the end of Ethos. But then something surprising happened: a work of God’s Holy Spirit. The entirety of the remaining congregation pledged to stay together even after the pastor’s retirement announcement. That retiring pastor began hosting services in his home while the church’s leaders searched for a new pastor, and by God’s grace the church not only stayed together but grew during this era—even as its worship services weren’t public. Ethos hired a new pastor, Rev. Jefferson Bennett, a Chicago native who decided to come home after 18 years of pastoral and music ministry in cities ranging from London, England, Atlanta and Rome, Georgia, Cincinnati and New Haven, Connecticut.

Under Jefferson’s leadership, Ethos’ revival accelerated. The church resumed public worship at a small theater in Wrigleyville, and its numbers increased. Still, the lack of a permanent home remains a challenge—both to Ethos’ present and to its long-term vision for ministry.

The perfect church for our church 

We’ve identified a church building on Chicago’s North Side that’s perfect for Ethos. It was built in 1909 and first served a predominantly Swedish congregation before transferring to a Spanish-speaking congregation within the same denomination.

It’s a great fit for Ethos, with a sanctuary that seats 70 in the center section of the main floor (perfect for our current group) but will one day accommodate 300. There are multiple offices and classrooms, a huge fellowship hall and a commercial-style kitchen… all the “real church” stuff that fits perfectly with Ethos’ love of hospitality.

The property also includes a fully renovated house that’s traditionally been used as a home for the church’s pastor and family. Ethos would instead plan to rent out this home and use the proceeds to cover property maintenance costs.

The asking price is $1.4 million—quite a bargain, considering the prices of nearby homes.

Then again, Ethos doesn’t have $1.4 million. Not yet, anyway. That’s where this campaign comes in.

A Big Ask

A Big Ask

This campaign represents a big ask—of you, and of God.

In fact, we’re asking not only for the $1.4 million that would enable us to purchase the building but for a full $3 million that would also cover rehab costs as well as future ministry goals such as:

  • educational resources such as tutoring, ESL and after-school programming

  • meals for those in need

  • multi-faceted support to migrants arriving in Chicago

  • youth outreach programs

  • concerts

  • art exhibitions

  • seed funds to support Chicago church planters.

Yes, that’s a long list. We’re not planning to do the campaign thing again any time soon.

So we ask for your generous support, even as we also ask for God’s blessing in our search for a permanent church home.

Also, we don’t need all $3 million overnight; we need about $1.5 million to enable us to purchase this building (or a different one, in the event that the building we’ve identified isn’t available when we’ve finished raising the funds).

We believe that Chicago desperately needs Jesus, which means it needs churches like Ethos that bring gospel transformation and community renewal to Chicago neighborhoods. We also believe God can use a church building as a valuable instrument in those efforts.

Please consider making a tax-deductible gift to support Ethos’ ministry, including our purchase of a church building. We invite you to join us in spreading the grace and truth of Jesus throughout Chicago.