My Patient Revolution
Creating a place where everyone belongs.
Interview with Mark Jobe
April 1, 2005
A 21-year-old pastor of an 18-member inner city congregation stood on the steps of a former Russian Orthodox church on the Hispanic southwest side of Chicago and asked, "How in the world are we going to reach this community?" That was 1986. Today, New Life Community Church has 2,300 attenders, eight locations, services in Spanish and in English, and an unrelenting passion to reach every person in Chicago. That young pastor was Mark Jobe. "We knew reaching the neighborhood would be difficult, and we weren't big enough, smart enough, or wealthy enough, but we were willing to change." Jobe knew the first barrier to overcome was music. The church's organ and hymnbooks would never fit the neighborhood's growing Mexican population. "The first month I advertised free guitar lessons," Jobe said. "That was something I could do. It was an outreach to the community." Twenty years later, Mark Jobe is still helping his church connect the gospel with those around them. "We've done a lot of bridge building," he says, "not because we like bridges, but because we are determined to reach our destination." That destination, Jobe says, is to become a church comprising one percent of the city—approximately 30,000, representing all strata of Chicago—black, white, Hispanic, Asian, CEOs, and street people. New Life's efforts have, so far, resulted in eight congregations planted throughout the city; each one seeking to connect the gospel in its own context. New Life's Little Village campus uses Mariachi music, while the North Side campus has a Starbucks-like café. "The message is the same. It's the styles that differ," Jobe says. "It's beautiful seeing people who are so different from one another all connected by the same church, sharing ...
Please complete one of the following:
If you're a Leadership journal subscriber...
...but have not yet registered for online access to CTLibrary.com, you can receive a full-year's access for just $29.95!
Register Here | | If you're NOT a Leadership journal print subscriber...
You're entitled to a special, introductory offer for new subscribers only! Subscribe now and receive a one-year Leadership journal print subscription and one-year access to all Leadership archives for just $39.95!
Subscribe now!
When you log in as a Leadership Journal subscriber, you'll see additional articles noted as premium content only available to CTLibrary.com members. To access the entire CTLibrary requires a CTLibrary subscription. If you would prefer this option, select the offer below that best fits your needs.
|
Like the preview? To read this complete article
and 18,013 more in the archive—JOIN NOW!
Easily find high-quality, well-researched materials that provide a Christian perspective on topics ranging from headlines to history.
Start using this invaluable tool TODAY for preparing your Bible studies, presentations, class lectures, sermons, meetings, and more.
|
It's easy and quick to join:
Brought to You by Christianity Today Int'l |  |
|
|
|
Find similar articles
E-mail this page
