Feature: The Gospel Goes Downtown
Daryl Fenton
by Daryl Fenton, associate pastor. Loop Evangelical Free Church, Chicago
I unlock the doors of the old building like I have a thousand other days. The night crew has gone. They have removed the traces of 4,000 people who passed through these oak-paneled rooms yesterday. The aroma of Wiener schnitzel and tobacco, coffee and beer has largely been replaced by the smell of wood polish and glass cleaner. The silence is heavy in contrast to the symphony of china cups and saucers, glasses and ice that accompany waiters with 30 different accents who play these halls six days a week. It's Sunday, and The Berghoff Restaurant is closed. Passersby look hopefully at me, key in hand. I explain, "No, the restaurant won't be open today, but we'll be having a church service soon. You're welcome to join us." I've worked at the Berghoff, a half block off famous State Street for 12 years. As each year passed, I became increasingly aware of my limited ability to meet the needs of the people with whom I rubbed shoulders each day. Christian friends, including Craig Burton (now our pastor), felt that same immediacy of need throughout all of downtown Chicago. So when I asked the Berghoff family if we could use their landmark building for a church, I witnessed a miracle in their wholehearted response. The Burtons were ready to move to the city and take the risk of starting a new work. So we moved a few tables, told a few people, prayed a great deal—and Loop Evangelical Free Church was born. Why start a church in the heart of Chicago's business district? Ten thousand people moved here to live during the last several years. Thirty thousand more residents are expected within the next five years. Tens of thousands work here each day. There aren't enough churches ...
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