The City's Church
Atonement originally started as a church in the englewood community in 1904 when Lutheran church members from the wood-lawn community came and started witnessing to community residents. eventually they started gathering in small groups holding bible studies. as the group study grew so did the need for larger space then the participants living rooms. the span of locations for the group studies included elementary schools on ashland, racine and 71st street. by 1909 the groups were able to build the church at 70th street. in 1926 it was necessary to build an addition. the church was very active in community at all levels, business, education,and in social service and government/politically. As the church grew it purchased land and property in the area and also more south and west of the area including the Ash-burn community and whats now known as burbank / oaklawn, moving into the sixties proved challenging for the church with the influx of blacks moving into the community. the faith and mission of the church was not so strong that color did not matter.
starting in 1960' for about 3 1/2 years the church worked to build again,1st at 79th and Pulaski than finally building at 79th and lamon. eventually all left except the white minister who was committed and the new black residents. before the white flight church services were 2x daily with about 200plus members and several sunday bible studies still held in local elementary schools.
As the culture changed the congregation remained largely a congregation community residents. from the late sixties to the late 80s the congregation never recieved the denominational support that was received during its inception. this was largely due to the pastor not wanting to leave the community with a closed church. whether lack of support was due to cultural change or denominational strategy is undetermined, but the pastor of 20 plus years always encouraged the members to hold on to their building,
In the past 10 years (2002) the community has become more blighted impoverished and short on resources there ave been more for-closures and loss of property due to family members not maintaining property left by a love ones, unemployment, large groups of section 8 tenants. there now is a lack of strong community support, where business, banking and education were something to be proud of nothing now exists.
The average income for a family of 4 is believed to be less than 10,000 yearly ore grandparents raise their grand children than actual parents. their is no parental involvement at the local school level, schools are not equipped for student population or with updated material. the former presence of business has been reduced to mostly gas stations, Arab stores, fast food or many store front churches. Our congregation reaches the community with out reach efforts feeding the Homeless, blanket distribution, special events and giveaways.
starting in 1960' for about 3 1/2 years the church worked to build again,1st at 79th and Pulaski than finally building at 79th and lamon. eventually all left except the white minister who was committed and the new black residents. before the white flight church services were 2x daily with about 200plus members and several sunday bible studies still held in local elementary schools.
As the culture changed the congregation remained largely a congregation community residents. from the late sixties to the late 80s the congregation never recieved the denominational support that was received during its inception. this was largely due to the pastor not wanting to leave the community with a closed church. whether lack of support was due to cultural change or denominational strategy is undetermined, but the pastor of 20 plus years always encouraged the members to hold on to their building,
In the past 10 years (2002) the community has become more blighted impoverished and short on resources there ave been more for-closures and loss of property due to family members not maintaining property left by a love ones, unemployment, large groups of section 8 tenants. there now is a lack of strong community support, where business, banking and education were something to be proud of nothing now exists.
The average income for a family of 4 is believed to be less than 10,000 yearly ore grandparents raise their grand children than actual parents. their is no parental involvement at the local school level, schools are not equipped for student population or with updated material. the former presence of business has been reduced to mostly gas stations, Arab stores, fast food or many store front churches. Our congregation reaches the community with out reach efforts feeding the Homeless, blanket distribution, special events and giveaways.
