ILLINOIS – Over the span of 117 years, Hope Community Church has come this far by having “intentional faith.” Our rhythm has changed through membership, leadership and location – but our mission has remained the same: To see the members of Hope Community Church and Hope Nation so passionate about God’s heart for people that we become more proficient in ministry, more involved in community, and more conscience of our maturity.
One of our 2025 Summer Breeze worship services highlighted Hope’s legacy from 1908 through today. We showcased videos, photos and artifacts that highlighted our history of pastors, ministries, programs and the transition from the basement of a two-flat apartment building on Komensky Street to our site in the Lawndale Community. We highlighted the charter of the Austin church, Hope’s serving in both sites and currently to the Austin Community.
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I remember attending Hope Community Church when it was on Grenshaw Street. My parents, Ross & Joyce Mays, had moved to Chicago in the late 50’s. I have just snippits of memories while we attended there. There was so much love there that even a pre-schooler could feel. My parents were great friends with Rev Welkley & his family. Later on, I was baptized at Hope since the Church of the Highlands, in LaGrange, didn’t have a baptistry then. What a great example of what the church can be to a community!
I remember attending Hope Community Church several times in the early 60’s while a student at Aurora University. Lee Welkley and I were roommates for a while at Aurora and he would pull me along on Sundays to come with him to church; I think it was because I had a car. Lee and Caroline became life time friends with my wife, Harriet, and me. We have very fond memories of our visits to Hope Church. May the next chapter of your service continue to bring blessings to the church and to everyone who enters the doors of the church.
There is one living charter member of Hope Community Church, Dr. Robert W. Price, of the ten who formed the rechartered Hope Community Advent Christian Church in April 1959, on West Grenshaw Street.
The rich history and ministry that has blossomed since 1959 is all to the glory of God. The seeds planted many decades ago, and throughout each decade since, continue to bear fruit in ways that were unimaginable in the past, and demonstrate God’s love for the city and Hope’s continued commitment to show our city God’s love and salvation through a relationship with Jesus Christ. I am thankful that Hope is my home church, “where I first believed”, and that I am able to continue to be a part of Hope’s ministry even though it is virtual at this time.