Emmanuel Christian Reformed Church, which has been in the Chicago suburb of Sauk Village, Ill., since 1968, has recently developed a bilingual—English and Spanish—ministry with church planter Richard Garcia, creating what it envisions as “One Church, Two Cultures” in its demographically changing neighborhood.
Garcia was called in April, and his family moved to Sauk Village in June. What happened before then was a serious process of discernment and prayer.
Jeff Hale, pastor of Emmanuel CRC since 2017, said the church had a strong presence in the 1960s and ’70s when youth and children’s ministries thrived. But a lot has changed, including significant demographic and socioeconomic shifts.
“At one point, our sanctuary had 285 chairs; most of them filled. We lost a pastor to cancer in 2016, and attendance plummeted. With lockdown during (the) COVID(-19 pandemic), we wondered if we might have to close our doors,” Hale said. But instead, they began paying attention to their changing community. Two ministries with direct neighborhood impact—a food pantry and a thrift store—have already been running for 20 years.
“Sauk Village is a ‘food desert,’” said Hale. “There is no fresh food within walking distance.” But with Emmanuel’s ministries the neighborhood has had access to food, clothing, and household items for minimal or no cost.
It became evident that the community wanted more than food. Some of the Spanish-speaking families came to church, but the language barrier was challenging. The church went looking for help.
“We weren’t looking for an off-ramp,” said Hale, “we wanted to cast a vision.” With support from Resonate Global Mission they began the process of looking for a Spanish-speaking church planter to serve their multi-ethnic neighborhood.
Pastor Richard Garcia was serving a church in Miami when Classis Illiana, the regional group of CRC churches to which Emmanuel belongs, approached him to consider coming to Sauk Village. Garcia shared what the beginning of his work at Emmanuel looked like.
“I spent time visiting with families at the food pantry and thrift store, and that’s when I learned that they wanted to grow in their faith,” Garcia said. Over time Garcia helped to form “Emmanuel Houses,” small, home-based groups for discipleship and Bible study.
“God surprised us with his abundant response,” Garcia said. As he opened his home, sharing Jesus and the Word of God, friendships formed. “Another Emmanuel House is starting,” Garcia said. A family he met came to Christ. And, transformed by the gospel, they’ve decided to open their home to others.
These faithful moves have already affected the church. “Several weeks ago, we ran out of communion,” Hale said, when they hadn’t accounted for how large the congregation had grown with the inclusion of the Hispanic families since Garcia’s ministry began.
Living into the vision of “one church, two cultures” includes the decision to worship together on Sunday mornings, using AI translation for projection and audio for those who need it. “God is blessing us,” said Garcia. “With vision, with support, with strategy. And it all started with prayer.”
He said he’s especially grateful for the support of Mirtha Villafane, a church-planting coach with Resonate who “accompanied us throughout the discernment process, helping us recognize our calling and prepare to move to Illinois. … Her guidance, encouragement, and commitment were essential at every stage of this journey.”