Inviting Chicago to Feast on the Love of Jesus

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What is Agapé?

Agapé is the most common Greek word in the Bible translated “love”

Agapé is the name given to meals shared by the earliest Christians often surrounding the Lord’s Supper. Those who gathered for these Agapé meals transformed their world by teaching and embodying the good news of Jesus Christ’s life, death, and resurrection. What happened at the tables of Agapé meals was more than merely partaking of meals; indeed these meals were a continuation of the revolution begun by the King they celebrated at these tables.

Watch Pastor Jeremiah talk about Agape’s Mission, Vision, and Table Values.

Our Leaders

LEADERSHIP

JEREMIAH VAUGHT

ELDER

Jeremiah and his wife Maysa founded Agape Chicago in collaboration with a group of Rogers Park residents, many of them attending the sending church, Evanston Bible Fellowship. Prior to launching Agape, Jeremiah served in youth ministry, college ministry, and justice ministries. While in seminary at Trinity Divinity School in Deerfield and serving in Evanston, Jeremiah engaged the challenge by pastor Timothy Keller to see more healthy churches planted in urban areas.

In conjunction with strong conviction of the need for more churches in Chicago, while serving many people living in Rogers Park, the Vaughts came to the conclusion God wanted to use them to plant a church for Rogers Park. While getting to know many neighbors in the early years of seeking to start this church, Jeremiah noticed people would constantly throw around the word "love" only to describe their feelings of attraction, and appreciation, but hardly ever to discuss desires to sacrifice and serve to help others. Since love is who God is (1 John 4:6) and love is what Jesus demonstrates best through sacrificial death and victorious service (John 15:13), so Jeremiah remains convinced Rogers Park needs to encounter the God's love more than anything else. We all want to love and be loved, but without seeing and knowing the best love, how can we love like we should? This desire to experience God's love by making it known still drives Jeremiah & Maysa.

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STEVE JOHNSON

ELDER

Steve Johnson is a native Chicagoan born and raised right here on the Northside. He and Lorre, his wife of 18 years, have both been long-time residents of Rogers Park. After struggling with addiction for several years, the Lord delivered Steve into His service about 25 years ago. Since being called to faith, he and Lorre have dedicated themselves to serving the under-resourced, the under-served and the disconnected through a street ministry and outdoor church in Rogers Park called the Blue Sky Cathedral.

Steve has worked in the title industry for over 40 years and has earned a reputation as a knowledgeable and well-respected title resource for real estate attorneys and mortgage lenders. When he’s not working, he and Lorre tend toward reading and relaxing in Jamaica – when the opportunity to do so presents itself. Steve has been with Agape Chicago since it started and was tapped by Pastor Jeremiah to be a member of its first elder board, on which he has served faithfully for the past 3 years. As an elder of Agape Chicago, Steve facilitates the goings-on at the Blue Sky Agape Community which “strives to live out the Great Commission by bringing the gospel of Jesus Christ to people on the streets of Rogers Park”. He also contributes to the pulpit ministry and preaches regularly on Sunday mornings. Pastor Jeremiah and the family of believers at Agape Chicago are appreciative of Steve’s contribution to our growth and maturity. We feel that the Name of the Lord has been glorified through his work.

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CHRIS VILLEGAS

ELDER

Chris is passionate about seeing a church humbled by and passionate about the Gospel. He came to faith in Christ shortly after the events of 9/11. Married to Wanchen, they enjoy welcoming friends into their home in order to share Christ-centered hospitality. They also enjoy sampling the diverse food offerings in the city. Chris is an infusion nurse at Swedish Covenant Hospital's outpatient Cancer Center. He enjoys P90X and hiking.

STAFF AND DEACONS

SCOTT ARNOLD

DEACON OF METRICS

Scott Arnold, has been with Agape Chicago since its inception. He has had many roles at the church, including being a "Deacon of Fun"! Currently he serves as the Deacon of Metrics and the leader of the No Returns Agape community. As the Deacon of Metrics, his job is to use his analytical and organizational gifts to use data from our services and agape communities to identify ways in how our church can grow in loving each other.

For No Returns, he labors alongside his fellow brothers and sisters in Christ and empower them to invite the refugee and immigrant population to feast upon the love of Jesus

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MOLLIE HASSETT

WOMEN'S DISCIPLESHIP COORDINATOR

I was born and raised in Buffalo, NY. It was the land of snowstorms and yes I did love the snow! I attended college in my home town to pursue a degree in Nursing. I have enjoyed an amazing career for many years. As I approached 40 years old I had accomplished some goals .I owned my own home., had an advanced practice degree, good friends,family and freedom. However there was something missing that I could not explain until a dear friend invited me to her small church.

It was there that I was introduced to Jesus Christ and His Word. My life would never be the same. I moved to Chicago in 2002 to pursue a Bible Degree. It is the joy of my life to serve the Agape community. I am blessed to mentor women and teach discipleship and Bible studies at Agape. Praise God for His faithfulness to me!
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JOHN BRUGGERS

DEACON OF A/V, FINANCIAL ADMINISTRATOR

John has been a part of Agapé since its launch, and is currently serving as the Deacon of A/V. A role well suited for a techie, as it involves overseeing the proper function and staffing of the audio and visual equipment each Sunday. Prior to coming to Chicago in pursuit of a graduate degree at DePaul University and becoming a programmer at Chicago Public Schools, most of his formative years were spent in Peru as a missionary kid.

RALPH MAGUNDAYAO

ADMINISTRATOR

Ralph is a professional screen and stage actor who also serves as the administrative assistant at Agape Chicago Church. Ralph assists the pastor and elders in communications, branding, as well as organizing volunteers in the church. Ralph is an alumni of the Moody Bible Institute and Richard J. Daley College and has been acting on and off for the past 10 years. In his spare time, he likes hanging out and traveling with his friends and spending time at home.

Beliefs

As a member church, we subscribe to the Evangelical Free Church of America (EFCA), statement of faith.

Join Us
For Worship

Sundays at 10:00AM

At Loyola Beach

Come and join us for our Worship Gathering as we feast on the love of Jesus together. We meet for the summer at the Loyola Beach (1101 W Morse, Chicago, IL 60626).

Our kids groups are divided into two classes, pre-school (2-4) and other age groups (5-11). We know not all children learn the same way so we do our best to teach age-appropriate lessons using hands-on, audio, writing/reading, and visual means of teaching.

Explanation of Gatherings

Our Service Order reminds us about how God calls people to feast with Him. The invitation to this feast is the Gospel. The Gospel is the proclamation that God the Father commissioned His Son Jesus, uniquely God and man, to live the life we never would and to sacrificially die that we might forever feast on God’s love. Because of Jesus’ resurrection from the dead, we can be assured that death will not separate us from God’s eternal heavenly banquet. Jesus’ death is our preparation to be with God. Christ’s resurrection from the dead ensures that all are united with Christ will too enjoy a resurrection from the dead making it possible to forever feast with Jesus.

This invitation requires a response. We respond with faith and repentance. We look to Jesus, who prepares us for the feast. Jesus cleanses us and makes us ready for the feast through His pardoning blood. In Christ, we always have access to this feast. We feast as we reminded of the love of God. We feast when we hear God’s Word. We leave with a reminder that God’s work to invite the world to His feast is shared with us. We leave, prepared to share the invitation.

Recent Sermons

A Little is a Lot

June 16, 2019
In a world of spiritually hungry people, do you ever feel like you don’t have much to bring to the spiritual table? Or, after having given so much, do you…
Preacher :
Passage: Mark 6:30-44

You Can Handle the Truth

June 9, 2019
In Mark 4.21-34, Jesus explained through parables how the Word of Truth should be handled. Our part is to simply, shine a light in the darkness; share the Word with…
Preacher :
Passage: Mark 4:21-34

The Value of Sacrifice

June 2, 2019
Many of the sacrifices we make every day make us feel good. But what Jesus experiences and teaches in Mark 6.1-13 is hard to go through. As Jesus continues on…
Preacher :
Passage: Mark 6:1-13
1 2 3 … 12 13 14

See all previous sermons here.

Subscribe to our podcast here.

Daily Bible Reflection

  • 1 John 1:1-2:2, Psalm 146
    December 5, 2018
    “We write this to you to make our joy complete”. (1 John 1:4) There are joys that must be shared. We could think of many experiences that are better enjoyed with others: a stunning lunar eclipse, unique ice formations, the breaching of a humpback whale, fourth of July fireworks, or our favorite rock concerts. A feast, also is just too much food when it is only for one person. But when others are [Read More...]
  • 2 Peter 3, Psalm 144
    December 3, 2018
    Many critical New Testament scholars last century argued that the first Christians believed Jesus would return in their lifetimes. Part of their theory requires believing that Peter could not have written 2 Peter, for embedded in this letter is the acknowledgement that while scoffers question the return of Jesus, believers should understand “the Lord is not slow in keeping His promise.” (2 Peter [Read More...]
  • 2 Peter 2, Psalm 143
    December 2, 2018
    It would be difficult to find a group of people that that the New Testament epistles oppose more than false teachers, especially those instructing under Christian guise. I guess the devil would be the closest competitor. Peter, like Paul does not mince words about the fate that awaits those who act as messengers of Christ yet in some way “deny the Sovereign Lord who bought them.” Yet my anecdotal [Read More...]
  • 2 Peter 1, Psalm 142
    December 1, 2018
    My seminary education culminated when at a graduation ceremony I walked on a stage to receive a diploma certifying receipt of a “Masters of Divinity”. While working towards this diploma I would regularly tell people I was “mastering the divinie.” If I were not being transparently ridiculous, it would have been sacrilegious. God is alone divine, and there is no mastering the Master of all things. [Read More...]
  • 1 Peter 4.12-5.14, Psalm 141
    November 30, 2018
    By Kesny St Louis Peter wants us to prepare to suffer so we won’t be “surprised” by it (1 Peter 4:12). Suffering exists, but our salvation is more real. Two realities, yet one is greater than the other. Pain is real, but it’s nothing compared to our glorification. Peter goes on to do the same thing (1 Peter 5:10). Scripture not only gives us the reality of suffering in hardship in this present [Read More...]

See all reflections here.

Agapé Communities

As a church, we are committed to growing in our love for Jesus, our church, and Chicago

Agapé Communities are the primary venue in which we seek to intentionally cultivate these three loves. This is why we encourage everyone to get involved in one of these groups. Currently, we have four communities.

Thanks for your inquiry! Please tell us a bit about yourself and we'll get to your question right away.

We Love Kids!

The Children's Ministry of Agape Chicago is an active part of the church.

During the service, we teach Bible lessons from LifeWay's Gospel Project Curriculum according to ages. We also do activity sheets, crafts, songs, memorization, and games all centered around the lesson for that day. Our class is divided into two classes, pre-school (2-4) and other age groups (5-11).

We know not all children learn the same way so we do our best to teach age-appropriate lessons using hands-on, audio, writing/reading, and visual means of teaching. We use Bible storybooks for the pre-schoolers and complete Bibles for the other children. Our teachers and helpers seek to love and encourage the children to learn the Bible and love Jesus, using positive reinforcement. We believe learning about Jesus should be fun but we take our roles as leaders seriously.. We share the Gospel at least once a month using a variety of age-appropriate means. We view the Children's Ministry as a means of discipleship where kids can develop friendships with one another. All children are welcome to join us.

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