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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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 10:30AM

At the Loyola Fieldhouse

Come and join us for our Worship Gathering as we feast on the love of Jesus together. We meet at the Loyola Field House (1230 W Greenleaf).

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

Junk Drawer Wisdom

December 9, 2018
This week, the Teacher offers us seemingly scattered nuggets of wisdom that we can be applied when life gets hard. These nuggets of wisdom, if used, will help us to…
Preacher :
Passage: Ecclesiastes 7:1-8:1

Contentment

December 2, 2018
As we begin the Advent season, we find ourselves in the midst of a busy and stressful time of year. Whether you're looking forward to this season or if you're…
Preacher :
Passage: Ecclesiastes 6:1-12

Meaning and Happiness

November 25, 2018
All of us want to be happy. Ecclesiastes seems like a very unhappy book written by a very unhappy person. This Sunday, come find out why this preacher that wrote…
Preacher :
Passage: Ecclesiastes 5:8-20
1 2 3 … 6 7 8

See all previous sermons here.

Subscribe to our podcast here.

Daily Bible Reflection

  • Jude, Proverbs 5-6
    December 12, 2018
    Jude’s short letter to other believers is a strong warning against believing false teachers. Jude takes past examples like Cain, rebellious Israelites after the Exodus, and fallen angels to serve as warnings about the consequences of spiritual infidelity. Of course the problem with abandoning God’s truth is that “Lord is coming with thousands upon thousands of his holy ones to judge everyone” [Read More...]
  • 3 John, Proverbs 3-4
    December 11, 2018
    In another short letter, John begins by calling Gaius, the recipient, a friend. More than this, he calls him a “dear friend” twice to convey their level of intimacy (3 John 1-2). This is a great way to gain sympathy for any pleas or arguments that will follow. That doesn’t mean John’s words are merely an example of literary “pathos” (appeal to emotion). Rather John’s contents flow out of his love [Read More...]
  • 2 John 1, Proverbs 1-2
    December 10, 2018
    John’s short and pastoral letter to “the lady chosen by God” repeats many themes from his first epistle. As John directs this mother of believing children to guard against liars who reject the incarnation, one unique command is made. John warns “do not take them into your house or welcome them.” (2 John 10) John’s directive assumes that this woman would be freely welcoming those who teach as [Read More...]
  • 1 John 5, Psalm 150
    December 9, 2018
    The last chapter of 1 John begins with a reaffirmation that Jesus is the messiah sent by God while also the unique son of God (1 John 5:1). John then claims that God gives us three witnesses to this very identity: water, blood, and Spirit. (1 John 5:8-9). What does this mean? Simply that God chose to verify Jesus’ identity during our savior’s lifetime through three various means. First, the [Read More...]
  • 1 John 4, Psalm 149
    December 8, 2018
    “We love because he first loved us.” (1 John 4:19) In just a few words the priority of God’s actions over our efforts for maturity and sanctification is made clear. 1 John 4 tells us in no uncertain terms that love only comes from God (1 John 4:7) and that God’s love the sole basis for the cleansing of the penalty for our sins (1 John 4:10). Our ability to keep the second most important [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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More Info

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