Today we’d like to introduce you to Alli Munsey.
Thanks for sharing your story with us Alli. So, let’s start at the beginning and we can move on from there.
My husband and I are pastors of a non-denominational church called ” City Church Chicago.” in the heart of River West near downtown Chicago. We planted it 8 years ago after serving alongside his parents as Executive Pastors in Northwest Indiana. Our love for people, God, and the local church has fueled our passion in pastoring this great city.
I can remember driving down 90/94 west like it was yesterday. We were driving down the highway and looked over to the left and saw what looked to be old rusted church bells resting at the top of a Cathedral. I was just staring at them and my husband with a quiet confidence said: ” I believe God has called us to the city to help restore the broken sound of the church and to bring back the beauty it once had.” Something in me at that moment leaped inside of me and I knew that Chicago would be our forever home. The people, the dynamics, the diversity, it had everything that I would want to be a part of.
We then began to put into action our plan for starting a church in one of the most urban unchurched cities in North America. We have to understand that Chicago is a deca city, and is one of the most transient and youngest cities in North America. Starting anything in Chicago ( let alone a church ) can prove to be one of the most challenging things you will ever attempt to do, just to keep the doors open will test every grit and drive you have. But I believe God has always been on our side, and as long as we are loving people to new life through faith, and helping our community to be a better place he will always continue to be with us.
We started very small, with a handful of people, and a lot of tears down and set up for several years. We rented what was at the time know as the Chicago Performing Arts Center, and in 2010 we launched our first service on the same day as the Chicago Marathon ( rookie move) where every street was closed to even get to the church. Talk about setbacks! But we persisted, and from that point continued to move forward with the vision and mission we believed God has placed in our hearts. Through many challenges, setbacks, and victories we were able to purchase our building in December of 2015, and now have a perminate place to call home for City Church Chicago.
fast forward to today, we have the great opportunity to see over 2,000 people a week encounter the good news and come through our doors in one of our 5 weekly Sunday services. 9:30 am, 11:00am, 12:30pm, 5:00pm, and 6:30 pm. My husband and I share in the responsibility each week of leading these services from speaking, to pastoring and everything in between! it really is an amazing journey to be a part of.
I also lead an organization called “City Chicks” which empowers women all over to ” Be a generation of women for each other not against each other.” We are committed to championing other women and celebrating them in all of their accomplishments. We believe that we are so much stronger together than any one of us individually. If we understand that all of us have our own race to run we can celebrate other people. The world needs more of that, and especially right now in our current climate. We gather quarterly to inspire one another with services and also by championing local and global outreaches.
We are tremendously proud of the amazing diversity of individuals who make up City Church Chicago, and the unique and fresh voice it brings to Chicago. We believe the best days are still ahead of us.
We’re always bombarded by how great it is to pursue your passion, etc – but we’ve spoken with enough people to know that it’s not always easy. Overall, would you say things have been easy for you?
I wish I could say that pastoring in this young affluent city has been a cake walk but it has been quite the opposite. We have faced opposition in every way you can imagine. From almost being wrongfully kicked out of our space, to having over 26 banks tell you no (even when you raised enough money for the loan), to heartbreak of losing a young girl to gun violence on our front steps, and the ups and downs of leading people on this journey of faith. But one thing has always been certain, God is with us.
It’s in times of trouble and uncertainty that people need hope. They don’t need to hear about everything they have done wrong, or how they keep missing the mark. They need to hear of better days, and there is, in fact, a light at the end of a tunnel they are facing. We believe that our faith is what keeps us hopeful, and inspires us to give others that hope that they too can find peace in this life.
We know challenges are going to come, but life isn’t about safeguarding ourselves from them, it’s about learning how to respond when they do come. Our goal is to keep people on the journey to discovering themselves through this life of faith
So, as you know, we’re impressed with City Church Chicago – tell our readers more, for example what you’re most proud of as a company and what sets you apart from others.
My specific role is the Senior co-pastor along side of my husband Kent, and the leader of City Chicks ” A generation of woman that are for each other not against each other.” I help lead women in finding their purpose in life and helping them unlock their God-given talents each and every one of them carry.
I am most proud of the amazing people that make up our City Church Family, and the Volunteer and staff that help lead this amazing congregation. From the first time you walk into the doors at City Church, you know you are loved, and our teams work extra hard to create a safe space for those coming in from all walks of life to find community and relationships at City Church.
What sets us apart from other churches is hard to say because there are some great churches doing great work across the Chicago land area. But if I were to pick a few I would probably say the vibe of our services and the heart of our people. Every service is full of passion, expressive music, and uplifting messages. People are often shocked when they walk in to realize that church does not have to be boring, but rather very refreshing.
We love all the people as well. Should the church be this fun? I think it should be, if Church exists to bring life into those who are looking for it, why wouldn’t that same spirit be displayed in our Sunday services? We love it and hope all that encounter it feel the same.
So, what’s next? Any big plans?
We are always looking ahead into future plans for the church. Right now we are maxed out in our current space, and looking for a bigger venue or possibly more campuses to expand to. We want to continue to serve people the best possible way we can.
As we continue to partner with the City of Chicago in supporting our local neighborhoods, schools, youth, and families it is our goal to one day open a center that serves underserved youth to help give them job development opportunities, education, the arts, and family support to better equip them for a brighter future.
There are so many possibilities that lie ahead for City Church. We are taking it all in, and continue to be prayerful in what opportunities to pursue and how we can continue to impact Chicago for the greater good.
Contact Info:
- Address: 777 N Green St. Chicago IL 60642
- Website: Citychurchchicago.com
- Phone: 312-243-0930
- Instagram: @citychurchchi
- Facebook: City Church Chicago
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