Today we’d like to introduce you to Jeanne Stevens.
Thanks for sharing your story with us Jeanne. So, let’s start at the beginning and we can move on from there.
Jarrett and I always felt like we’d start a church someday but it wasn’t till about 10 years ago, while we were working at a church in Atlanta, that we felt God’s whisper get louder and the urge grow stronger.
We started dreaming up this vision of ours and after much prayer and discernment decided to move to Chicago to start Soul City Church. We knew early on that we needed to be in the West Loop and so began our search of finding a space. Some friends of ours connected us to a family who owned the property on the corner of Adams and Racine. At that time, it was just an empty warehouse but we had vision and believed we could turn it into what we needed it to be which proved to be enough because in July of 2010 we were handed the key to the building and told, “It’s yours. Rent free for 2 years. Do whatever God leads you to do with it.”
In November of that same year, Soul City Church opened its doors for the first time, and we could never have imagined all that God would do in such a short time. We have seen people find and fall in love with Jesus, we’ve seen families restored, we’ve seen life-long friendships start and grow, and we’ve seen a glimpse of what is possible when the Church is committed to being better 7 days a week, rather than 1.
Just this past year we’ve set out to create a transformation center right here in the West Loop that is For The Love. We want to be known not for what we are against, but what we are FOR. And we are For The Love…for All People. We are For The Love of God being extended to any and every person.
When God called us to be a part of what he was doing in Chicago, we knew we couldn’t say no. The adventure of leading this church has changed our lives, and the mission of leading people into a transforming relationship with Jesus will always be at the heart of Soul City Church.
Overall, has it been relatively smooth? If not, what were some of the struggles along the way?
Of course it hasn’t been a smooth road but it’s been worth all the bumps along the way. When we set out to start Soul City Church all we had was a vision and a calling. There was no big budget, no million dollar startup check. Jarrrett and I risked everything. We left a city we had learned to call home, friends who’d become like family, a beautiful house, and amazing jobs for a dream with no guarantees. Oh, and we did this with two small children in tow.
There were dozens of small setbacks. Moments where Jarrett and I thought the whole thing would fall apart, fail, or get shut down, but we learned to stand in a posture of dependence and spent hours in prayer, waiting for God to show up and perform miracles. There were no paychecks, no health insurance, no vacations in the beginning but it was a beautiful season full of so much purpose. We would not be the church we are today without any of it.
Please tell us about Soul City Church.
We are a church whose vision is to lead an Only-God Movement that transforms the soul, the city, and the world. We believe, Everyone is Accepted, Everyone is Expected, and Grace & Growth are inseparably connected.
Contact Info:
- Address: 1150 W. Adams St. Chicago, IL 60607
- Website: Soulcitychurch.com / Personal WebSite | Jeannestevens.com
- Phone: (312) 252-3062
- Email: info@soulcitychurch.com / jeanne@soulcitychurch.com
- Instagram: @soulcitychurch / @jeannestevens
- Facebook: Soul City Church / JeanneStevens
- Twitter: @soulcitychurch / @Jeannemstevens
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