Religious Organizations Step to the Plate

Amid modern-day struggles such as job loss, foreclosures and general financial stress, residents are looking to their places of worship for more than just faith-based support.

"The state of the economy has not just affected the job market and family budgets," said for . "It's affected religious institutions as well."

Times are changing and the roles of many local religious organizations are changing with it. Grace Pointe, a non-denominational, family and community focused church on East Chicago Avenue, has responded to societal demands by adding life skills classes and other workshops to help residents get back on their feet.

The need has continued to skyrocket, leading another site for services and workshops being added in Plainfield. But that new congregation has also grown—from about 120 people to more than 200. And in the realm of religious institutions, it's not alone.

, pastor of , agreed, but said he's noticed more of a desire to help those in need among people who attend his services. The church has teamed up with the Plainfield-based, Green Harvest Food Pantry. It serves residents of Plainfield, Aurora, Oswego, Plano, Naperville, Montgomery, Bolingbrook, Romeoville and Yorkville.

"Since then I've seen a bit of an increase in that sort of a commitment of our congregation in helping to support the organization," Sylvia said, describing his church as a liberal and progressive one. "It feels like the congregation stepping up a little more and recognizing that there is maybe more of a need. … It really feels like a new energy, a new commitment."

HOPE's growing numbers have caused the church to seek a new location in the community. It will move to a building near the intersection of Quincy and Ogden Avenues in June.

"Some of that growth has been what appears to just be a connection to community," Slyvia said. "Historically, in difficult times, a lot of people will seek out the different services a church has to offer … But also just to be connected to other people."

of said that although he lends an ear to those facing troubles, as any traditional religious leader does, he leaves job help, resume writing and life-skill building to local nonprofit agencies.

"A synagogue needs to do one thing really well," he said. "… There are agencies in the Jewish community that will help people with family services so we aren't really going in that direction."

Many services available to members of the congregation are funded by the Jewish Federation of Metropolitan Chicago.

"We can't provide everything," Rudolph said. "We continue to focus on education for children and adults and serving as a link to Israel. There are plenty of other agencies in our community that can provide those other specialized services that people may be seeking right now."

Wong knows there is a plethora of outlets offering similar support as Grace Pointe. But what's one more?

"The more help we can offer, the better," he said.

Grace Pointe's Plainfield location has been based at Plainfield North High School for the past two years. The church has taken over a storefront at 14210 Route 30, where it holds a regular Sunday service at 9 a.m. and starting April 10, will add an additional family Sunday service at 11 a.m.

"We've reached a number of people who really didn't come to church but saw our workshops as a benefit to a church service," Wong said.

"It's different to find a church in this economy that's actually growing … We want to raise awareness that the church is cognizant of what's going on in the community."