Historic Englewood church begins rebuilding journey after Good Friday blaze
Church leaders promised to rebuild. They made their first transfer towards protecting that promise on Tuesday.
CHICAGO – Greater than two years in the past, a historic church on Chicago’s South Facet was destroyed in an enormous hearth on Good Friday.
Church leaders promised to rebuild. They made their first transfer towards protecting that promise on Tuesday.
The fireplace not solely destroyed the Antioch Baptist Church constructing however devastated the Englewood neighborhood. On Tuesday, the church’s longtime pastor Gerald Dew mentioned he felt pleasure and thanksgiving.
Elected officers, clergy, church members and Englewood residents celebrated the groundbreaking of their multi-million greenback constructing.
The 100-year-old church positioned at 63rd and Stewart caught hearth in April of 2022. It burned for 5 days.
Church leaders mentioned the hearth was attributable to roofers utilizing a propane torch throughout renovations.
The brand new constructing will embrace 900 seats, worship area, a wellness heart, a gymnasium and a pc lab.
Antich Baptist Church for many years has fed the homeless, organized coat and toy drives, supplied housing for households and a lot extra.
“God has all the time introduced magnificence from ashes,” mentioned Rev. Dr. Janette Wilson of the Rainbow/PUSH Coalition. “And after we stand right here at the moment, I can solely think about what Antioch will be capable of do to not solely preach each Sunday and educate each week but additionally to have interaction in combating for this neighborhood, this Englewood neighborhood.”
Pastor Dew mentioned contractors imagine the constructing ought to be accomplished in 12 to 14 months. He added that though insurance coverage paid two-thirds of the fee, they nonetheless want to lift a further $3 million for the rebuilding, so leaders are looking for assist from the general public.
“For these final two-plus years, we have been coping with architects and designers and choosing contractors and vetting sub-contractors and we have been elevating funds and allocating cash and redesigning and re-thinking and re-dreaming and God has introduced us to this place,” Dew mentioned. “Reward be to God! This website is marvelous in our eyes.”
Donations to help the rebuilding of Antioch Baptist Church could be made in a number of methods:
- On-line: Go to the church’s web site at antiochchicago.com or use Givelify at ambcchicago.org (choose “Construct Antioch”).
- Zelle: Ship donations to antiochchurchchicago@gmail.com.
- Textual content-to-Give: Textual content “Ahead” to 28950.
- Mail: Ship checks payable to Antioch Missionary Baptist Church to 611 W. 63rd Road, Suite #012, Chicago, IL 60621.
- Cellphone: Name (773) 873-4433 to rearrange for a donation pickup.
- In-Individual: Sq. bank card donations are accepted throughout Sunday worship companies.
For extra info on the rebuilding venture, go to antiochchicago.com.
