Samantha Henson: Church Visit #2

Church name: Tha House Covenant Church (Hip-Hop Church through Lawndale Community Church

Church address: 2111 South Hamlin Street
Chicago, IL 60623

Date attended: October 4th

Church category: Different Economic Background

Describe the worship service you attended. How was it similar to or different from your regular context?

The worship service was incredibly different than my home church. It was much smaller, having between twenty to twenty five people in the congregation, and most of the individuals knew each other. The service began with two guest hip hop artists that produced music in the area, all original songs influenced by their personal faith. After, we were asked to pray in small groups with one another about the personal scandals or temptations we were facing currently in our life, as that was the theme of the sermon that evening. The sermon was called “Scandal,” relating it to the popular television show, and we looked at the entire story of Jacob’s life (from stealing the birth right and creating a scandal to falling for a scandal by his father in law). Part of the sermon was told by one of the women in the congregation, and the pastor ended it by relating the story to everyday life. 

What did you find most interesting or appealing about the worship service?

What was most appealing was the sense of community that was based in the church’s worship style and sermon. Although the service is only held every first Saturday of the month, everyone in the congregation was incredibly friendly with one another and with us. The pastor greeted us as new visitors, and went up to every person and started conversations with each one. The hip hop artists also related their music to personal issues they faced in their community in Chicago. For instance, one of them sang about the personal struggle of temptation he fought against and his desire to follow God. Another sang about Chicago as “Chiraq,” a dangerous city that we need to unify and fix. The sermon was also strongly related to fighting family scandals, and understanding that as Christians we don’t need to follow the same path our relatives have. The congregation wanted to apply the Word to all aspects of their life. 

What did you find most disorienting or challenging about the worship service?

There weren't very many things that I didn't like about the church service, except I would love to see the congregation have more than one service a month. It also took us over fifty minutes to commute to downtown Lawndale from Wheaton, making it very difficult to get to the church on time or even to get there in general. But understanding the strong emphasis Lawndale Community Church (Tha House’s main church) has on keeping the membership and attendance local made me realize that the church's location is not for commuters but for those living in the area. I also think that it would have been great for the church to have communion when they meet. Although the church doesn't meet too often and may want to attract more members that have never experienced church before, it’s good for the body of Christ to understand the Eucharist and take part in it as a community. 

What aspects of Scripture or theology did the worship service illuminate for you that you had not perceived as clearly in your regular context?
What I really loved about this church was how relative and Christianity was preached to the entire congregation as well as the entire community. Rather than having rich Christians from other cultures preach to them about the right way to live, Pastor Phil lives in the area and loved on them interpersonally. His style of preaching truly revealed how they could live the Word in their own culture. I have found that so many churches try to change an individual’s culture through using only specific types of worship styles or sharing the word in a general context. When someone is not of that particular culture, they feel excluded from the body of Christ and believe that God does not want them part of His family. But, having the hip-hop worship demonstrates how the Word lives through all types of cultural heritages, and does not have to fit the specific, social stereotype of the mega church.