Imagine…For Such a Time as This
By Pastor Bill Shereos

You and I are privileged to live in a remarkable world-class city, the city that works, Chicago. Driving down nearby Lake Shore Drive we experience a gorgeous lakeshore, home to a colorful, economically and ethnically diverse population engaged in a myriad of recreational activities. Our city has one of the most captivating skylines in the United States. Within walking distance of our church are a variety of small shops, theaters, and ethnic restaurants which serve delicious cuisine from around the world.

Paradoxically, we are also surrounded by brokenness. All around us live broken people, struggling, with no sense of purpose. We live in the midst of splintered families, fractured relationships, and shattered dreams. The desire for a quick fix and an escape from the pain leads many to false dependencies such as materialism, codependent relationships, and chemical addictions.

Imagine our church as a refuge and an outpost in the city where, through the love of Christ, people discover a life-changing relationship with Jesus, families heal and grow, youth and children learn to serve Christ, and those formerly alienated from organized religion find an authentic church family.

God has strategically placed First Free in this amazing city because a relationship with Jesus is the only way to adequately address our sin and our brokenness. Jesus is the hope of the world and He is building First Free as a place of refuge, hope, healing, and outreach: a place where people are transformed in their relationship with God, a place where people openly and honestly share their brokenness and experience genuine community, a place where worship is vibrant and believers enjoy creative expressions of faith, and a place where outreach reflects God's heart of compassion.

Our dream is to be that place.