Willow’s New Church for Hispanics

Orginally published on Friday, January 27, 2006 at 3:11 PM
by Todd Rhoades

This from the Chicago Tribune:

It may look like just another Sunday at the South Barrington megachurch, but the 150 or so people gathered inside this intimate chapel were singing and praying in Spanish. And unlike the so-called "unchurched" who traditionally have flocked to Willow Creek's big auditorium down the hall, most everyone grew up with religion, usually Catholicism.

Church leaders started to reach out to the area's growing Hispanic community several years ago by forming a small prayer group on New Year's Eve 1999. They later found that the 2000 census had counted about 112,000 Hispanics within 20 minutes of the church.

"We weren't sure if Hispanics would feel comfortable here," said Mark Ashton, pastor of spiritual discovery at Willow Creek. "There were no Spanish-speaking pastors at the time, and it doesn't feel like a place where Hispanics go. We serve a mostly white market, and our campus has a corporate feel."

But the church's Hispanic neighbors have gradually begun to find their way to Willow Creek, where that small prayer group has evolved into a separate church called Casa de Luz, or House of Light. The church, which draws a consistent crowd of 150 to 200 people, will begin offering two weekly Sunday services this weekend.

One of the differences between worshipers at Casa De Luz and those at regular Willow Creek services is how and why they check out the church, said Gene Brush, a bilingual insurance agent from Berwyn.

Most Hispanics won't visit the church on their own, Brush said, but usually show up with friends or family on someone's recommendation. Brush believes Hermosillo will keep seekers coming back.

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