Thankful for God’s providence, especially in Christ, we want to share these treasures with this city by further enhancing our current ministries, including our school, and expanding our ability to reach more people who need peace, hope, and life in Chicago. This ministry campaign will include new classrooms, relocating the school’s entrance, enhancements to the gymnasium, revamping the church into a state-of-the-art sanctuary — keeping historic aesthetic while modernizing tech, enlarging the church’s narthex, restoring the original pipe organ, and improvements to the Community Center, among other projects.

This campaign is not about building things. It’s about building people. It’s about giving people a gift of hope and peace upon which they can build their lives. God is equipping and moving St. James to joyfully jump to another level of mission and ministry to Chicago. This city needs Jesus. Please pray for God’s work here and consider committing to offer your time, talent, and money to make this happen.

Make a Pledge Make a Gift

St. James Lutheran Church (FEIN 36-2468050) is a current and valid 501(c)(3) non-profit organization in accordance with the standards and regulations of the Internal Revenue Service. 

In light of our four ministry targets, by God’s grace and blessing in the next three years we plan to:

  • Uncouple middle school classes for more effective instruction of older students and allow for growth in earlier grades
  • Increase of our school enrollment from 205 to 260
  • Expand small group ministries addressing the unique needs of our demographics
  • Expand music programming in school, worship, and serving the public
  • Better support families with babies and small children in their homes and at services
  • Improve accessibility to serve all people so they may hear the Good News
  • Improve our ability to provide and support our workers and volunteers
  • Expand our reach to the tens of thousands of college students nearby by calling a vicar and/or pastor
  • Increase our support of LCMS churches and schools in the city in serving our communities with the Gospel
  • Partner with neighboring human care organizations to care for those in need
  • Open, expand, and enhance our campus to be a central place for our neighbors to gather, discuss, enjoy community, and learn about God’s love in Christ through actions and words

From Leadership:

God is good! Not only has He graciously blessed and led us through a fruitful Alive in Christ campaign over the last three years—delivering vital, overdue facility enhancements— He’s now in front of us again, pushing us to elevate St. James and set up our home for sustainable success as we look to the future.


Growth is not easy, as it often requires us to embrace change, discomfort, and willingness to think beyond our boundaries. Yet, backed by His guidance, we can and will deliver. Serving as your honored leaders, we strongly believe now is our moment to build upon the years that have come before for us—and recognize transformational growth is essential across our entire campus.


Join us as we embark upon Building on Christ, our next ministry campaign. This campaign plan addresses the development needs for our growing campus: from our day school to the countless other ministries we have today, as well as those we seek to add tomorrow as part of our long-term strategic plan.


We couldn’t be more excited and optimistic of what lies ahead. Rest assured, you have our commitment to stay focused on the “why,” which is to accelerate two of our most important objectives as total St. James: bringing Jesus into the lives of more children and spreading grace and peace to all those who need it in a city that yearns for Christian leadership.


We prayerfully challenge and ask each of you to get involved in the best way you know how. One thing remains very clear, it’s going to take ALL of us! We thank you, and God bless each and every one of you.


Growing in Christ,



  • Tyler Lowell, President
  • Casey McGuire, Vice-President
  • Dan Henning, Secretary
  • Pete Regis, Finance Board Chair
  • Sara Welch, Education Board Chair
  • Warren Gast, Elder Board Chair
  • Kim Hibben, Admin Board Chair


Share by: