Since its founding, the heart of TCP has been to see thriving, connected churches established throughout Chicago. The initial vision came in the summer of 2000 when Pastor Jon Dennis and a few Chicago leaders attended a conference in London on church planting, featuring teaching by leaders from Sydney, Chicago, New York, and London. At that conference, Tim Keller made the point that “no one church can reach a city by itself” and a vision was born - scribbled on a napkin late after the conference day was over. 

After praying for several years, the vision was realized and The Chicago Partnership launched in 2009. Three initial churches each contributing $25,000 to help fund church planters - Park Community Church, Holy Trinity, and Moody Church. The work of training, coaching, and helping fund church plants throughout the city began. Over the last twelve years, TCP has helped to plant over 20 church plants, partnering with local churches and Redeemer City to City.

The Chicago Partnership has continued to grow in number and the vision has expanded as well. While continuing to train and fund church planters, we’ve also turned our attention to church revitalizers and church leaders serving in established congregations.

TCP has a vision of planting and revitalizing over 100 churches in Chicago over the next ten years by:

• Supporting and Training Local Leaders - Training and equipping church leaders, church planters, and church revitalizers through our Leadership Cohort and providing continued support to leaders through one-on-one coaching, funding, and training events.

• Partnering with Local Churches - Accelerating the church planting movement in our divided and segregated city by building relationships between churches, uniting behind a common mission to see connection and collaboration throughout the citywide church community.

• Amplifying Local Organizations - We come alongside local organizations to affirm and amplify the collective efforts to serve Chicagoland as the hands and feet of Jesus and help strengthen the gospel ecosystem across Chicagoland.

We still believe that “no one church can reach a city by itself”. The needs of our communities, our churches, and our clergy are too demanding, too pressing. The work can be relentless, and despite our best intentions, we can easily find ourselves isolated. 

So - as for the TCP team - we’re committed to setting a table. Preparing spaces for the citywide, Spirit-empowered, diverse, connected community of Jesus Christ to come together, strengthen and encourage one another, for the good of the city and the glory of God. 

We hope you’ll join us.