Much more than a house

With prayers and blessings, Tabor Lutheran Church commissions
​fourth LCC Hospitality House as shelter, place for community

​Walking from room to room, feeling God’s awesome presence as each refurbished space in the first-floor apartment of an old two-story urban house was blessed, a group of church leaders, LCC Care Ministry staff, volunteers, and Tabor Lutheran congregation members reflected on the comfort and stability this newly refurbished home will give to families in need in the months and years to come.

On Sunday, Aug. 23, the newest Lutheran Church Charities Hospitality House—the fourth such dwelling—was commissioned. Newly cleaned hardwood floors, freshly painted walls, and completely rebuilt kitchen cabinets reflected the many hours of volunteer work, surprise blessings of donations, and the strength of prayer that went into making this aging structure a place where a family in need can make a fresh start.

“Today it looks like a house,” said Rev. Chris Singer, LCC President/CEO, in his opening remarks. “But what we are commissioning today is really much more than a house.”

The newly renovated home—the lower half of a two-story house two doors down from Tabor Lutheran Church in the Albany Park area of Chicago—will one day be a place of respite for a struggling family and a space filled with a loving community of God’s followers to help them.

“They will find a house that provides shelter, but even more importantly, a Christian community that shows them the mercy, compassion, presence, and love of Jesus Christ,” Rev. Singer said.

Many families experiencing housing hardship feel invisible. The Hospitality House will remind them that they are not forgotten.

Tabor Lutheran Pastor Rev. Phil Robarge echoed Rev. Singer’s thoughts as he led the group into the home.
“Lord, as we cross this threshold, may it become more than just a house. May every room be filled with your peace.”

He blessed the threshold with incense and frankincense.

“Gracious and loving God, today we stand at the threshold of this house with grateful hearts,” he prayed. “Before we enter, we pause to recognize that every good gift comes from you. Thank you for providing this place and for the people, resources, vision, and labor that have made it all possible.”

​ 

Every room filled with peace

As the group walked through each room, Rev. Robarge made a sign of the cross above the doorway of each space. His blessings and prayers were followed by Associate Pastor Walter Ramirez offering the same blessings in Spanish.

“May every room be filled with your peace. May every table become a place of fellowship. May every bed provide rest and safety. May every conversation reflect grace and truth. May every guest encounter the love of Christ.”

Getting the new Hospitality House to where it is today has taken more than a year of prayers and looking for God’s guidance.

The building is owned by Tabor, but a family had been renting the space through an outside property management company. Emily Pacyga, an LCC staff member and part of the congregation at Tabor, had known about the space and periodically checked with the church to see if it might become available.

Finally, the moment came. The family had moved out, and the congregation decided that turning the unit into a Hospitality House was the right move.

“I think it was God whispering in their ear,” said Denise Snider, Director of LCC’s Care Ministry.

---

​The heavy work begins

Once the home was available, the heavy work began. Tabor volunteers spent weeks clearing out and cleaning the space. Volunteers replaced flooring, kitchen cabinets, lighting fixtures, tile, air conditioning units, countertops, and more.

The bathroom, especially, required much love and care. A mold problem required the removal of a damaged wall, thorough cleaning and remediation, and the construction of a brand-new wall. A licensed electrician rewired the home’s electrical system, ensuring a safer environment for future residents. A plumber repaired damaged pipes hidden within the walls. Helpers rebuilt the wooden front porch, making it structurally sound.

Snider admits there were moments when she thought, “Oh my goodness, we didn’t expect this.” But then God showed up. He said, “Let me help.”

“This is God’s ministry, not ours,” said Snider.

Although there are a few small items to finish, mainly in the kitchen and bathroom, the home will soon be ready for a family. The LCC Care Ministry is working to identify a family and planning with Tabor for the ongoing support the family will need.

Pastor Robarge says the Hospitality House is a tangible sign of God’s work for the congregation. It is something people can look at and see God’s hand in.

While housing is the immediate need, the mission of the Hospitality House goes far beyond providing a roof overhead. The family who moves in will be supported by a dedicated Care Team that will walk alongside them during their stay.

Tabor’s Care Team will offer encouragement and spiritual care grounded in Christ and help the family connect with the life of the congregation. They will provide mentorship and relational support, help the family create a plan to move from crisis to stability, and connect them with vital resources, including employment assistance, counseling, education, and housing services.

It might seem like a large undertaking, but LCC’s Hospitality House Ministry began with a simple idea.

“What if property that God has already entrusted to His Church could be used to care for people who find themselves in a season of crisis?” said Rev. Singer. “A parsonage that is no longer being used. An apartment. A piece of church property sitting vacant. What if, instead of simply asking, ‘What should we do with this property?’ we asked, ‘Who could God love and serve through it?’”

That is what a Hospitality House is about.

As the newly commissioned home becomes the fourth Hospitality House of LCC’s Care Ministry, it is good to reflect on what we learn from God.
​
“In welcoming a stranger, we welcome You.”