The Ready Initiative is an intentional season for Park Community Church Forest Glen to prepare both our people and our building to better share the Good News of Jesus, today and for generations to come.

Rooted in 2 Corinthians 9:1–5, where the word “ready” appears repeatedly, this initiative reminds us that readiness matters for both the giver and the recipient. It calls us to be spiritually, relationally, and practically prepared for the Gospel to reach others.

Join one of our Ready Initiative Gatherings and hear first-hand from Pastor Brenton Smith about some of the exciting things we’ve been working on and how you can be involved.

Why we're doing this

We’re doing this for our “One” — one neighbor, one friend, or one family member who isn’t yet walking with Jesus. We believe the church should always be ready to welcome people, help them connect with God and with one another, and walk alongside them as they grow in faith.

We want to steward what we’ve been given not for ourselves, but for the sake of Forest Glen, Chicago and the generations who will live here in the years to come.

Learn More

Important Dates

Ready Sermon Series

April 19 - May 24

Ready Initiative Gatherings

April 20 - May 2 (sign up now)

Prayer & Worship Night

Tuesday, May 12 at 6:30 PM

Commitment Sunday

May 17

Park FG Spring Celebration

Saturday, May 30 at 11:30 AM

Celebration Sunday

May 31

A letter from Pastor Brenton

Dear Park Forest Glen,

Our history, as a church, is defined by a consistent readiness to follow where God leads. From our origin as a plant of Moody Church to the intentional decision to become a multi-site church, Park Community Church has always prioritized people.

The same is true of those who came before us—men and women who, in 1919, began a Sunday school in Forest Glen because they believed the love of Jesus is best shared in the neighborhoods where we live, work, and raise our families.

In recent years, we have witnessed:

Growing Generations: Our children’s ministry is vibrant, often serving more kids than many churches see adults on a Sunday.
Deep Connection: Over 100 people are actively deepening their faith through small groups.
Transformed Lives: We have celebrated over 100 baptisms, seen marriages healed, and addictions broken by the grace of God.

The Ready Initiative is an intentional season for Park Community Church Forest Glen to prepare both our people and our building to better share the Good News of Jesus, today and for generations to come.

We are celebrating what God is doing right now and preparing for what He will do through our church in the future.

As we move forward with this initiative, we invite you to be part of this continuing story. Whether you’ve been here for 40 years or you just walked through our doors for the first time, you are part of a lineage of people ready to reach our neighbors and future generations.

Thank you for being part of this family. Let’s see what God will do next.

Blessings,
Pastor Brenton

Frequently asked questions

What is the Ready Initiative?

The Ready Initiative is an intentional time for Park Community Church Forest Glen to prepare our people and our building to better share the Good News of Jesus, today and for generations to come.

Why did our leaders decide to launch the Ready Initiative?

We want to keep creating a welcoming space where people can connect with God and each other every week. There are over 200,000 people in the three zip codes closest to us who need the hope of Jesus. Like those who came before us, we want to steward the blessings we’ve received, not for ourselves but for God’s kingdom.

Why are we doing the Ready Initiative now?

This will be an intentional time for us to prepare ourselves and our church building to be ready, to better reach those who need to hear about the Good News of Jesus today and for years to come. There are key needs of Park FG now that we hope to address and after prayerful consideration by the elders, we believe we are now able to address them.

How much are we hoping to raise?

We’re asking our church family to come together on Sunday, May 17, during one of our services. At that time, we invite each household to bring forward one commitment card, including the names of your Ones and your financial commitment. These commitments will help our elders thoughtfully prioritize and plan the work God is calling us to.

Then, on Celebration Sunday, May 31, we invite everyone to begin fulfilling their commitments by setting up digital giving or giving by check.

What happens if we exceed or don’t meet our financial goal?

Only through God’s grace do we expect to meet or exceed our financial goals. This requires your prayerful consideration and God’s work at Park FG. In the event that we do not meet our financial goal, our leadership team will reevaluate and prioritize the work most critical to preparing us to reach more people for Jesus. We will be transparent about our goal and progress, and you will have updates as we have them.
If we exceed the goal, the vision we have is large enough to use the extra giving.

What building projects are planned and will they disrupt church gatherings?

We anticipate minimal disruption to our church gatherings and ministries, though it will be a season of working around the projects.

Who is our One?

Our One is a local neighbor, friend, or family member who doesn’t yet know Jesus. We want you to be intentional in your relationship with them: pray for them, spend time with them, and when the time is right, engage in spiritual conversations. Let them see Jesus and God’s love in you. This is NOT a spiritual project or to do, but someone who you love and who you want to show God’s love to.

Is this part of monthly giving?

These gifts are above and beyond your normal giving to the church so that the ongoing ministry of the church can continue. If you have not yet committed to giving regularly, we ask that you take this step first toward generosity and then pray about committing to the Ready Initiative.

Can I donate gifts-in-kind?

You are welcome to donate gifts-in-kind, please reach out to fgelders@parkcommunitychurch.org to follow up on the conversations.

Who do I talk to about other questions?

Please reach out to fgelders@parkcommunitychurch.org and one of the elders will reach out and schedule a time to meet with you.

Are the Park FG elders aligned to this initiative?

Yes, the Park FG elders, along with Park churchwide elders, are actively involved in the Ready Initiative, have prayed over the need, the ask and the timing, and are fully supportive.

Ready to give

If Park Forest Glen is your church home, we’re inviting you to prayerfully take part in the Ready Initiative in two meaningful ways: one relational and one financial.

Together, we can make an eternal impact in our community.

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