The Little Church That Could!

The Little Engine That Could is an illustrated children's book that was first published in the United States in 1930 by Platt & Munk.  It’s a familiar story from my childhood that taught us about hard work and the ability to think positively.  My mom would always say “You won’t know if you can do it or not until you’ve tried to do it”.  Mom also used to say “you won’t know if you like it or not until you’ve tried it” in regards to getting us four Boca kids to eat certain foods, usually vegetables, that we weren’t particularly interested in trying.  Thanks, Mom, for all that you taught us!

My mom, Dorothy Kajsa Erickson, grew up in the South Chicago Covenant Church, 10023 S. Avenue L, located on the East Side, a small immigrant community on Chicago’s far southside.  It’s the church her Swedish immigrant parents, Hannah Otilia and Johannes Erickson, attended as they brought their four children to a place of worship.  In that era (Mom was born in 1921), worship services, Sunday School, even confirmation classes, were all done in Swedish.  The language of the church changed to English in 1933, and the name changed from the Mission Evangelical Covenant Church to South Chicago Covenant Church (SCC).

Dorothy Erickson married George Boca, a recent immigrant from the former Yugoslavia, in 1955.  They raised their kids at the South Chicago Covenant Church, even as George remained active in the St. Simeon Mirotocivi Serbian Orthodox Church, located on 114^th and Avenue G.  I am one of those Boca kids who grew up in both traditions, as a cheerleader for the SCC basketball that participated in the southside Covenant churches basketball league on Saturday nights, while also actively participating in the Serbian kolo dance club for kids at St. Simeon’s.  It was a great place to grow up, in faith, in traditions of the church, and in knowing how to serve God and the people that He brings to my life.

South Chicago Covenant Church…

-welcomed babies into the church’s cradle roll

-faithfully sponsored ecumenical Vacation Bible Schools on the East Side

-tirelessly provided opportunities for kids to grow in faith in their AWANA program, the basketball league, confirmation, serving in the community

-raised up generations of believers and Christ followers

-cared for the poor and abused through the Well Spring House and Barnabas Project

-and closed in 1997.

It was a very difficult experience in life, watching your church close.  My mom just could not believe that God’s best plan for SCC was to close.  Wasn’t there just something more that we could do?  

But we serve the God of all creation, the God who has surprises always in store for those who follow Him and serve Him.

Enjoying a quiet moment with Pastor Javier in the prayer room that was dedicated to the memories of my dad and brother, George Boca Sr. and George Boca Jr.

 

Generations sharing hospitality in the same coffee cups from the South Chicago Covenant Church.  This church knows how to practice the gift of hospitality!

One of those surprises took place on Friday, 26 August 2016, as the Iglesia del Pacto Peniel, the Peniel Covenant Church, a Hispanic congregation that reopened in the church building of the old SCC, opened their doors, threw out the red carpet of welcome, and generations of old church and new church were reunited and amazed at God’s incredible goodness.  My husband Steve had never been to the SCC/Peniel church, so it was time for him to sit back and absorb some of the story.  We were right at home, together with Mrs. Elma Borozan and John Stajcic, faithful servants who had been an important part of the life of the SCC.  Worship took place in Spanish, with words projected on the front wall where previously a Warner Sallman painting had hung.  The words were just pouring out of my mouth as I shared stories of the “old church”, which were then translated into Spanish.  There was so much joy ~ is it possible to say even too much joy ~ as we realized and recognized that the vision of the old SCC, to raise up generations of missionaries and trained and equipped church leaders, is the same vision of the Iglesia Peniel, even as they plan to purchase a building next store to the church to open as a community center and training center for disciples of Jesus and missionaries.

I am sure the Swedish founding fathers of this church could not have envisioned projecting the words of "How Great Thou Art" in Spanish ~ a great tradition lives on!

Steve and I took a bold step of faith at the end of our time together and decided to sing a song.  I walked over to the baby grand piano, my friend of many many years, and sat down to sing and play.  At this point in the evening, several people said “no, don’t play the piano, it’s so out of tune”.  To which we replied “it doesn’t matter”.  I was being reunited with an old friend, to sing yet again a song of praise to God.  And my clever husband had chosen the song:  Children of the Heavenly Father.  Perhaps it was a new song to the Peniel church family,  yet it’s a familiar one for Steve and I and how powerful it was to sing in English, and then to finish in Swedish, the original language of the church and the new language and country that Steve and I will transition to in 2017 to work among refugees.

In a moment, I was transported back to my youth...

 

The pulpit where I was sent out as a short term missionary in 1987 and later as long term missionary in 1995 is still a place of welcome for missionaries and servants

Favorite memory of the evening (of course there were several):  before we left the sanctuary to go and eat together, we took a group picture with the kids.  One little girl yelled out “cheese” so we all yelled out “cheese”.  Then I asked how do you say cheese in Spanish, and they all yelled out “queso”.  Then I yelled out “Ost, ost” in honor of the Swedish heritage of this church and our future place of ministry.  

We were having way too much fun, especially with the girls in front who were doing interpretive liturgical dance during worship....priceless!

Just felt like the circle had been completed that evening. 

Truly, this little church on Chicago’s southside is the little church that could!

Though this picture is a bit dark to see, we (the "old church") are on our knees, being blessed by the "new church"....a moment that I shall never forget!

The body of Christ knows no barriers...