THE CENTER - Wood Dale

JULY 2022 UPDATE (2nd Quarter 2022)

The Center continues to update the Wood Dale facility. We have waterproofed the entire lower level and are in the process of finishing the lower venue room underneath the sanctuary. We also renovated the onsite ministry apartment to be more missional. We updated the colors in the whole missional apartment adding a third bedroom closet, blinds, newer appliances, working downspouts and power washed the outside of the facility.

As a result of all the upkeep, we expanded our relationship with Positive Intentions to include four men’s transitional living spaces. We also added two more recovery meetings on Monday and Tuesday evenings. We also added a new ministry partner in Iglesia Manantial De Vida. The Hispanic Center partner will worship on Sunday afternoons from 1pm to 5pm.

On a final note, the food pantry now serves over 220 families per week and 880 families per month. The growth has been explosive but we are managing to keep up through the generosity of Holy Ghost Church, the city of Wood Dale and individual donations. If you would like to support, please send your gift to the The Center or give online at communitycenter.life

APRIL UPDATE:

We continue to be busy expanding our reach into Wood Dale along with updating the facility.

The Center/ Wood Dale Food Pantry has excelled in its mission to feed our neighbors. From less than 30 families per month 8 months ago to over 240 families in March. We’ve added two fridges and two freezers. The team also was able to add new shelving and simplify the process of moving groceries from the lower level to street level.

The recovery effort has grown from one meeting a week to four meetings with more coming.

The rehab has taken longer than expected. A boiler issue took the team’s effort for the last 60 days. The one ton 1920 boiler has been removed. The water issues rectified. The community room ceilings were painted. The electrical has been streamlined. The parsonage/apartment painted and fixtures updated through our partnership with Positive Intentions.

Perspective is Everything - September’s Mantra

We have been busy in Wood Dale getting the facility ready for more use.

• The dead trees are gone.

• The driveway expanded.

• The bushes trimmed.

• The garage insulated.

• The boiler pipes retooled.

• The food pantry expanded.

The Food Pantry is now open on both Tuesdays and Saturdays from 9-11am. The school district social workers have been asked to send families in need of food to us so we can help. We have even partnered with our friends a Earthpaint.org and local dog rescue group. Earthpaint.org is giving paint to people who can’t afford food but want to freshen up their apartments or homes. The rescue group is giving dog food and pet care supplies to take care of our four legged friends.

Finally, we have spoken with some of the alderman, a chamber of commerce liaison and a whole host of everyday people to get an opinion of what is the biggest need in the area. If you’d like to help us, please send an email to info@communitycenter.life with your thoughts as well.

Grateful to be on mission - how about joining us?

“The world it is a changing”

As the song goes, “The world it is a changing.” 

The Wood Dale Community Church held its last worship service in June. It was a well attended celebration by the people who have faithfully served and been a part of the church’s ministries. The good news is the great commission will continue under a new name: The Center. 

The Wood Dale food pantry will continue and expand.

The recovery meetings will continue and expand.

The worship of the Lord will continue with an expanded selection of times and days. 

And most importantly, The Center will continue to strive to reach, serve and connect everyone, everyday and in every way for Jesus.

Please save this page as we update the mission in Wood Dale. 

July was a productive month….

There is a season for everything. As a part of our commitment to keep the faithful saints of Wood Dale Community Church, we wanted to share a little of what has been happening. 

In July, The Center team has:

• Expanded the food pantry ministry to offer weekly food pick up to provide more to those in need. 

• Enlarged the food pantry area in the lower level by setting up as a store to allow clients to shop for their needs in a safe, socially distant environment. 

• Removed the carpeting and repainted the walls underneath the narthex

• To accommodate the increase in ministry, the garage has been repurposed by adding insulation, additional electrical circuits, patched concrete floor and underwent a thorough cleaning.  

• Secured a grant for industrial freezers and refrigerators

• Cleaned the gutters, expanded the downspouts away from the building and replaced a gutter over the front of the apartment

• Removed several overgrown bushes and dying trees (more to do unfortunately)

• Partnered with PADS to remove all the items they needed to further the ministry in a new location

• Cleared all the remaining non essentials from the facility

• Re-purposed the office to accommodate break-out groups

• Added air conditioning to the old choir room and repurposed for children’s ministry

• Completed the removal of and the disinfecting of the lower fellowship hall as well as the kitchen (required two 30 yard dumpsters)

• Replaced all four doors to the lower level and configured the landings for better drainage

• Added a new church partner to share space weekly on Sunday Morning

• Updated the sanctuary with new Audio Visual Equipment

While there is still more to do, The Center will continue to strive to reach, serve and connect everyone, everyday and in every way to Jesus. 

Please pray for us, especially for more leaders willing to join us on mission. Also, please consider donating to the cause as we ready the facility for more new ministries. The link is at the bottom of this page.