Englewood’s Renewal Life Church Reopens Services Following Devastating Thanksgiving Fire Collapse

CHICAGO (WLS) — Following a devastating fire and the subsequent collapse of a church on the South Side during last Thanksgiving, numerous members of a local congregation felt both heartbroken and disillusioned.

The official relaunch on Sunday marked the end of a challenging period for the church community. Those who stayed extended a warm welcome to former members ready to return.

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In the wake of the closure of one chapter, a new opportunity arose. On Sunday, Renewal Life Church’s congregation gathered to rejoice and express gratitude for the new beginnings that came after the Thanksgiving Day fire led to the destruction of their previous place of worship.

“It feels like home now,” expressed Georgia Lindsay, a church member. “We’ve weathered the storms, unsure of where we’d end up. From having nothing, when everything felt lost, we found our direction again.”

Just under three months ago, this small congregation witnessed their church at 59th and Emerald in Englewood being engulfed by flames.

Rebuilding the church was out of the question. Pastor Je’rico Brown went in search of a new space to call their own. They landed on the third floor of a non-descript building in South Shore.

“The first thought was, ‘Do we keep going? Is this our breaking point?’” Brown said.

It was Pastor Brown’s grandmother, who sadly passed away just a few weeks ago, who provided the inspiration to go on. And while Renewal Life Church has been holding services there since early January, between his grandmother’s loss and that of another longtime member, it wasn’t until now that holding an official relaunch felt appropriate.

“We lost them back to back,” Brown said, “This might be the first Sunday when nobody is crying, or ‘Aww this is heavy,’ so this one is special.”

Sunday’s celebration was also meant as a homecoming of sorts for those who left in the aftermath of the fire, decimating the church’s congregation.

“Just to let them know, like, ‘You may have lost hope, but we’re here to regain it,’” church member Chanelle Winters said. “So whenever you’re ready to come back, the doors are open. We’re here, and let’s keep it going.”

It is the church’s new home for now. The pastor said he hopes it will be their last move, at least for a while.