the underground network

The Underground Network is a relationally-connected group of friends, organic churches, and missional communities in Chicago trying to follow Christ.

We dream of seeing a vibrant family of Jesus Christ within close reach of every person in Chicago both geographically and culturally.

We understand that each person sees truth a little differently and that God has the ability to reach us all, where we are. We are not denominationally affiliated and we are not interested in preaching at anyone. We are an extended family that believes that another world is possible.  For more of who we are, check out our values tag-cloud.

We are a community based on the love and life of Christ. That means we are interested in helping people; whatever it takes.

We are an organic movement which means we are interested in using forms natural to our environment to achieve our goal. In this city, families and groups of friends meet in homes, restaurants, bars, clubs, parks, coffee shops, schools, and community centers; so that’s what we do.  We share life together, learning to be the church we want to see in the world.

Our main projects are urban missions (organic church planting, social justice), city research (spiritual mapping), and missional and spiritual formation (apprenticeships, coaching).  Check our mindmap for a visual!

We are not interested in your money. We encourage people to give back to God in ways they feel appropriate. Sometimes that means paying a struggling neighbors electric bill; sometimes it means buying a meal for a homeless person; sometimes it means sending support to a missionary; sometimes it means giving to our budget and sometimes it looks totally different. Those of us who are blessed to be supported in working with this effort full or part-time are supported by other individuals and organizations and do not gain direct financial support from donations given to the Underground Network.

When an organism is introduced into an environment for which it is well suited, it spreads like kudzu or a virus. We believe that the Good News of God is just as explosive.  An idea that changes our world, our city, our families, and our very lives.