RRR Campaign | Lake Street Church

The Repair, Restore, Revitalize Campaign

Be a Part of LSC's Future:

Lake Street Church has launched a campaign to secure our future and we invite you to be part of it! Joining the Repair, Restore, Revitalize (RRR) Campaign means...

Supporting our sacred space as a vital resource in the community and a center of social justice:

Urgently needed repairs and improvements to the Spire, Sanctuary, Courtyard Tower and roof over MacLeish Hall.

Honoring our cloud of witnesses:

Long-delayed restoration of our Memorial Garden.

Strengthening our relationship with Second Baptist Church:

Contributing to a Second Baptist scholarship fund for students of color in Evanston.

This campaign is about securing Lake Street Church as a vital resource for the wider community, a leader in social justice and a welcoming home to our congregation.

With a campaign goal of $1,200,000, we are excited to let you know we are just $60,000 from our goal.

Pledge Online

Campaign FAQs

Print Pledge Form

Restoring Our Sacred Space

Our building is more than a house of worship. It is a home to social justice organizations, a

sanctuary for individuals in need, and a meeting place for countless community members.

Essential repairs to our steeple, roof, and Memorial Garden and Courtyard are urgently needed

to ensure our facilities remain safe, sustainable, and accessible for all. Without action, these

areas will face further deterioration, resulting in potential safety hazards and increased future

costs.

Through the Repair, Restore, Revitalize Campaign, our congregation seeks to complete

these essential capital repairs without the burden of debt or the need to draw from our

cherished reserves. The restoration efforts include the following estimates as of July 2025:

● Steeple Repair ($600,000): Our historic steeple, an Evanston landmark, requires

immediate attention due to wind and water damage, which have weakened its structural

integrity.

● Roof and Courtyard Tower Repairs ($75,000): Preventative repairs to Lake Street

Church’s roof and courtyard tower are needed to ensure its stability and prevent

additional deterioration against water and snow.

● Memorial Garden Upgrade and Courtyard Revitalization ($40,000): Our Memorial

Garden is a place to honor those who have come before us, but in its current state, it is

not living up to its promise. We will replace the broken electrical system and plantings

that have exceeded their prime to re-create an environment suitable for contemplation

and remembering loved ones. Renovations to our Memorial Garden will honor those

interred, creating a serene space for reflection and community gatherings.

Rooted, Connected, Transformed

Since 1858, Lake Street Church has been deeply rooted in Evanston, and our sanctuary, built in

1873, remains the city’s oldest public structure—a beacon for community and faith. The physical

integrity of our historic building is now at risk, and we have an opportunity to make it safer,

stronger, and more welcoming than ever. In fact, delaying essential care for Lake Street Church

is not an option; it may result in increased safety hazards, a diminished historic and aesthetic

presence, and the potential for more costly reconstruction in the future.

We envision a vibrant future, where Lake Street Church not only withstands time, but also

continues to embrace its role as a center for social justice and meaningful connections. As

religious affiliations decline nationwide, we are forging a different path—embracing growth,

inclusivity, and collaboration. We value our partnerships with community-based organizations

such as Hilda’s Place—the North Shore’s only overnight shelter for the unhoused that operates

from our facilities—and North Shore Alano, which offers addiction support meetings for

thousands of individuals in our building. LSC also donates space to both Second Baptist Church

and Connections for the Homeless throughout the year for various activities. Through the

campaign, we aim to strengthen these partnerships and expand our role as a community

resource that nurtures transformative change.

Repairing History with Purpose

In 1882, ten Black members left Lake Street Church to found Second Baptist Church due to a lack of leadership opportunities and segregated seating. Since the 1990s, Lake Street Church has sought reconciliation, working to mend this history through dialogues and actions aimed at racial justice. Today, as the City of Evanston implements its historic reparations program, we join hands with Second Baptist Church to promote equity through education. Following the leadership of Second Baptist Church, through this campaign, we seek to raise $200,000 for a scholarship fund for Evanston students of color. Together with Second Baptist, we will work to address our community’s opportunity gap between Black and white students in Evanston, which is one of the largest in the state and the nation.

Revitalizing for a Lasting Impact

Our Repair, Restore, Revitalize campaign is an opportunity to invest in our shared values, our community, and our legacy. Whether it’s supporting the steeple repair, funding the educational scholarship, or helping to refurbish our Memorial Garden and courtyard, your gift will have a profound impact. It will help us to honor Lake Street Church’s past, secure its present, and envision a continued future of unity, justice, and resilience.

This campaign offers an opportunity to leave a legacy, whether by honoring a loved one or standing alongside others committed to a just and inclusive world. We invite you to walk alongside us on this transformative journey. If you would like to explore ways you can contribute to our efforts, please contact Jim Chilsen and Roz Poole, Campaign Co-Chairs.

Together, we can ensure that Lake Street Church continues to be a sanctuary of hope, action, and community for decades to come.

A Legacy of Unity & Progress

Lake Street Church has been a cornerstone of spiritual growth, social action, and community since its founding in 1858. From its beginning as a group of families committed to educating children in the Christian tradition, Lake Street Church was an active community of participants dedicated to enriching each individual's spiritual life while serving the needs of others. For over 150 years, LSC has served as a welcoming sanctuary and offered people from all walks of life

the freedom to explore their spiritual paths within a supportive, inclusive environment. Today, we continue to be a place for dialogue, action, and connection—a gathering space for people committed to fostering justice, peace, and understanding.

Lake Street Church stands at a pivotal moment in the life of our community, poised to ensure our legacy continues for generations.

LIZ, Campaign Committee Member

Lake Street Church has supported me in practical, spiritual and emotional

ways… I've also experienced fun and interesting musical performances, learned many skills, and developed cherished friendships at church.

I would not be the person I am today without those experiences.

BETTY, CEO, Connections for the Homeless

For the last 40 years, Lake Street Church has been Connections for the Homeless’ most steadfast partner. From inception to present-day, from space-sharing to problem-solving, they are our home. Our aligned missions that focus on serving all of our neighbors with dignity, caring, and generosity of spirit manifest daily in the work of both our organizations.

Connections and Lake Street Church, together, are a powerful demonstration of the concept of the whole being greater than the sum of the parts.

KELLI, New LSC Member

Harvey Milk said ‘All young people, regardless of sexual

orientation or identity, deserve a safe and supportive environment in which to achieve their full potential.’

Lake Street is this environment for my family. A place where the congregation has not only embraced us but shown us a level of compassion and support, I didn't think existed.

We are so lucky to have landed here.

The Repair, Restore, Revitalize Campaign

Restoring Our Sacred Space

Rooted, Connected, Transformed

Repairing History with Purpose

Revitalizing for a Lasting Impact

A Legacy of Unity & Progress

LIZ, Campaign Committee Member

BETTY, CEO, Connections for the Homeless

KELLI, New LSC Member

Links

Sign Up for Our Newletter

Get in Touch

Send Us a Message

Search