Secular Woes -- Job Loss, Foreclosure -- Causing Churches to Change

When modern-day struggles -- job loss, foreclosure, financial stress -- become too much, area residents look to their places of worship for more than just faith-based support.

"The state of the economy has not just affected the job market and family budgets," said for , which meets every Sunday at locations in Naperville and Plainfield. "It's affected religious institutions as well."

Times are changing and the roles of many local religious organizations are changing with it. Grace Pointe, a non-denominational family- and community-focused church, has responded to societal demands by adding life skills classes and other workshops to help residents get back on their feet.

, pastor of Naperville's , agreed that things are changing. He said he's noticed more of a desire to help those in need among people who attend his services, propting the church has teamed up with the Plainfield-based Green Harvest Food Pantry. It serves residents of Plainfield, Aurora, Oswego, Plano, Naperville, Montgomery, Bolingbrook, Romeoville and Yorkville.

"Since then, I've seen a bit of an increase in that sort of a commitment of our congregation in helping to support the organization," Sylvia said, describing his church as a liberal and progressive one. "It feels like the congregation stepping up a little more and recognizing that there is maybe more of a need. … It really feels like a new energy, a new commitment."

HOPE's growing numbers have caused the church to seek a new location in the community. It will move to a building near the intersection of Quincy and Ogden avenues in June.

"Some of that growth has been what appears to just be a connection to community," Slyvia said. "Historically, in difficult times, a lot of people will seek out the different services a church has to offer … but also just to be connected to other people."

of in Naperville said that although he lends an ear to those facing troubles, as any traditional religious leader does, he leaves job help, resume writing and life-skill building to local nonprofit agencies.

"A synagogue needs to do one thing really well," he said. "… There are agencies in the Jewish community that will help people with family services so we aren't really going in that direction."

Many services available to members of the congregation are funded by the Jewish Federation of Metropolitan Chicago.

"We can't provide everything," Rudolph said. "We continue to focus on education for children and adults and serving as a link to Israel. There are plenty of other agencies in our community that can provide those other specialized services that people may be seeking right now."

Wong knows there is a plethora of outlets offering similar support as Grace Pointe. But where's the harm in one more?

"The more help we can offer, the better," he said.

For the past two years, Grace Pointe's Plainfield location was Plainfield North High School. The church has now taken over a storefront at 14210 U.S. 30, where it holds a regular 9 a.m. Sunday service at 9 a.m. and starting April 10, will add an additional 11 a.m. Sunday.

"We've reached a number of people who really didn't come to church but saw our workshops as a benefit to a church service," Wong said.

"It's different to find a church in this economy that's actually growing. … We want to raise awareness that the church is cognizant of what's going on in the community."