Men Living Out Their Faith Together
Chicago Fellowship exists to help men experience the saving grace of Jesus Christ and extend that grace to others. What started as a handful of businessmen meeting for prayer has grown into a community of over 1,300 men who gather weekly to support one another, grow in their faith, and make a real difference in the broken places of our world.
Community
We believe men need other men - not just casual friendships, but brothers who will challenge them, support them, and watch their backs as they navigate careers, marriages, and faith.
Faith In Action
Following Jesus means more than Sunday mornings. We help men become informed, wise, and generous stewards of their lives by engaging in strategic acts of justice and compassion where they're needed most.
Accountability
Real transformation happens in small groups where men can tell their stories, ask hard questions, and hold each other accountable to living out Biblical truth in every area of life.
Three Decades of Faith, Friendship, and Service
Get InvolvedOur Beginnings
In 1990 a small group of four or five young financial executives in their early thirties started meeting together once a month on a Friday morning for a bible study at the offices of Code Hennessy & Simmons. The early group was comprised of several current board members including Jim Hallene, Tom Formolo and Andy Code.
Each of the members would divide up the Fridays and lead on a variety of relevant topics for young fathers, business executives, and aspiring leaders.
The First Year
By the end of the first year, the group had grown to 10-12 men and were meeting twice a month.
The Third Year
By the third year there were 15 -20 guys coming every Friday morning. Outside speakers would occasionally oversee the sessions, but for the most part three or four guys led each Friday on a very informal basis. Several other current members were coming on a consistent basis, including Chicago Fellowship Board Chair Tim MacKenzie.
We started a mentoring program where two of us would form a relationship with a number of inner city kids and take them to sports events, dinner, and other civic opportunities. We started several small groups and often had activities with our wives.
Ten Years In
By the end of year ten we had around 20-30 guys every week and had to move to the Civic Opera Building for space and growth.
Chapter 2
Beginning in 2004, Ray Carter started attending the Friday morning meetings on a weekly basis. Ray was transitioning out of a full-time Senior Pastor role at Park Community Church and was taking a self-described break from the daily challenges of leading a large church.
Despite Ray’s best efforts to remain “one of the guys” during that first year, it was clear that his biblical insights, thoughtful teaching skills, and gentle pastoral voice was a unique fit for our organization. Following a lunch meeting with Andy Code, Jim Hallene and Tim MacKenzie in August 2004, Ray agreed to become President and assume the leadership role with Chicago Fellowship.
Weekly attendance for the Friday Fellowship Friday morning meetings gradually expanded to 60-80 men per week. As importantly, the impact of the Fellowship spread exponentially, spawning multiple small groups, accountability groups and partnerships with non-profit ministries throughout Chicago and around the world.
Chapter 3
Chapter three includes a lineup of world class speakers who share the teaching responsibility including Skye Jethani, David Swanson, Jon Houghton and other frequent guest speakers.
In addition to the annual retreat and Friday morning fellowship times we have added an annual pilgrimage that in 2023 and 2024 has been a Civil Rights Tour to Atlanta and Alabama. We have added regular happy hour gatherings, book discussions and other social events.