A Parish Story from Waukegan, Illinois

Mosaic Ministries is a diverse group of Christ-followers living as an embodied presence to work for repair, healing, and flourishing of their neighborhood in North Chicago as they center their daily lives around the life and love of Christ.

They are grounded with partnerships in the local community, with a network of churches and a nonprofit arm of Mosaic House Ministries in North Chicago and Waukegan, IL. They have an intentional living community for future church leaders who practice prayer, hospitality, fellowship, and presence in the neighborhood. They also have a collaborative space called the Mosaic Hub, a renovated library building that serves the community with youth programs, creative arts, worship, prayer, and meeting space.

“What does it mean for me to be #4Waukegan? For me it means that I get a chance to open my eyes and open my heart to view and experience and highlight loving people in Waukegan. Joyful people in Waukegan. Peaceful people in Waukegan. Kind people in Waukegan. Patient people in Waukegan. Good people in Waukegan. Gentle people in Waukegan. Faithful people in Waukegan. And people who show self control in Waukegan.”

Raul Ochoa

Mosaic started relationally and grows organically by God’s Spirit, emerging in a messy, loose structure, as they discern God’s leading. They organize citywide worship and prayer gatherings, largely led by young adults, that flow out into the community, responding to needs and leveraging assets from within the community. One such need in the wake of the pandemic is supporting school administration–providing hope and community to burnt-out teachers and students experiencing mental health issues.

Mosaic advances this work in collaboration with churches of Waukegan for Waukegan. When school leaders ask, “Why are you doing this?” Mosaic responds by sharing the love of Christ, desiring to be known for what they’re for and not what they’re against.

“I no longer see myself only as the pastor of Journey Church; I see myself as co-shepherd of Waukegan with all of you.”

Pastor Carlos Herrera

Visit Mosaic and Mosaic House Ministries online to connect and learn more.