The Chicago Partnership

This week we’re celebrating 5 years of the TCP Weekly! Over that time, we’ve shared 243 posts, seen over 288,000 emails opened, and now reach a community of more than 3,000 local subscribers! We’re so grateful for all of you who read and subscribe. Each week we’re honored to share events, resources, and testimonies of the work happening across our city. It’s a privilege to celebrate this milestone with you as we continue working together to make Jesus visible in every neighborhood of Chicago. If you’re not already subscribed, we’d love to have you join the community: tcpweekly.substack.com.

Midnight of an Empire with Sho Baraka and Malcolm Foley is coming to Chicago on Monday, March 16th at 7pm, joined by local guest, Pastor Jonathan Brooks. RSVP for this free event at join-tcp.org/events and be entered to win a merch package from the tour! Brought to you by The Chicago Partnership.

Faithful leadership begins with honest conversation. We're gathering pastors and leaders from across Chicago to wrestle with the questions shaping our moment: How do we lead through grief? Empire or Kingdom? Who is shaping us? Are we leading from wholeness? Join us each month for Lead the City Conversations as we learn from voices like John Onwuchekwa, Deb Gorton, Erikah Rivera, Sho Baraka, Malcolm Foley, Jonathan Brooks, Caleb Campbell, and Drew Hyun. These gatherings are built for connection, reflection, and courageous clarity across traditions and neighborhoods. Learn more and register at join-tcp.org/events

Chicago leaders - join us Thurs, Feb 19th, 11am-1pm for "How Do We Lead Through Grief?", an important conversation about faithfully leading through seasons of personal or communal loss. We'll be welcoming guests John Onwuchekwa, founder of We Go On, and Dr. Deb Gorton, Chicago-area clinical psychologist and Director of Community Care at Soul City Church. Erikah Rivera from The Brook will host a Q&A time following discussion. Free lunch provided. RSVP today at join-tcp.org/events.

How do pastors and church leaders lead faithfully through seasons of grief and loss? Join us on Thurs, Feb 19, 11am–1pm, for How Do We Lead Through Grief?, the first gathering in our 2026 Lead the City Conversations series. We’ll be joined by John Onwuchekwa and Deb Gorton for a conversation on leadership and loss. This free gathering will be hosted at Park Near North (1001 N. Crosby). Lunch provided. Please RSVP by Feb 17 at join-tcp.org/events/grief. ____ And mark your calendars for these upcoming Lead the City Conversations! Registrations opening soon. March, Date TBA: Empire or Kingdom? Join us for an evening with artist and speaker, Sho Baraka, and Malcolm Foley, author of The Anti-Greed Gospel, as we host the Chicago stop on their Midnight of an Empire tour. April 16, 11am: Who Is Shaping Us? A conversation on Christian Nationalism with Caleb Campbell, author of Disarming Leviathan (location TBA) May 21, 11am: Are We Leading from Wholeness? We'll discuss emotionally healthy leadership with Drew Hyun, author of Beautiful, Disappointing, Hopeful. Hosted at Chicago West Bible Church.

Don't miss today's TCP Weekly: 21 Days of Prayer - Chicagoland Collective welcomes Robert Guerrero - Streetlights Academy 2026 - Legacy Disciple Podcast - Celebrating our TCP Church Partners Read and subscribe at tcpweekly.substack.com

Tomorrow is the culmination of our 21 Days of Prayer! If you have not made plans yet, we invite you to join us at the Winter Prayer Gathering tomorrow, Sun, Feb 1, from 5-7pm at the Torrey-Gray Auditorium at Moody Bible Institute. Hosted by Together Chicago and Chicagoland United in Prayer, this event is a vibrant and collaborative effort of many churches, denominations, and leaders, inviting us to celebrate the diverse Church in Chicago and come together in united prayer for our city. Learn more and register to attend here: glnk.app/go/YwRuY7boX18R

Bring theological training to your church. With several seminary and university closures in Chicagoland, affordable and accessible theological education is needed more than ever. TCP Institute offers local courses to help fill that gap, including past classes like Intro to Spiritual Formation, The Book of Galatians, and How to Study the Bible. If your church is interested in offering a course this winter or spring, fill out our interest form today: join-tcp.org/tcp-institute

We’re having a blast at Exponential Central! Huge thanks to Larry Perez, Nick Rivera, Derrick Puckett, and Dexter Harris for leading powerful workshops and representing Chicago so well. Grateful to be part of this movement of church leaders multiplying the gospel! @exponential_us #exponential

Standing shoulder to shoulder. Living verse by verse. Serving block by block. Learning to lead, listen, and lean in. Together. Join the Partnership | join-tcp.org

Today in the TCP Weekly: Meet and join our network of Partner Churches - Kaitlyn Schiess at Faith & Work - Weekly Spotlights on Holy Trinity, David Dillon and Soul City Church - Jon Kelly visits New Sound Cafe. This and more at tcpweekly.substack.com - read and subscribe! 📸: Chris Tabron | shotxchris.com

We’re feeling the need for prayer. 🙏 As we head into the holidays and the New Year, we’re grateful to partner once again with Chicagoland United in Prayer for 21 Days of Prayer 2026, uniting churches and believers across the city in prayer Jan 1 – Feb 12 and then gathering together on Sun, Feb 1 for a citywide prayer gathering. 💡 This year’s theme: The Book of Nehemiah — a story of God’s providence, rebuilding, and renewal. Each morning from Jan 1 – Feb 12, we’ll share a daily devotional video from local leaders to help you start the day encouraged and equipped. 📍 Citywide Gathering: Sunday, Feb 1 at 5 PM Torrey-Grey Auditorium, Moody Bible Institute Will you join us? If you’re a church leader, visit join-tcp.org/21days for details and a promo kit to encourage your congregation to participate. Devotional videos will be available on our YouTube, Instagram, and Facebook, or you can receive them by text — just text “2026” to (833) 357-5145. ✨ Make plans to start the year in prayer. Let’s seek God together for our churches, families, and city.

Last week we were honored to come alongside our brothers and sisters in Little Village. TCP President, Derrick Puckett reflects on the event: "'What a time... what a time, in such a time—a time of such upheaval.' These are the words that come to my mind after witnessing and participating in this ecumenical gathering of Chicago leaders, pastors, and believers. Supporters gathering from all across the city to pray that God would intervene on behalf of our brothers and sisters in communities affected by ICE and other government restrictions and interventions. The injustice happening in our city doesn’t just affect our brown brothers and sisters, but ALL fellow believers. We are called to mourn with those who mourn, fight for justice, and love our neighbors. Witnessing faith leaders and people standing together is not only what Chicago needs, but what our world needs in order to see change. What a time to stand together!" - Derrick Puckett

We’re excited to share that The Chicago Partnership will be leading four workshops at Exponential Central 2025, equipping pastors and planters to lead, multiply, and love their cities well. 📍 Naperville, IL | November 18–20 Comment below and let us know if we’ll see you there! Main Speakers: Charlie Dates · Derwin Gray · Drew Hyun · Dan Owolabi · Ed Stetzer · Dave Ferguson · Francis Chan · Aubrey Sampson TCP Workshops: Derrick Puckett — Cultivating a Collaborative Culture: Empowering Church Leaders for City-Wide Multiplication Nick Rivera — No Needs Among Us: Collaborating to Bless the City in Jesus’ Name Larry Perez — Evangelship: Reclaiming God’s Design for Evangelism and Discipleship Dexter Harris — Reaching Outward: Community Engagement for Church Impact Learn more & register: exponential.org/central-2025/ #ExponentialCentral #ChurchMultiplication #ChicagoChurches

The 2025 Church Leadership Cohort kicked off this month with one of our favorite traditions - a Chicago history tour led by Brian Dye! It's a powerful reminder that understanding our city’s story helps us lead it well. Here’s to a new year of learning, growth, and gospel impact in every neighborhood!

Join us for A Call to Prayer in a Time of Crisis, an hour of united prayer in the heart of Little Village. Sat, Nov 1 | 4–5 PM Little Village Arch (26th & Troy) Let’s lift up Chicago together, seeking peace, healing, and hope for our neighborhoods. Hosted by New Life Centers, Together Chicago, The Chicago Partnership, Chicagoland United in Prayer, Chicagoland DMM Partnership, World Relief Chicagoland, NewThing Chicagoland Movement, and Red De Oracion.

Brian Dye had the joy of serving as a table host at Chicagoland United in Prayer's Next Steps Lunch, where leaders from across the city gathered to connect, pray, and look ahead to 2026. We’re grateful for the friendships and shared vision that make united prayer across Chicago possible. As you plan for the new year, we invite your church to join us for 21 Days of Prayer 2026, a citywide initiative of prayer and reflection in the book of Nehemiah, Jan 12–Feb 1. Register at join-tcp.org/21days.

In partnership with Together Chicago and Chicagoland United in Prayer, we’re inviting churches and organizations across Chicago to commit to 21 Days of Prayer at the beginning of 2026. The 21 Days of Prayer will culminate in a unified gathering for our city on Sun, Feb 1 from 5-7pm at the Torrey-Gray Auditorium of Moody Bible Institute. As part of this citywide movement, TCP will once again share daily devotional videos from local pastors and leaders, focusing this year on the book of Nehemiah. Here’s how you can join: Register to Participate: Sign your church up to be a participating church at join-tcp.org/21days and receive promotional materials to distribute to your congregation. Receive Daily Encouragement: Text “2026” to (833) 357-5145 or subscribe on YouTube and receive our daily devotional videos each morning from Jan 12-Feb 1 as we walk through the book of Nehemiah together. Gather Together: Mark your calendars and plan to bring a group from your church to the gathering on Sun, Feb 1 from 5-7pm at the Torrey-Gray Auditorium at Moody Bible Institute. 🙏🏻 Sign up today at join-tcp.org/21days. Let’s begin 2026 in unity, prayer, and hope for our city!

21 Days of Prayer 2026, a new Legacy Disciple podcast, New Life Center's Community Care Resource Center launch, and celebrating new Gospel work in churches and college campuses. Read it all on this week's TCP Weekly! open.substack.com/pub/tcpweekly/…

We’re reflecting on seven years of cohorts as we prepare to launch the 8th year of the TCP Church Leadership Cohort tomorrow! Would you join us in praying for the new participants and for the TCP team—Brian Dye, Larry Perez, and Omar Jackson—as they serve this next group of leaders? AND if you’re an alum of the program, we’d love your help! Would you take a moment to share a word of encouragement or advice that we can pass along to the incoming cohort? Share here → join-tcp.org/cohort-encoura…