A Dream for Chicago
Holy Trinity Church was born in 1998 when founding pastors David R. Helm and Jon M. Dennis gathered 37 adults around a simple conviction: Chicago needed a church that would take the whole city seriously. Meeting in a small gothic chapel near the University of Chicago in Hyde Park, the founders had been shaped by faithful center-city churches in London and Cambridge and were asking God to plant something similar. Within a few months the Hyde Park gathering had grown to 100, and the elders began studying gospel movements in New York, London, and Sydney, learning from leaders such as Tim Keller, Dick Lucas, and Phillip Jensen.
From the beginning, Holy Trinity was built to plant and train. In 2001 the church helped launch The Charles Simeon Trust, a ministry that has since taught thousands of leaders around the world how to preach expository sermons. The following December, sensing an opportunity for wider outreach, the elders opened a second congregation downtown in a small classroom at State and Ohio. It grew past 100 inside a ballroom and never stopped growing.
Between 2007 and 2009 the church expanded to four congregations spanning Chicago's North, West, South, and Center, an unusual response to the city's intense segregation. In 2006 the elders had already articulated what they called the Antioch concept, a vision rooted in the prayer meeting in Acts 13 that sent out Paul and Barnabas. The leadership team was intentionally built to reflect the ethnic diversity of Chicago and the kingdom of God, and the church became known for drawing from more than twenty-seven neighborhoods. In 2008 the elders co-founded The Chicago Partnership for Church Planting, which has since established more than thirty churches. Five years later Holy Trinity helped launch Neopolis, a global multi-ethnic network of churches; in 2016 Pastor Dennis helped found City to City North America and, in response to the violence of that year, Together Chicago. In 2020 the Hyde Park congregation was replanted as a separate church called Christ Church Chicago. After a year of fully virtual services during the pandemic, HTC Downtown moved in April 2022 into its current long-term home at 218 S. Wabash Avenue, from which the children's ministry, youth group, men's and women's ministries, and the Street Outreach Meal program have all taken off.
Three Sunday Gatherings in the Loop
Holy Trinity Church worships on the second floor of 218 S. Wabash Avenue, a half-block from the Adams/Wabash 'L' stop in the heart of Chicago's Loop. Services are held at 9:00 AM, 11:00 AM, and 5:00 PM, with Coffee and Connections between the two morning services at 10:30. The three gatherings follow the same order, so a first-time visitor can attend whichever time works best.
Preaching is word- and gospel-centered. Each week the pastors study a particular biblical text, learn from it, apply it, and seek to live it out. Worship draws on a wide musical range - classical to jazz to contemporary - and people are welcome to sing along or simply listen. The service is livestreamed on YouTube for those who cannot attend in person, and a digital bulletin is posted each week.
Visitors are encouraged to come as they are. The community teaches that attitude and heart matter more to God than attire, so people dress however they feel comfortable. People walk, bike, take the 'L', or (sometimes) drive, and the gathering welcomes people from every walk of life, denomination, background, and viewpoint who want to explore who Jesus is and follow his teachings. Nursery care and Kid City are available during both the 9 AM and 11 AM services. Parking is available at 17 E. Adams for 8 hours at $6.50 on Sundays through the iParkit app, using the program code HOLYTRINITY.
Kid City and the Next Generation
Children are woven into the life of Holy Trinity rather than treated as an aside. Kid City, the church's children's ministry, exists to help children live in God's kingdom by trusting in Jesus, loving God, and obeying his Word. Children ages 2 and older begin the service with their families and are dismissed to their classes shortly before the sermon. Lessons work through Matthew and Daniel over the fall semester.
Classrooms are organized by age and named for the lines on the building directory. Blue Line serves children 6 to 23 months and is available for the entire service. Green Line is for 3-year-olds, Pink Line for 4-year-olds through kindergarten, Red Line for 1st and 2nd graders, and Orange Line for 3rd through 5th graders - all available during the sermon. On the first Sunday of each month, children return to the sanctuary to celebrate communion with their families, even if they are not yet ready to participate themselves; the community considers it important for them to be present with their families and the larger family of Christ. All Kid City volunteers have undergone background checks and follow the church's Child Protection Policy, and families are encouraged to have at least one parent serve at least once a month. Stephanie Hanaoka directs Kid City.
Youth Group at 218 S. Wabash
The youth ministry at Holy Trinity Church serves students in 6th through 12th grade, gathering on Thursdays from 7:00 to 8:30 PM at the Wabash building. The rhythm of the night centers on fun, fellowship, and discipleship, with teaching designed to communicate God's Word in ways that are understandable and relevant for teenagers. Volunteer leaders are equipped to develop meaningful discipleship relationships with students, and the ministry partners with parents and the wider church to help teens engage with the whole family of God. High school students also gather for Sunday dinners at the office at 228 S. Wabash, 3rd floor, and periodic Friday hangouts happen across the city. David Engstrom serves as Youth Pastor and HTC Institute Associate.
Community Groups Across the Neighborhoods
Because Holy Trinity's members live all over the city, the church organizes geographically based Community Groups that meet weekly from September through May. Each group has 6 to 15 people who gather for casual meals, Bible study, prayer, and neighborhood service in homes across Chicago. The groups welcome anyone interested in finding a place to ask honest questions about faith and live out the gospel alongside neighbors. Over the summer the church shifts attention to men's and women's ministry and church-wide events. Alongside Community Groups, Intentional Christian Communities offer deeper patterns of shared life for those pursuing more committed gospel community.
Men's and Women's Ministry
The Women's Ministry of Holy Trinity Church exists to equip women to maximize their relationships with one another for mutual spiritual growth and to interpret the Bible more faithfully. The ministry runs Bible Reading Triads - three women meeting for 6 to 8 sessions to read Scripture, pray, and share life - and seasonal studies. Past studies have included series through Habakkuk on praying from fear to faith and summer series through 1 Peter on living as elect exiles. Women interested in teaching are encouraged to attend the Simeon Trust's Workshop for Women, which meets in Chicago each March and feeds a pipeline of female teachers for the following summer's studies. Amy Buehler directs the Women's Ministry.
The Men's Ministry equips men to grow in Christ through authentic relationships, spiritual encouragement, and accountability. Men meet in regional triads across the city and gather for seasonal studies - most recently a summer study through Jonah organized by region (North, West, Central, South) - and retreat together at events like the annual camping trip to Illinois Beach State Park. Triads follow the same rhythm as the women's: reading Scripture, praying, and sharing life.
Faith & Work Chicago and the HTC Institute
Holy Trinity has long been concerned with how the Christian faith shapes work and culture. Faith & Work Chicago hosts gatherings such as the Women, Work and Calling Conference, summer socials at venues across the city, and watch parties for the Faith Driven Entrepreneur Conference. Malissa Mackey directs Faith & Work Chicago and also serves as Executive Director of the HTC Institute, with Ben Nussbaum as Associate Director.
The Holy Trinity Institute extends that work through cohort-based programs. The Chicago Plan is a residential training program for emerging pastors, church planters, and ministry workers. The Burnham Fellowship is a nine-month learning community integrating theological reflection, spiritual formation, and hands-on projects that apply faith to work, relationships, and the city. Re-Engage is a marriage-discipleship curriculum designed for couples to grow together through the lens of the gospel. The Culture & Theology Cohort explores the Christian story through literature, music, visual art, and poetry over six evening sessions. Habits of Formation introduces historic Christian spiritual practices over six weeks, and Christ in Every Promise traces the storyline of Scripture through God's covenants. Open Forum evenings take up cultural topics such as immigration, art, and AAPI heritage in partnership with groups like Exodus World Service.
Compassion on the Streets
The Compassion Ministry serves neighbors in and around Chicago by meeting practical needs and building relationships. On the first and third Saturday of each month, the ministry hosts a Street Outreach Meal at 218 S. Wabash from 11:00 AM to 1:00 PM, preparing sack lunches and sharing them with neighbors in need in the Loop. First-time volunteers are asked to arrive 15 minutes early for a brief training. Coat drives and other outreach opportunities run throughout the year. Pastoral Resident Tyler Jacobs coordinates the meals. A separate Deacon Fund extends care within the church family, providing assistance with costs for food, lodging, transportation, clothing, medical treatments not covered by insurance, and funeral arrangements in times of unexpected hardship.
Prayer, Formation, and University Ministry
Prayer is described at Holy Trinity as the heartbeat of gospel renewal. In addition to a prayer team available after each service, the Prayer Ministry hosts 6:30 AM Zoom prayer gatherings on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays. University ministry is a particular focus given the church's downtown setting: Andrew Martinez and Liza Figueroa serve on the University Ministry Team, and college students are invited to a Fall Kickoff Lunch at the start of the semester and other gatherings throughout the year. The church welcomes visitors exploring questions about Jesus through its Exploring Jesus pathway, and new members are invited to a New Members Class held periodically after the 11 AM service with lunch and childcare provided.
Beliefs and Governance
Holy Trinity Church is a non-denominational church in the Reformed tradition of the Christian faith. The historic Westminster Confession of Faith serves as its doctrinal statement, amended by the elders for theological clarity in their current context. The church is governed by a Constitution, also called the Book of Church Order, which is partly based on the Presbyterian Church in America Book of Church Order and is adopted and amended by full vote of the membership.
Staff and Leadership
Jon Dennis serves as Senior Pastor. Sully Curtin is Executive Pastor. Christian Park is Associate Pastor of Intentional Christian Communities and Sunday Services. David Engstrom is Youth Pastor and an HTC Institute Associate. Pastoral Residents are Jesús Ferro and Tyler Jacobs. Kevin Walker is Assistant Pastor for Ministry Training, and Tommy Gullberg serves as Ministry Associate for Congregational Care. Stephanie Hanaoka directs Kid City, and Amy Buehler directs the Women's Ministry. Malissa Mackey is Executive Director of the HTC Institute and Director of Faith & Work Chicago, with Ben Nussbaum as Associate Director. Jon Lauriat manages the Worship Team and Ryan Teich serves as Worship Leader. Andrew Martinez and Liza Figueroa serve on the University Ministry Team.
From its Wabash Avenue home, Holy Trinity continues to pursue the vision that shaped it in 1998: a generative, gospel-centered, expository church as a catalyst for long-term change in Chicago and beyond.