Each small group decides when and where it wants to meet. We can help you find groups that are meeting on a particular night or in a certain area of the city and connect you with them. (See Small Group Days and Times of meeting Handout for more info.)

Many small groups form and immediately commit to meet for the amount of time they determine 2-24 months. However, we also offer a starter group, which is an introductory step into group life that lasts approximately six weeks. At the end six weeks, the group members can decide to continue as a community group and extend their commitment, or they can dissolve to find other group members. The length of time that your group meets together is decided by your group. If you have already connected with a small group then you have already taken the first step in the partnership process: you are involved!

Contract Fees and Application

1) A $250 fee will be required.  $50 is required to hold the date and the other $200 at least 2 weeks prior to the event.  If the event includes use of the basement as well, the fee will be $300.  For Journey partners, $150 is refundable provided that at the closure of the event the sanctuary is cleaned and returned to the pre-event set-up and that no equipment is damaged.
 
2) During the months of November through April, a $30 fee will be required for all renters to cover heating costs.

3) Any damages to the property of the church incurred during the event will be the sole responsibility of the renters to pay.

4) For all those wishing to use the church’s sound equipment, the rate will be $20/hr.

5) If the church is not cleaned after the event and returned to the pre-event set-up, the rate is $25/hr.

6) No church property/equipment shall be used without the express consent of one of the pastors of the church.

7) No alcoholic beverages are permitted on the church premises.

8) The Journey Church pastors have the express right to deny the use of the church and/or church property for an event at any time.

Partners in the Journey

Considering membership? You’ve come to the right place. First, you may be surprised to discover that Journey does not have membership in the traditional sense.  We have elected to call our "members" by a different name.  Our members are called "partners" instead.  The term "members" communicates "rights" or "privileges" for participants.  Partnership on the other hand communicates "responsibility."  Journey is not a country club, but a life changing body of people. We’ve designed courses to answer your partnership questions and actually guide you through the steps to becoming a partner with Journey.

You may be surprised to know that Journey has many more attendees on an average weekend as we do partners. Why so few? Well, as you are about to discover, partnership at Journey involves more than simply getting your name on a list. At Journey partnership is synonymous with involvement.

3 Great Expectations

Membership = "rights."  Partnership = "responsibility."  Partners at Journey Church have what we like to call the "3 Great Expectations."

Specifically, as a partner of Journey you will be called upon to evidence your commitment to the Journey community through:

1.  Small Group -

Invests your relationships (Luke 10:25-37; Matthew 28:19-20).  Develop authentic loving relationships with others in the church and establish significant relationships with those who do not know Jesus.

Authentic community is one of the core values of Journey.  We are built around small groups that serve to nurture, encourage and minister to the needs of those attending Journey.  We ask that our partners uphold this value by attending a small group on a weekly basis.  Sunday gatherings are essential to worship God, but small groups provide an opportunity for our partners to go deeper and stay encouraged throughout the week.

2.  Strategic Service - 

Invest your passions  (I Thessalonians 5:4-28; Galatians 5:24-25),
Invest your service (Hebrew 10:23-25; Galatians  5:13) Participate in the life of the congregation through genuine worship, sharing, learning, and serving.

Each of us possesses the ability to change the world.  We have been given the opportunity and responsibility of serving our community and loving people.  Partners of Journey have the incredible opportunity to partner with their pastors and church to serve their community. 

3.  Financial Partnership -

Invest you resources (I Corinthians 16:2; 2 Corinthians9:6-15), Support the gospel here and worldwide by tithing as the Lord leads.  Invest your time, skills, talents, and gifts, in and through the church.

The difference between a "dream" and a "vision" is action.  Journey is a non-profit organization made up of and wholly owned by its partners.  We ask that every partner commit to a lifestyle of biblical stewardship and generosity toward God with their finances.  Generosity in our finances is a must for Journey to truly impact Waukegan and Lake county area. 

At Journey we have a Partner’s Check List as a process guide for those considering partnership.  The following is a list of our requirements for partnership:
-Focused commitment to Jesus Christ
-Public confession of faith through baptism by immersion
-Completion of Starting Point
-Connection to a small group
-Completion of Engage
-Embrace and believe in Journey's Statement of Faith
-Embracing the “Partnership Covenant”