At Apostolic Faith Church, after 111 years rooted in Bronzeville, the answer is unmistakable.
Founded in 1915 during the Great Migration, Apostolic Faith grew alongside families forging new lives on Chicago’s South Side. It was never only a gathering place; it was a forming place. From the beginning, the congregation understood discipleship as the slow shaping of people who love God deeply and their neighborhood faithfully.
Bishop Smith first entered the sanctuary at age ten, holding his grandmother’s hand. Under the steady mentorship of Bishop John S. Holly, he was apprenticed not merely in preaching, but in presence. When he became pastor of Apostolic Faith in 1980, he inherited a living tradition — ministry that is holistic, relational, and grounded in the promise of the Gospel of John 10:10: life more abundantly.
At Apostolic Faith, their sense of purpose is tied to their location. Ministry begins with proximity. Though opportunities came to relocate to the suburbs, they chose to stay. "We've been members of this community without fail," Bishop Smith reflected.
During the week, the local church offers a food pantry, justice center, vaccine clinics, and recovery ministries. Everyone is welcome. These are not programs at a distance. They are invitations of discipleship, where faith takes on flesh and neighbors become partners.
When the neighborhood YMCA faced closure, Apostolic Faith joined three other congregations to purchase and restore the historic building. Today it stands renewed and vibrant— a testament to what long obedience and shared investment across denominations can accomplish.
That same intentionality shapes the next generation. Since 1984, the congregation has raised funds to support graduates from both their congregation and four local high schools. The fund now awards $150,000 in scholarships annually. The congregation’s youth serve in prisons, shelters, and neighborhoods across the city, carrying with them a discipleship that refuses to separate worship from witness.
After more than a century of showing up, trust has taken root. Every school principal knows them. Civic leaders call in moments of crisis. Credibility has grown from consistency — from disciples who stayed long enough to love well.
In 111 years, Apostolic Faith has had only three pastors — a lineage of relational discipleship radically focused on Jesus. Bishop Holly formed Bishop Smith. Smith has been shepherding for 46 years. Now Elder Jonathan Banks steps forward, embodying what he has witnessed: an integrated life, faith in action.
From 1915 to today, Apostolic Faith remains what Bishop Smith’s question invites every faith community to become — a neighborhood presence of faithful discipleship.
Apostolic Faith faithfully embodies the quiet, transformative power of relational discipleship radically focused on Jesus—a century long tradition. At TENx10, we’re honored to learn from urban and rural communities of color whose impact is rarely centered and whose stories are often untold. With integrity and intentional formation, Apostolic Faith models what devoted presence can look like. May their witness inspire deeper faith formation in our own contexts.