On September 8, 1923 and again on September 14th twelve friends from the Lakeview Mission Church gathered together at 5110 Kimball Avenue to "confer on the advisability of organizing a congregation". The first worship service organized by this small band was held on September 23, 1923 at Link's Hall on Newport Avenue. But, because God brought many more people than this facility could accommodate, a new site was quickly sought. And the new community moved within just a couple of weeks to Paul Rader's Chicago Gospel Tabernacle, where on October, 2, 1923 J. A. Norman was called as the first minister of the still fledgling church. On October 18 the new congregation chose Immanuel Mission Church as its official name.

God's Spirit brought 138 individuals as original charter members to the Mission Church by October 30, and another 16 soon thereafter, bringing the total charter membership to 154. In less than 2 months, the movement of the Holy Spirit had accomplished a mighty miracle, giving birth to a new church and bringing so many earnest Christians to participate in worship our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.

Soon the congregation was forced to move again, this time to Schott's Hall on Belmont Avenue, because of the number of people who were being led to worship with the new community of believers. Here bi-weekly Wednesday evening meetings were added to the church's worship schedule, and the Holy Spirit continued to bring new people. Within just 4 months of its first meeting, on January 1, 1924, the group decided to construct its own building. The congregation raised $5,028 and on March 15 of that year decided to purchase a lot at 836 Aldine Avenue. On Thanksgiving Day, November 23, the first services were held in the completed basement of the new structure.

Services in the Aldine Avenue Immanuel Mission Church continued until 1947, when it was decided, because of increased expenses and the changing character of the neighborhood, to seek a new site which would once again allow the church - now well established - to grow and increase its ministry once more. A yearlong search for a suitable location to build a new church resulted in the purchase of the property we occupy today on the corner of Foster and Washtenaw Avenues. Ground was broken for the new church building in August of 1948, and the new building was dedicated on May 1, 1949. Between the groundbreaking and the dedication, the congregation met for worship on the campus of North Park College. It was also in 1949 that the church became an official part of the Evangelical Covenant Church, and officially changed it's name to Immanuel Evangelical Covenant Church.

Through all the years one thing has been certain, those who have called Immanuel "home" have been called out by God to serve in the local and worldwide community of believers, and to bring the Word of God to those who may never before have heard it. So very many have trained here, have come to know God much more deeply, and have gone out into the mission field, to church staff positions, or to pastoral ministry. Such numbers are a fulfillment the Lord's promise to Abraham in Genesis 12: "all the peoples of the earth will be blessed through you." And it is true that no matter where the 'children of Immanuel' reside, God is with them in all they say and do.

The people of Immanuel Evangelical Covenant Church, have been a special people since that original group of 12 friends held its first meeting in 1923 - a people called out to perform new works for the glory of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ here in Chicago, and around the world. Give thanks and praise for all the Lord has done among us in the past, and for all that he surely has planned for us in the future.