How it all started...
In the dawn of Easter 2010, the seed of State Street Community Church was planted in the heart of downtown LaPorte, Indiana. Our vision was not just to be another church, but to bloom into a vibrant faith community, pulsating with life and hope.
We didn't just want to exist; we wanted to engage, to connect, to heal. Our neighborhoods were fractured by poverty, loneliness, and despair. We saw these divisions and knew we had to respond. We aimed to be a beacon of unity and reconciliation, a community that drowned out the discord with harmonious voices.
We soon discovered a gnawing issue impacting children and adults alike - food insecurity. It was a problem that couldn't be ignored, so by the end of 2010, we rolled up our sleeves and set up a food and clothing pantry. We also started a weekly community meal, a place where bellies and hearts could be filled.
State Street Community Church was never just about preaching. We aimed to humbly inspire the formation of Christian faith, with a focus on love and justice made tangible in our actions. Since our humble beginnings, we've blossomed into a church with hundreds of attendees each week. But our reach goes beyond Sunday services. Every day, our ministries ripple out, touching and transforming countless lives in our community."
We didn't just want to exist; we wanted to engage, to connect, to heal. Our neighborhoods were fractured by poverty, loneliness, and despair. We saw these divisions and knew we had to respond. We aimed to be a beacon of unity and reconciliation, a community that drowned out the discord with harmonious voices.
We soon discovered a gnawing issue impacting children and adults alike - food insecurity. It was a problem that couldn't be ignored, so by the end of 2010, we rolled up our sleeves and set up a food and clothing pantry. We also started a weekly community meal, a place where bellies and hearts could be filled.
State Street Community Church was never just about preaching. We aimed to humbly inspire the formation of Christian faith, with a focus on love and justice made tangible in our actions. Since our humble beginnings, we've blossomed into a church with hundreds of attendees each week. But our reach goes beyond Sunday services. Every day, our ministries ripple out, touching and transforming countless lives in our community."
Expanding the vision...
Imagine this - for over four years, the heart of a church beats not only with prayers but also with the hustle and bustle of a food pantry and community meals. Then, out of the blue, a generous soul gifts the church an old nightclub and bar in the vibrant downtown of LaPorte. This unexpected blessing breathes life into the creation of the Pax Center.
This gift didn't just transform an old bar, but it also sparked a revolution in the justice ministries, allowing them to spread their wings and relocate to a permanent spot on Washington Street, just a stone's throw away from the church.
Fast forward to 2015, and the Pax Center is a beacon of hope. It's a place where the fight against food insecurity takes center stage, where the health of the community is not just a dream but a mission. Here, access to wholesome and nutritious food isn't a privilege, but a right. The Pax Center doesn't just provide - it educates, it advocates, and it strives for change. It's more than just a center - it's a movement.
This gift didn't just transform an old bar, but it also sparked a revolution in the justice ministries, allowing them to spread their wings and relocate to a permanent spot on Washington Street, just a stone's throw away from the church.
Fast forward to 2015, and the Pax Center is a beacon of hope. It's a place where the fight against food insecurity takes center stage, where the health of the community is not just a dream but a mission. Here, access to wholesome and nutritious food isn't a privilege, but a right. The Pax Center doesn't just provide - it educates, it advocates, and it strives for change. It's more than just a center - it's a movement.
Where we are headed...
"Faith without works is dead," so goes the ancient wisdom of the scriptures. At State Street Community, we're not just believers, we're doers. We're rolling up our sleeves and getting our hands dirty in the soil of our thriving projects like the Jackson Street Community Garden. Nestled in the heart of downtown LaPorte, at the junction of Jackson and Jefferson, it's a testament to our commitment.
Then, there's the Brighton Street Green Space, a beacon of greenery on the corner of Brighton and Pulaski in LaPorte. This isn't just a garden, it's a million-dollar investment in our community. A collaborative effort with the Healthcare Foundation of LaPorte, the city of LaPorte, generous businesses, supporters, and of course, the State Street Community Church.
Positioned right in the heart of a food desert, it's our direct response to food insecurity and nutrition challenges. But it's more than just a solution, it's a sanctuary. A beautiful park-like oasis for our neighbors to enjoy and find respite. We're not just planting seeds in the ground, we're sowing hope in our community.
Then, there's the Brighton Street Green Space, a beacon of greenery on the corner of Brighton and Pulaski in LaPorte. This isn't just a garden, it's a million-dollar investment in our community. A collaborative effort with the Healthcare Foundation of LaPorte, the city of LaPorte, generous businesses, supporters, and of course, the State Street Community Church.
Positioned right in the heart of a food desert, it's our direct response to food insecurity and nutrition challenges. But it's more than just a solution, it's a sanctuary. A beautiful park-like oasis for our neighbors to enjoy and find respite. We're not just planting seeds in the ground, we're sowing hope in our community.
