Pastor Lisa Benjamin had a different vision from her mother, who was also a pastor and who handed the mantle down to her.
While her mother was the pastor of an international ministry, Benjamin wanted to create a family atmosphere.
Benjamin is the apostle and pastor of Living to Live Again Family Worship Center (LLAFWC), in Hazel Crest, Illinois, and it is a non-denominational and independent worship center.
With a doctorate in theology, Benjamin became a pastor 10 years ago. When her worship center began, they were empowering women. But now, she said, a lot of men are coming to the ministry.
"I want to make the name of the ministry come to life," Benjamin said. "We are geared toward family. From children, to women, to men to the family as a whole is who the ministry is geared toward. We try to create a family atmosphere where everybody can enjoy the Lord. And the Bible says first natural, then spiritual. So we try to create, to bring the family back into the home."
The center has a regular Sunday service, Sunday school in the morning before the service and training classes on Tuesdays and Thursdays and a bible study on Wednesdays.
"Our training is to train the people the right way to go out and bring other people in," Benjamin she said.
For those who are facing life's challenges, such as substance abuse, Benjamin said her LLAFWC creates a "safe haven."
The ministry is also partnering with other groups, including a nonprofit, to help with housing and paying electric and gas for those who are displaced.
When asked what is special about LLAFWC, Benjamin said, "It's not worship as usual. We don't try to push Jesus down the throat, we introduce him. Even though we create a family atmosphere, we try to introduce introduce Jesus on an individual basis because everyone is not on the same level."
Her community, dealing with the current financial time and post-COVID-19 pandemic, is doing well.
"Honestly, we we haven't missed a beat," she said. "So many people have donated, and our membership has increased."
Benjamin also commented on plans by the Calumet Country Club and Catalyst Consulting Group for add-ons, noting they, "have been a very intricate part into the ministry as well.
"They helped us, the whole team all of them," she added. "They helped us serve the community in the turkey giveaway as well as we blessed over 1,000 children with toys this past Christmas. Their whole plan is phenomenal because it's creating a family atmosphere as well. We used to have to go 20, 30 miles to enjoy family but they're actually they're bringing to the community."
Benjamin said her issues focus on "promises that the government made" and not knowing if they will deliver on them.
She explained her ministry helps individuals with job placement and training and that the state government sometimes falls short on delivering in Chicago's south suburbs.
Benjamin said she is a licensed general contractor and is helping to remodel homes in the area. Four members of her ministry are undergoing training in the solar industry.
The pastor said she supports many events, including hosting different pastors from the community, celebrating Black History Month, fellowship breakfasts and online prayer sessions.