Jesus People USA

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Jesus People USA (JPUSA) is a Christian intentional community in Uptown, on the North Side of Chicago, Illinois. It was founded in 1972 [1], came out of the Jesus Movement, and is one of the few remaining communes from that movement. In 1989, JPUSA joined the Evangelical Covenant Church [2] as a member congregation, and currently has eight pastors credentialed with the ECC. The community organizes the annual Cornerstone Festival [3] and their forum.

Cornerstone magazine and the Christian rock band the Rez Band are part of the JPUSA community. In recent years, Rez disbanded, but Glenn Kaiser continues touring and playing [4] both solo and with the blues-based GKB (Glenn Kaiser Band). JPUSA also has its own recording company, grrrrecords [5].

JPUSA runs an extensive program for Chicago-area homeless women and children, Cornerstone Community Outreach [6]. Some of the ministries involved with CCO are Sylvia Center (interim housing for families), Naomi's Place (an overnight women's drop-in shelter), and Brothas & Sistas United (an alternative youth program). A more complete list of CCO programs is here [7].

[edit] Controversy

The Chicago Tribune has criticized the organization, using the term "iron grip" as part of the title for its two-part coverage of the group. The coverage discussed at length former members' opinions of the community and the management of its financial affairs. [8] JPUSA's and others responses (including the responses of a number of sociologists of religion) to the Tribune coverage can be found here [9].