OUR PAST

Many Alcoholics Anonymous meetings begin in someone’s home, a church, or a hospital. When a home group in Mokena outgrew its space, St. John's Church agreed to provide a meeting room for two weekly meetings. After meetings, the group would gather outside to talk and enjoy what is known as fellowship. During the summer, however, late-night laughter disturbed nearby neighbors, and the group needed to find a new place to call home.
 

In 1991, Don Ervin rented a room at 19836 Wolf Road in Mokena for $200 per month and kept Big Books in his trunk. As meetings were added, the schedule soon grew to four daily meetings—10 a.m., 2 p.m., 6 p.m., and 8 p.m.—with most meetings lasting over an hour. In keeping with Alcoholics Anonymous’s 7th Tradition, the Mokena Fellowship Center was self-supporting: a basket was passed at each meeting, and the funds collected covered meeting expenses and supported other AA-related organizations in the area. In the early days—until the group could support itself—Don E. provided the coffee, literature, rent, and all utilities (for nearly a year).

Community life grew alongside the meeting schedule. Each summer, members and their families gathered for a picnic to get to know one another, and the first banquet was held in 1994. AL-ANON always met on Sundays at 6 p.m. The Saturday 8 p.m. meeting focused on studying the first three Steps and hosted an open speaker meeting once a month.

In 2004, Mokena Fellowship Center (MFC) was incorporated as a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization, founded with the mission to provide facilities and/or functions that carry on the three legacies of Alcoholics Anonymous: Unity, Service, and Recovery.

After 27 years at the Wolf Road address, the MFC moved on May 19, 2018, to 11137 W. 191st Street in Mokena, downsizing from two rooms to one, and stayed there for two years. After eight years of fundraising and searching, MFC found a forever home. On Jan. 30, 2020, MFC purchased the former Victory Baptist Church. Following a few months of renovations and updates to meet ADA standards and obtain an Occupancy License, MFC opened for meetings on Aug. 1, 2020.

During the COVID-19 pandemic, MFC adapted to meet the needs of its Fellowship, offering indoor, outdoor, and virtual Zoom meetings every day. It has continued to grow, adding new AA and AL-ANON meetings.

Come and see us—maybe the Mokena Fellowship Center will be your new home, too.