Welcome to CSLI Chicago
Discover how discipleship is changing lives in Chicago.
Applications for 2027-28 Fellows Program will be open on February 1, 2027!
Please email us if you have any questions.
Year One Fellows Program
The C.S. Lewis Institute in Chicago is designed to develop disciples who can articulate, defend, share and live faith in Christ in public and personal life. The Institute works in partnership with local churches and ministries to help believers glorify God by becoming mature disciples of Jesus Christ who impact the spheres of influence to which God has called them.
The Fellows Program
The CSLI Fellows Program offers a year of intensive training that leads to significant life-change. Unlike many discipleship programs, the Fellows program focuses on discipleship of both heart and mind. It involves Bible study, classic readings, lectures, group processing, personal spiritual mentoring and accountability — all in the context of a small group of like-minded believers. This year-long program is designed for those who want to live as fully committed disciples of Jesus Christ and make an impact for him in the world.
Download the Fellows Program Brochure
IMPORTANT DATES:
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0 All Booked 0.00 All Booked 0.00 All Booked 29418 LOCAL EVENT: Conversational Apologetics – A Six-Week Course (Chicago) 7:00PM CT https://www.cslewisinstitute.org/?event=local-event-conversational-apologetics-chicago-700pm-ct&event_date=2026-11-05®=1 https://www.paypal.com/cgi-bin/webscr 2026-11-0505 Nov, 2026November 5, 2026 7:00 am - November 12, 2026 8:30 pm UpcomingPark Community Church - Near North, 1001 N Crosby St, Chicago, IL 60610, USA
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0 All Booked 0.00 All Booked 0.00 All Booked 29802 Heart and Mind Discipleship Live Online Small Group https://www.cslewisinstitute.org/?event=heart-and-mind-discipleship-live-online-small-group-las-vegas-nairobi-philippines&event_date=2026-11-06®=1 https://www.paypal.com/cgi-bin/webscr 2026-11-0606 Nov, 2026November 6, 2026 8:00 pm - April 7, 2027 8:00 pm Upcoming
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1 All Booked All Booked All Booked 25441 LOCAL EVENT: Eagle & Child Society (Wheaton) https://www.cslewisinstitute.org/?event=local-event-eagle-child-society-wheaton&event_date=2026-11-07®=1 https://www.paypal.com/cgi-bin/webscr 2026-11-0707 Nov, 2026Saturday, 6:30 pm - 8:30 pm UpcomingThe Kilns Coworking + Social House, 115 West Wesley Street, Wheaton, IL 60187, USA
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0 All Booked 0.00 All Booked 0.00 All Booked 30002 LOCAL EVENT: Salt & Light – Gospel Living in the Workplace (Chicago) 7:30AM CT https://www.cslewisinstitute.org/?event=local-event-salt-light-gospel-living-in-the-workplace-chicago-730am-ct-6&event_date=2026-11-12®=1 https://www.paypal.com/cgi-bin/webscr 2026-11-1212 Nov, 2026Thursday, 7:30 am - 8:30 am UpcomingHoly Trinity Church 218 S. Wabash Ave. Chicago, IL 60604
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0 All Booked 0.00 All Booked 0.00 All Booked 21646 LOCAL EVENT: The Eagle & Child Society (Chicago) 7:00 PM CT https://www.cslewisinstitute.org/?event=local-event-the-eagle-child-society-chicago-700-pm-ct&event_date=2026-11-13®=1 https://www.paypal.com/cgi-bin/webscr 2026-11-1313 Nov, 2026Friday, 7:00 pm - 9:00 pm UpcomingThe Galway Arms, 2442 North Clark Street, Chicago, IL, USA
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1 All Booked All Booked All Booked 29939 GLOBAL EVENT: Why Noah’s Ark and the Flood Still Matter Today (Virtual) 8:00 PM ET https://www.cslewisinstitute.org/?event=global-event-climbing-mt-ararat-why-noahs-ark-and-the-flood-still-matter-todayvirtual-800-pm&event_date=2026-11-13®=1 https://www.paypal.com/cgi-bin/webscr 2026-11-1313 Nov, 2026Friday, 8:00 pm - 9:00 pm Upcoming
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0 All Booked 0.00 All Booked 0.00 All Booked 28814 STUDY PROGRAM: Wonder | Word | Worship (Tour of Kenya) https://www.cslewisinstitute.org/?event=study-program-wonder-word-worship-kenya&event_date=2027-06-11®=1 https://www.paypal.com/cgi-bin/webscr 2027-06-1111 Jun, 2027June 11, 2027 3:00 pm - June 22, 2027 9:00 am UpcomingKenya
VIEW OUR FULL CALENDAR BY MONTH.
Broadcast Talks
A quarterly publication that presents ideas to cultivate Christ-like thinking and living.
Challenging Questions
Each month an important question about faith is addressed by a key scholar or leader.
Knowing & Doing
Featuring teaching articles from nationally recognized leaders in discipleship, spirituality, theology, apologetics, and cultural analysis.
Spiritual Check-Up
A tool for assessing one's growth in Christ
Bible Reading Plan
Read through the whole Bible using a plan that has been helpful to many people connected with the Institute.
Our free Resource Library
Offers a variety of recordings from nationally recognized speakers, and our growing audio, video and print library. Featuring free content from past seminars, including names like John Stott, Greg Ogden, J.I. Packer and Chuck Colson.
Give Today!
The discipleship ministry of the C.S. Lewis Institute is made possible through your financial gifts, prayers and volunteerism. It can't be done without your partnership in this ministry.
Chicago Staff
Karl “KJ” Johnson
CSLI City Director, ChicagoKarl “KJ” Johnson, Lt.Col., USMC (Ret.) is the Director of the C.S. Lewis Institute in Chicago where he oversees…
Team Members
Karl “KJ” Johnson
CSLI City Director, ChicagoKarl “KJ” Johnson, Lt.Col., USMC (Ret.) is the Director of the C.S. Lewis Institute in Chicago where he oversees programs that foster the discipleship of heart and mind. He’s been a C.S. Lewis Fellow since 2008 and holds a Masters in Military Studies (Marine Corps University) and two Masters of Arts from Trinity Evangelical Divinity School (Systematic Theology and Philosophy of Religion). KJ retired after 20 years in the Marine Corps where he served as a helicopter pilot, operations officer, and weapons and tactics instructor. He’s a veteran of numerous deployments as well as multiple humanitarian assistance/disaster relief missions—most notably Operation Unified Assistance (2004 tsunami) where he served as the Air Mission Commander for former Presidents George H.W. Bush and William J. Clinton.
Eric C. Redmond
Professor, Teaching Fellow CSLI ChicagoEric C. Redmond is a Teaching Fellow for the C.S. Lewis Institute in Chicago. He is the John M….
Team Members
Eric C. Redmond
Professor, Teaching Fellow CSLI ChicagoEric C. Redmond is a Teaching Fellow for the C.S. Lewis Institute in Chicago. He is the John M. Perkins Endowed Chair of Christian Community Development, Biblical Justice, Reconciliation, and Interpretation of Scripture at Moody Theological Seminary where he also serves as Professor of Bible and Theology, Professor of Preaching, and the Executive Director of the Center for Compelling Biblical Preaching. He holds degrees from Capital Seminary & Graduate School (PhD, 2019) and Dallas Theological Seminary (ThM, 1997), and Washington Bible College (BA, 1991). Dr. Redmond is the author, editor, and contributor of numerous books, chapters, and articles. Most recently, he is the author of Stories on the Way to the Kingdom: Interpreting and Applying Biblical Narratives (Baker Academic, 2027) and The Completed Work of Christ in John 17:4: An Interpretive Key for Reading the Fourth Gospel (Pickwick, 2025). He is also a Fellow of the St. Augustine Cohort for the Center for Pastor Theologians. His wife, Pamela, is a commissioned C.S. Lewis Fellow and mentor; they enjoy leading small groups and serving young adults.
Eric Targe
Resident Scholar, CSLI ChicagoEric Targe is Resident Scholar with the C.S. Lewis Institute in Chicago focused on writing, teaching, and developing curriculum….
Team Members
Eric Targe
Resident Scholar, CSLI ChicagoEric Targe is Resident Scholar with the C.S. Lewis Institute in Chicago focused on writing, teaching, and developing curriculum. In addition to this work with CSLI he serves on the faculty of the Moody Bible Institute where he teaches courses on disability theology, pastoral ministry in suffering, and spiritual life in community. Eric has served as a pastor in Chicago for the past fifteen years. Prior to that, Eric was the director for urban engagement for Joni & Friends. He has been a regular partner of the C.S. Lewis Institute teaching on topics such as gender/sexuality, church history, spiritual warfare, and other topics. He holds degrees from Moody Bible Institute (BA) and Trinity Evangelical Divinity School (MDiv). He and his wife have three children, and love to serve together in evangelism, marriage counseling, and hospitality.
Rachel Smiertka
Fellows Program Coordinator, CSLI ChicagoRachel Smiertka serves with the Chicago branch, supporting administrative efforts and contributing to the mission through her organizational skills…
Team Members
Rachel Smiertka
Fellows Program Coordinator, CSLI ChicagoRachel Smiertka serves with the Chicago branch, supporting administrative efforts and contributing to the mission through her organizational skills and heart for service. She has worked with multiple nonprofit organizations, gaining experience in operations and administrative support. Rachel participated in the C.S. Lewis Institute Fellows Program, completing both Year 1 and Year 2, where her faith and commitment to discipleship were further strengthened. Born and raised in Illinois, Rachel now lives in Chicago’s West Loop with her husband. She is actively involved in her church community at Moody Church, where she enjoys serving and volunteering. In her free time, Rachel loves hiking and reading. She is passionate about loving God and desires to spend her life faithfully serving Him.
Dan Haase
Co-Director, C.S. Lewis Institute Fellowship House, ChicagoDan Haase is Co-Director of the C.S. Lewis Institute Fellowship House with the C.S. Lewis Institute in Chicago. He…
Team Members
Dan Haase
Co-Director, C.S. Lewis Institute Fellowship House, ChicagoDan Haase is Co-Director of the C.S. Lewis Institute Fellowship House with the C.S. Lewis Institute in Chicago. He also serves as the Department Chair and Senior Lecturer in Christian Formation & Ministry at Wheaton College where he’s taught about Christian spiritual practices and formation for the past twenty-five years. He and his wife, Kat, have spent over twenty years discipling college students in residence halls. Dan holds degrees from Wheaton College (BA, MA) and is working toward his PhD at Southern Theological Seminary.
Kat Haase
Co-Director, C.S. Lewis Institute Fellowship House, ChicagoKat Haase is Co-Director of the C.S. Lewis Institute Fellowship House with the C.S. Lewis Institute in Chicago. Kat…
Team Members
Kat Haase
Co-Director, C.S. Lewis Institute Fellowship House, ChicagoKat Haase is Co-Director of the C.S. Lewis Institute Fellowship House with the C.S. Lewis Institute in Chicago. Kat worked in college student development for over 20 years and taught Bible, theology, and the foundations of faith at Wheaton Academy. In addition to her role at CSLI Fellowship House, Kat works with Summit Ministries and the Wheaton Summer Institute at Wheaton College. She and her husband, Dan, have spent over twenty years discipling college students in residence halls. Kat holds degrees from Wheaton College (BA, MA) and Covenant Theological Seminary (DMin).
Contact Us
C.S. Lewis Institute
Chicago
1433 W. Leland Ave. #1
Chicago IL 60640-4673
Email: kj@cslewisinstitute.org
Phone: (312)543-3222
Newsletters
Receive our Newsletters
Sign up to receive publications and updates from the C.S. Lewis Institute in Chicago.
Brochures
Overview Brochure
The C.S. Lewis Institute offers life-changing discipleship for those who are ready to be intentional about spiritual growth in Christ, and who desire for God to use them in powerful ways for His Kingdom. Read more. . .
Pastors Network
Join the Pastors Fellowship
The C.S. Lewis Institute desires not only to assist churches in making disciples, but also to encourage and equip pastors. The C.S. Lewis Institute Pastors Fellowship in Chicago seeks to minister to the ministers by providing timely and useful teaching and instruction via a series of luncheons. Please contact us at kj@cslewisinstitute.org to be informed on Pastors Fellowship gatherings.
Testimonials
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Recent Podcasts
From New Age Seeker to Encountering Jesus – Robert Hotchkin’s Story
by Robert Hotchkin on October 23, 2026Raised in a loving but largely non-religious home,...Read More
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After Theory by Terry Eagleton
by Jerry Root, Aimee Riegert on October 16, 2026
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Almost Heretical – Deconstructing Christian Finds His Way Back – Nate Hanson’s Story
by Nate Hanson on October 9, 2026
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Recent Publications
Is It Really That Important to Pay Attention to Others?
by Thiago M. Silva on October 1, 2026The Gospels paint a vivid picture of Jesus...Read More
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Should My Children Have Robot Friends?
by Cameron McAllister on September 1, 2026
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Stranded in Space, Grounded in Faith
by Barry Wilmore on August 12, 2026