Our Beginning
Vida Abundante began in 1990 as a small gathering in the unfinished basement of an empty building in a diverse Chicago neighborhood, formed as a non-denominational church committed to the teaching of God's Word.
A Journey of Faithfulness
Over the next two decades, the church moved through several homes across Cicero — including four difficult years renting the auditorium of Morton East High School — before celebrating its first service in its current location on 54th Ave in December 2011.
Leadership and Legacy
Founding pastor Andrés Gallardo led Vida Abundante for decades before his passing in September 2025. His legacy shaped a church devoted to the faithful teaching of Scripture. Seven years before his passing, Jonathan Gallardo was ordained as senior pastor, and under his leadership Vida has been shaped by a renewed commitment to the doctrines of grace, a God-centered understanding of salvation, and the authority of Scripture in all matters of faith and practice.
Rooted in the Reformation
Since those earlier years, God has drawn the church toward a deeper conviction. Scripture alone must govern how we worship, not tradition, method, or cultural trend. Through the faithful, expository preaching of God's Word, Vida has embraced the doctrines of grace and the practice and piety of the Reformation, trusting that Christ builds His church not by methods, but through the ministry of His Word.
Looking Ahead
Through every season, Vida Abundante has known the steady faithfulness of God — and looks ahead trusting not in its own strength, but in His unchanging character.
