Mercy Moment

A Library That Promotes ‘the Beautiful and True’

Zion Lutheran Church, Chebanse, Ill., received a national development grant from the LCMS to start a community library.

Story by Brianna Dehn | Photography by Benjamin Hayter | Fall 2025

These days, a trip to the local public library can expose children to materials and ideas that conflict with their faith. To create a space where parents feel comfortable bringing their children, the members of Zion Lutheran Church in Chebanse, Ill., started a community library filled with books that align with Christian values.

The idea for Zion Lutheran Community Library (ZLCL) came about when members were cleaning the church and school facility. While Zion’s standalone preschool is still in operation, its elementary school closed in 2014. The old school library had been locked and mostly forgotten, and the rest of the school wing was rented out to a local child care company.

When members realized the library was still full of books, they began thinking about how they could utilize this unexpected find. The small town of Chebanse did not have its own public library, and members had seen how the libraries in the surrounding towns were full of books that followed cultural trends instead of the ways of Christ.

“We figured we could meet the need of a safe space for children to read good books that align with a Christian worldview,” said the Rev. Benjamin Hayter, pastor of Zion. “It is our prayer that these good books will feed the faith of our children, youth and adults, and that exposure to the beautiful and true will draw in those who are not yet a part of a church.”

In July 2024, Zion applied for a national development grant through The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod to assist with the library project. A few months later, the church received the grant and used it to help renovate a new, more accessible space. Funds also were used to purchase additional books to add to the library.

ZLCL opened on April 27, 2025, and held its first story time event on May 10. “People inside and outside our church have been impressed with the renovation of the space,” said Hayter. “The community finds the space lovely and calming.”

Alumni of the former grade school are now bringing their children to the library and finding books that still have their names listed on the check-out cards from years ago.

ZLCL has more than 2,000 books available to be checked out by anyone in the community. While most of the books are geared toward children, with many picture books and chapter books for young readers, members hope to expand the selection with more classic novels and theological content.

“We care about the souls of the children in our church and the children in our town,” said Hayter. “We want them to be fed with content that is true, honorable, just, pure, lovely, commendable and excellent. … We want them to know that they can see [the story of Jesus] and godly virtues pop up in other stories, even children’s books.”

Learn More

Read more about national development grants

Brianna Dehn

Former staff writer with LCMS Communications.