JHP Community Center was founded by monks and ministers of a religious order, Jesus House of Prayer (JHP, Inc.) who saw the need to reach out to youths in need of guidance, positive role models, and deterrents from violence and negative influences such as gangs and drugs. The founders have had life-long training in martial arts under the tutelage of the JHP Religious Order and saw how martial arts as a "way of life" can impact youths in their daily lives if they had someone to teach them how to channel their energy positively and use the art form constructively. For centuries martial arts has provided valuable lessons in inner strength, discipline, character, mental, physical and emotional development. Although most people only view the purely physical aspects of martial arts, it is a true art form in that inner self-discovery and expression are manifested. The JHP Order thus established under its care, the JHP Community Center (JHPCC) as a 501(c)(3) in 2001 with a mission to provide at-risk youths an opportunity to develop values and skills that will enable them to grow strong mentally, physically and emotionally and cope with challenges throughout their lives. JHPCC is a community and school based organization that assists all people regardless of race, gender, religion and ethnic background; teachings imparted on youth are based on human values, not of any particular religion.

In May 2001, JHPCC established the Modified Karate Club. Classes were first outsourced to a Hispanic community center in Chicago's Edgewater neighborhood. The classes were offered free of charge as an after-school activity and in less than six months, grew from 12 to over 35 students. The classes were so popular that the JHPCC outgrew the space and services began at its own location. Enrollments grew at JHPCC and in less than two and a half years over two hundred fifty students ranging from ages 5 - 18 have been served.

In January 2003 the After School Program (ASP) was established. ASP includes homework tutoring, academic skills development in math and reading that are mentor and technology based.

In June 2003 the summer program was added to give the students the chance to work on their weaknesses from the previous school year and to prepare them for the coming school year. Students are encouraged to have fun in all aspects of their activities whether it is in MODKA, Academics, Arts, educational field trips and outdoor activities to make their Summer Break a memorable and meaningful experience.

In 2004 the program was developed into a complete learning system called the A-CLASS Learning System which encompasses MODKA, Academics, and the Arts. The system revolves and has evolved into its current form of close interaction amongst the students; creating a sense of belonging and family unity. It has become so effective that the JHPCC has been identified as a mental health provider by other agencies and has consistently been referred of youth who have learning and behavioral challenges.

JHPCC expanded services in February, 2003 to Eliza Chappell Elementary School, offering MODKA classes twice a week to 4th and 5th graders. The program was so successful that the following school year enrollment opened to 1st through eighth graders and JHPCC's After School Program was implemented with the school providing two classrooms to accommodate the ASP students.

In October, 2004 JHPCC received funding from After School Matters of Chicago to begin training high school students in JHPCC's 10 week Leadership, Apprenticeship and Mentoring Program (LAMP). It has proven very successful that After School Matters has decided to continue its funding to the present including summer programs. Some of the LAMP students who have graduated from high school are now MODKA instructors and Program Coordinators. Three graduates of LAMP are now serving as instructors for ASM-funded LAMP program.

In 2005 JHPCC outsourced its services to Avondale School initially enrolling 100 students in grades 3 to 5. In 2006 JHPCC expanded its services to Logandale Middle School which is adjacent to Avondale School in order to accomodate students transitioning from Avondale. And in 2007 LAMP conducted its first in-campus programming at Foreman High School to provide mentor resource to Avondale and Logandale.

In the school year of 2008-09 JHPCC enrolled over 150 students into the program from four of its program sites.