Today we attended 2 different church services. This morning we were at Immanuel Baptist Church (IBC) in the Little Italy area. This is a church plant that ministers largely to college students and young married couples. They meet on the second level of a brick building near the University of Illinois at Chicago. Their style of worship was very similar to what we are accustom to in NC. Very casual and welcoming. The pastor, Nathan, will be meeting with us on Monday to talk more about their ministry and we will head to the UIC campus to do some prayer walking and talk to the students there. Nathan will also have some handouts for us to distribute on campus in hopes that we can point some of the unchurched students to Immanuel Baptist Church.
After lunch, we headed to services at Armitage Baptist Church. This church is led by a white pastor and is located in the worst part of Chicago. Having been raised in that area, God led Jamie (the pastor) back there to minister in what we call "the hood." As we walked the streets to get to the church, we drew alot of attention. 18 white people from North Carolina walking down the sidewalk in that community definitely stood out! We attended a praise and prayer service from 3-4pm and then their "Celebration Service" as they call it was at 4pm. We were challenged in a MAJOR way and reminded of what we should be doing. Jesus is calling us to surrender all of our personal rights. We are to surrender and follow Him, no matter what the cost. Whether we are to move to the hood or simply get out of our comfort zone, we should obey God's call on our lives. We are to love people equally, not just those who look like us or those who are nice to us. We are to love the people that cussed at us as we walked down the sidewalk today. We are to love the ones we saw exchange drugs for money. We are to love the guy who followed us into the convenient store and then waited for us to come out so he could ask for money. We are to love the the lady who came in the service today with 4 kids out of wedlock and 4 more of her nieces and nephews she is also having to raise. We are to love the drunk man on the side of the road. We are to love the homeless people who ride the subways and l-train at night because they have no place to lay their head. We are to love the Lord our God with all our heart, mind, and strength. We must see people as He does and value their lives.
It's only day 2, and I already see life from an entirely different perspective. Who knows what I'll be thinking by the end of the week! I've always know that such depravity existed. But today is the first time I truly saw such. It broke my heart. I feel like I've been on an emotional roller coaster today. Being fearful at one moment and trusting God the next. Being reminded that God has us here for a very specific reason and trusting that He will be faithful to us and reveal His plan for our family. It's hard to even put into words but I know this trip is going to help us answer alot of questions in the near future. Please pray with us as we seek God's direction as to how to better minister here this week. May God be glorified through our efforts.
Wow! Just reading your post, I feel scared, enlightened, and aware of the power of Christ working in your lives and in the city of Chicago. Just yesterday, Scott shared with me and Dillan about seeing a man who had walked from Cordele to Oglethorpe with nothing but a backpack and blanket (which he wrapped up in to sleep in the woods overnight). He stopped Scott to ask for directions and Scott talked with him. He had not eatenin several days either. We were discussing that we know there are people like that "out there", but we forget they're even at our back door in small towns. We all need to get out of our comfort zones and look at everyone we meet with the love of Christ and stop pretending the world is just as we know it.
ReplyDeleteI can't imagine seeing first-hand what you're seeing in such a big city! I can tell that God is speaking to you as you live out this experience....it brings tears to my eyes to think of you even having to be afraid for a minute. But God is watching over you and listening to the prayers of all of us praying on your group's behalf.
We love yall and look forward to seeing you at Carrie's wedding. Looks like it might be an all-nighter as you'll have plenty to share with us :)