Abany Park

 

This week our prayer focus is on the community area of Albany Park.  Albany Park is on the Northwest side of Chicago.  The area includes the neighborhoods of Mayfair, North Mayfair, Ravenswood Manor and Albany Park where it derives its name. The neighborhood of Albany Park is one of the most ethnically diverse not just in Chicago but in our whole country.  According to Wikipedia, "it has one of the highest percentages of foreign-born residents of neighborhoods in Chicago." 

There are a number of nationalities represented in the Albany Park community, over 40 languages are spoken in the public schools. There is even part of Albany Park that is known as the Korea town of Chicago.  It is a commercial district for many Korean shops and a section of Lawrence Avenue was officially nicknamed Seoul Drive by the City of Chicago.  

I love reading about and seeing first hand the diversity in the city.  The uniqueness of the different cultures that make up sections of our city is so fun to observe and experience.  I am amazed at the creativity of our God.  I am so thankful to Him for the nations that are represented here in Chicago. Understanding the different cultures in our world and loving people from all parts of the globe has expanded my perspective of the world and my part in it. God is so big! I once again am reminded that God is giving us, in cities, a tool to finish the great commission.  Where else can we continually rub shoulders with people from all over our world except in cities like Chicago?

Please join me in engaging with people from all walks of life, and praying that as we do we can impact each person with the love of Christ!  Pray for Albany Park that there will be a unity among believers to reach out to their neighbors and share the hope that they have. Thanks for praying! 

Next week:  North Park

Muslims in Chicago

This week, instead of focusing on a specific neighborhood in Chicago I thought it would be great if we could pray for the many Muslims in our city.  There are nearly 70 mosques in the Chicagoland area, two-thirds of which are within the city limits.  In the area of the city I live, I see people that have a Muslim faith on a daily basis.  Tomorrow is the beginning of Ramadan, an important 30-day period of Islamic observance. As Muslims in Chicago start this 30 days of fasting and prayer, let's pray that God breaks through and shows them the truth about Jesus.

                                       

Two weeks ago I had a chance to have dinner with a YWAMer from Iraq.  He started talking a bit about what his fellow Christians in Iraq were going through at the hands of ISIS.  As he talked, tears filled his eyes as he hurt for them.  We also talked a bit about how some of the terrorists were having visions and coming to know Jesus as Savior.  I have heard a lot of stories of Muslim people coming to Jesus because of visions or dreams.  Pray that God uses dreams and visions to show Muslim's his love for them and the victory we have in Jesus!   

We at YWAM will have teams out over the next month speaking to people and sharing our faith. Pray that God opens up opportunities for us to share and pray with them.  We, time and again, have opportunities to pray for Muslims in our neighborhood.  Pray that God answers their prayers in such a way that they realize who He is!

Thanks so much for praying for Chicago.  I know God is at work through our prayers!!  Have a blessed week!  

Next week: Albany Park

West Englewood

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  I just got back from some traveling and am excited to be back in the city. I can tell that Chicago is ready for summer and gearing up for all the fun that comes with it. Add to it that the Blackhawks are in the Stanley Cup finals and Chicago is pumped up right now! It's a fun place to be for sure. Thanks so much for reading this and taking the time to pray for the city of Chicago. This week we are focusing on a neighborhood close to my heart, West Englewood. West Englewood is on the southwest side of Chicago. 
• Every Thursday for many years I would go to West Englewood and help out at an elementary school there.  I loved everyone I got to know and grew a heart for the area.  I decided for this week to ask one of the people from West Englewood what we should pray for.  Dr Ngonzi Crushshon grew up in the area and is working there to reach out to kids in the neighborhood.  These are her prayer requests.

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  Kids from the school where I used to volunteer.

  "Please pray for resources and assistance (needed services for children and families to meet basic/essential needs: safety, food, shelter/housing).  Also, pray for state funding to trickle/pour down into agencies and communities to benefit those who need it most.  To reopen mental health centers, hospitals and crisis centers for suicidal youth to receive help they need. Lastly, pray for our schools, teachers, principals, education reform and for REAL education to take place in schools.
• We have some praise reports: we are still here transforming children's and family's lives despite the odds. I'm also transforming mindsets and thinking in Chicago public schools doing peace circles.  Helping youth to think through everyday challenges in their homes and communities.  How to resolve conflict using words and critical thinking versus using weapons and fighting/using hands/violence. Lots of children and teens are benefiting from this eye opening experience.  We are teaching and reminding children to practice acts of kindness, to give hugs, to share, how to express how they feel (emotions) using "I" statements and how to cope with multiple stressors as young as Kindergarten through 8th grade.  We are teaching coping skills and healthy ways to release anger, sadness, etc."
• Please lift up Ngonzi and others like her who are reaching out and hoping to transform their neighborhood.  We often hear the stories of the south side of Chicago and the gangs and violence that come out of those areas.  I believe we need more workers like Ngonzi that have a heart for places like West Englewood.  Pray that God would raise up godly men and women to do just that!  Thanks for reading today!  Blessings!!