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