If you walked towards one particular North Side Chicago Public School, you may marvel at the pillars and architecture that first went into the construction of this school. As you entered the institution of learning you would see the nice, new, clean walls standing around you that were built as a part of the recent addition. You would be welcomed by the helpful and friendly office staff at the school. Whether you were at the school for five minutes or an hour, you would most likely declare this to be one of Chicago’s best schools. A new principal is in charge of the school, and she is working hard to improve the school’s educational environment. However, despite all of the advantages this school appears to have, it is not without its’ struggles. The former principal left the school in administrative disarray, and many of the children are far below state testing levels.
For three years Chicago CEF has tried to get into this school to start a Good News Club to bring the hope of Jesus to children on the North Side. In Chicago Public Schools, the principals are given autonomy to allow community after-school programs (such as Boy Scouts or Good News Clubs) or not*. The former principal of this school decided not to let us or anyone else into the school to do after-school programs. But, after persistence and prayer, the new principal has given us an open door to run a Good News Club in the school after school hours. Last Thursday at 3:30 a new Good News Club was started at this school that has 1,100 children attending the school. 16 children signed up to attend club the first week. As children sat and listened to the Bible lesson the first week, 8 of them responded to the invitation, indicating that they want to trust in Christ as Savior. Due to time constraints the first week, they were not able to be counseled for salvation, but God knows their hearts! Would you pray that those children all make solid decisions for Christ, if they haven’t already? Almost all of these children do not attend church. Good News Clubs reach children with the Gospel who are not being told of Jesus in any other way. Praise God!
If you left the school last Thursday, you might have noticed a ray of hope had entered the school that far surpassed the nice, new walls or the stunning architecture.
*For those of you wondering, “I thought they legally had to let us into the schools”, the answer is that they have to give GNCs equal rights. So, if they don’t let anyone in, such as the Boy Scouts, then they don’t have to let us in either.
