Written by Angela, a Chicago CEF missionary
“My friend and I walked into the Jonquil Hotel to meet with a chaplain. We were so excited to begin working with him to reach out to Chicago’s children on the North Side! But as we approached the building, we saw news vans, video cameras, and microphones. Entering the building, we encountered a wave of fresh grief: that morning a 16-year-old the chaplain worked with had been fatally shot. The chaplain and many attendees personally knew this young man. They found it challenging to come to grips with the fact that they had just spent time with him, and in the blink of an eye he was gone! During that same week of ministry, this chaplain was held at gunpoint by a 17-year-old.
We listened, we cried together, and we prayed. “We were brought here for a reason!” the chaplain exclaimed after we prayed together. I have the privilege of continuing to work with this chaplain, equipping and working with him to reach children before they become the victims or the victimizers. On an average weekend in Chicago, 30 – 50 people are shot.”
The violence in Chicago can no longer be kept on the front pages of our news papers but instead, we’re forced to face the reality of real violence as we walk down our streets. This city is one of hurt people hurting people. We’re here to bring the Gospel of Jeuse Christ to those hurting people. We go out expecting a dramatic chamge that only God can bring about.
