May 2016 Ministry Report from Pastor Owolabi.
I asked my friend Pastor David Curtis of Salt Creek Church to write about his experience spending four days with me in Chicago! Here is what He wrote:
In 2008 I travelled to Belfair WA to spend a week with my good friend Pastor James Owolabi and speak to his youth group. At the time James and I were both youth pastors in Conservative Baptist Northwest churches. I was so impressed at the youth ministry team James had built and the impact he was having in a small rural town in the Pacific Northwest.Pastor James (PJ) was well known in the community, the ministry was successful and there were many youth pastors that would have loved to be in his shoes.
Additionally, James was being recognized as a gifted speaker and was being invited to speak at camps and retreats throughout the Northwest, Midwest, and even Alaska. However, God was building a strong desire deep in James’ soul for something deeper.
Over time Pastor James began to realize that God was calling him to do multicultural ministry in an urban environment. Eventually God opened a door with a Korean Congregation in Indianapolis. This was a challenging and growing experience for James. Eventually God began to clarify the original vision for James. He was feeling a burden for inner-city middle school students, in particular the children growing up on the South-side of Chicago. Looking back, I think of how God called Abram from Ur of the Chaldeans to Canaan and yet Abram got side tracked in Haran. I think the ministry in Indianapolis was like Haran for Pastor James. A necessary part of the journey but never intended to be the final destination. I think a part of James has known for a few years that God was calling him to inner city Chicago but the timing just wasn’t right until this past year.
In April 2016, I had an opportunity to visit James in Chicago and see first-hand the ministry that God is building through in him and through him. James seemed so much more energized and focused than our l last visit in 2015 while he was speaking at a camp in Oregon.
At first I was blown away at the condition of the Englewood neighborhood which James now calls home. Such a stark contrast to the peace and tranquility that he left behind in Belfair. Sirens are a constant reality and no one seems to care about the neighborhood. James lives in a downstairs apartment with a godly brother in Christ that everyone knows as ‘Mr. Z’.
Our first day we split our time between Bible Study at New Beginnings Church where James is a volunteer middle school and children's Pastor and at the By the Hand after school program where he is volunteering with elementary age children. James’ ability to build friendships quickly was evident as we showed up to Bible Study. It is clear that his presence there is appreciated and valued not just because he is working with the youth but because he is committed to the ministry of the church as a whole.
Later that afternoon we went to serve with By the Hand. Even though Pastor James is no longer working for By the Hand, he sees the value in continuing to invest in these kids as they will be the future leaders of the neighborhood someday. This long range approach to investing in the lives of people in Chicago and investing in the neighborhood will pay dividends for James’ ministry over the years.
That evening I was able to see another aspect of God’s gifting working through James. While we were at dinner, James struck up a conversation with the owner/operator of this small Mexican café we were dining at. Within minutes this man was excited about the “Refuge” youth ministry that James is co- leading on Friday nights and he was committing a sizable donation of food for one of the upcoming Fridays. God’s blessing on this project has been so evident.
On Friday we gathered the resources together to make Refuge happen that evening. Everywhere we went, James’ ability to connect and network was so abundantly evident. We began the evening with a training for the student leadership team. James is beginning to train and empower these students to take bigger roles in the Refuge ministry. That night I had an opportunity to do some coaching with them on how to share their testimony.
I was so impressed with the maturity of these students. They are ready and excited to share their stories at upcoming Refuge gatherings.
As we prepared for the rest of the students to arrive I had an opportunity to meet the rest of the volunteer team. What wonderful people. That particular night there was a team of about 12-15 (Not including the paid security team) adults caring for the 170 students that showed up. Each of these adults have bought into the vision of creating a safe space for these students to be on Friday nights and they are working hard to share God’s love with each of these students.
It is not an easy group of students to love and care for. Almost all of them have experienced some level of brokenness and pain. They have trust issue and anger issues and yet these gifted adults from New Beginnings Church and Pastor Corey Brooks are demonstrating God’s love for them weekly under the leadership of Pastor Brooks, Pastor Vondale and James. After only four short months (Refuge started in January 2016 over 700 have attended the refuge since it’s debut in January 2016), it is incredible to see what God is doing in this ministry.
Now because of my schedule I was unable to see first-hand the work James is doing with One-Eighty Chicago and his cross cultural mentoring project. I know though that God's blessings in that ministry as well as young boys are being mentored by mature believers.
During this trip I was overwhelmed with the goodness of God in how he has given a vision and opened doors for my good friend James to be a small part of a gospel-oriented transformation of the South-side of Chicago. There are few people that I know who would leave the security of a strong close knit church family, a stable church position and the notoriety of speaking at youth camps and youth retreats around the county in order to plant themselves in one of the worst neighborhoods in America in order to disciple children and middle school students for Jesus Christ.
Thank you for praying for Pastor James in Chicago. I hope that many of you will be able to go visit and see what God is doing in Chicago in Pastor James Owolabi .
Blessings,
David Curtis
Lead Pastor
Salt Creek Church
Received from My friend Pastor David Curtis on 5/12/16. David came to visit me for four days. Here is his story.
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