Jesus is Bigger than COVID-19! July-August 2020 Ministry Update

Friday, September 04, 2020

Jesus is Bigger than COVID-19! July-August 2020 Ministry Update

August 28th, 2020.

Dear Prayer Partners
It’s a new day in America and around the world. It’s a time when Covid 19 is giving us a run for our money and a time when parents are afraid to send their students to our youth center. But even though attendance has dropped, along with some of our support, you must understand that more than ever Covid will not stop us from doing what God has called us to do.

In fact, I’m convinced Covid should be a catalyst for us to continue the work we have been given.

The Apostle Paul experienced numerous disasters in his life, including being shipwrecked, being jailed, being betrayed by fellow pastors, and even having disagreements with other ministers. However, he did not allow these threats or accusations or arrests to hinder him from God’s calling. I believe Covid 19 could also be a distraction from the enemy to hold us back from doing God’s work. But I also believe true Christian leaders to not allow events in the world to hold them back from serving as they have been called.

I’m reminded of the passage in Matthew 14 where Jesus sent His disciples out in a boat to meet Him on the other side of the sea. When evening came, a big storm arose. Knowing that this storm was coming, Jesus sent them out anyway. I’m always fascinated why He sent them into the storm knowing it was going to affect them. In a similar way, I believe God has called us to not only survive this storm of Covid, but to be students of Covid, because it gives us new opportunities to learn and to reinvent our strategies. Of course, our message never changes because as an organization, we’re anchored to the Rock, but we adjust for the times.

Covid is greatly affecting a lot of parents. And while many of them are afraid to send their kids to our City Life Center and while the city has put restrictions on us, we are determined and poised more than ever to be intentional about revisiting every one of our good practices. We’re seeking new ways to reach kids in our city. And we are committed to taking the Gospel to them because we know that nothing will change the hearts and minds of students, nothing will help our kids overcome depression, and nothing will heal the broken hearts from parental abuse in the homes like the saving message of the Gospel.

As part of reaching out, we are partnering with local churches to provide groceries every week for students in our community because some of their parents have lost their jobs. For our Senior students who graduated, we will be providing training on how to interview for a job and how to keep a job. And beginning in September, we will reopen our City Life Center three days a week because we believe that more than ever, students need a safe place to come.

Because of these commitments to our community, there has never been a greater need than this season for ministry partners to come alongside us to do what God has called us to. Would you prayerfully consider not only giving financially to City Life of Chicago but also volunteering one hour a month at the center? This will give you a front seat into who we are and what God is accomplishing. Would you also consider spending just 10 minutes per week in prayer for our ministry?
Here are some key areas to pray about:

Pray that God will give us the strength to know how to love students
Pray for our young men as they negotiate the world of technology that they know so well, even as it and education are being integrated into very unknown territories for them.
Pray for parents who are struggling with childcare.
Pray for teenagers who have now found themselves providing childcare to their siblings because the younger ones cannot go to school. Imagine being a 7th grader with a 3rd-grade sibling and a mom who needs to go to work. Inadvertently, you become essentially a teacher and parent. And you’re only in the 7th grade! This is a reality for hundreds of kids on the South Side. So please be in prayer for our kids, asking that God gives them wisdom.
Pray for us as we are rethinking our strategy. We must help our kids beyond just sharing the Gospel. That’s why we’ll be doing things such as providing groceries and calling our kids weekly to pray with them. Pray that there will be an openness to receive our efforts.
And on top of all these requests, please pray that God will honor all of our efforts.