Service | Justice
Testimony
The worship was a very emotional event for me and something that had not happened in many, many years. I feel like I have found a "home" in Urban Village and am s ...
“…for I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink…”
- Matthew 25.35
You don’t have to look very hard in the Scriptures to find that God cares deeply about offering enough to eat and drink. At the beginning of Genesis, God said, “Let the earth put forth vegetation: plants yielding seed, and fruit trees of every kind on earth that bear fruit with the seed in it.” At the end of Revelation in a vision of a new and eternal city, God declares that, “to the thirsty I will give water as a gift.” And, of course, there are numerous examples of Jesus gathering with friends and strangers around a table to share a meal.
As Christians, we are told to pray and ask for daily bread. For most of us, that’s something we take for granted. Not so for countless others in our city and around the world. In 2012, then, our Service|Justice focus for Urban Village Church will be to do what we can to combat hunger. That will happen in different ways. We’ll volunteer with organizations that provide meals throughout the city. We’ll work with organizations that advocate for systemic change. We’ll return to Haiti because we are called to care for our neighbors around the world.
We hope you choose to get involved!
CURRENT PARTNERS
We have, or are establishing, ongoing relationships with these organizations. If you are interested in getting involved with one or more, please reach out to the respective contact person(s).
Breakfast Ministry – This longstanding project of the Chicago Temple, with whom we partner, serves well over 100 people a warm meal every Saturday morning in the South Loop. Contact: Karen Sabaka, ksabaka@yahoo.com.
Cornerstone Community Outreach – Cornerstone Community Outreach (CCO), a non-profit organization, was created in 1989 to raise the quality of life for low-income residents through social, educational, and economic development programs that include: development and preservation of decent and affordable housing, job training and creation, educational and social programs, and feeding and sheltering the homeless. Contact: Matthew Petersen, matthew@ejpetersen.com.
Greater Chicago Food Depository – Service and mission are important, but so is working for justice and systemic change. The Greater Chicago Food Depository not only serves as Cook County’s food bank, it’s also an important resource for ongoing local and national legislative issues. Contact: Jeff Jones, jeffjones312@gmail.com.
Growing Power – A non-profit that, among other things, helps create Community Food Centers and urban gardens in underserved neighborhoods. Contact: Jess Root, jdibernardo@gmail.com.
Inspiration Kitchens – Inspiration Corporation’s Inspiration Kitchens provide essential social services to Chicagoans hardest hit by homelessness and poverty. IK inspires participants to take action to improve their own lives. Inspiration Kitchens helps individuals gain valuable skills and experience that lead to employment in the food industry. Every plate is produced by a participant in our 13 week job training program. Each graduate gets sanitation training, employment assistance, housing assistant, and access to other services. Contact: Matthew Petersen, matthew@ejpetersen.com.
Market Pantry – A new project with Ravenswood Community Services and the Greater Chicagoland Food depository brings fresh fruits and vegetables to area families. Contact: Caelyn Randall, aaacmr@gmail.com.
Night Ministry – The Night Ministry is a non-denominational, non-profit organization that serves and accepts people regardless of race, ethnicity, religion, sexual orientation, or social status. The Night Ministry provides housing, health care, outreach, spiritual care, and social services to adults and youth who struggle with homelessness, poverty, and loneliness. Urban Village Church supports a variety of ongoing services offered by the Night Ministry throughout Chicago. Volunteer opportunities are available through both the church-wide community and at each of the sites. Contact: Samuel Green,samuel@urbanvillagechurch.org.
Ravenswood Community Services - RCS supplies daily meals, groceries and health care to local residents who are in need. Several times throughout the year they host “All Saints Cafe”, offering guests a fine dining experience with live entertainment. They also provide life skills classes and mentoring programs for high school students. Contact: Caelyn Randall, aaacmr@gmail.com.
Contact Christian Coon or Jess Root with general Service|Justice questions and suggestions.