Chicago's Salem Baptist Featureed

Feature: Salem Baptist Church: Vision 2007

Every Saturday, following services at Salem Baptist Church of Chicago, members of this 10,000 African-American congregation come out of the pews and into the streets of Roseland on the city's south side to help those in need. It’s part of an innovative service project known as "Vision 2007," inspired by Church Pastor James Meeks, that provides food, clothing, legal advice, health, mentoring and other services to thousands living in this impoverished Chicago community.

Judy Valente provides a behind-the-scenes look at how this ambitious outreach program is transforming both the lives of participating church volunteers and their Roseland neighbors. "We’re closer than we've ever been before," says congregation member Denise Rogers. “Where we might have been doing different projects before this one, now all of our focus -- everything that we do -- is on the community."

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Open Heaven Prayer School

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This school is for people looking to go deep in prayer, worship, intercession and the Word. For people who have struggled in prayer or reading the Word or feel that there still something missing and they are just in place of "frustration" spiritually. The purpose of the school is to teach how to align oneself with biblical truths in ways that are easy to understand. To use all our being to perceive God in the light He wants us to know Him, instead of our concepts and ideals, which is our wordly knowledge and wisdom. What it truly means to intercede for someone and being a spiritual warrior. To become equipped with the knowledge needed to see God's plan in our daily life and not rely on our natural emotions and resources.

We will identify and break down barriers that blind us to God and His intentions for our life. This will bring us closer to understanding God's desires and hopes for the destiny we were created for. Most importantly, developing deep intimacy with our Creator.

Enroll Now to The Open Heaven Prayer School

Are you looking for:

· An Open Heaven prayer life

· Experiential intimacy with God

· A understanding of the mechanics of the spirit realm and warfare

· Ministry training

· Prophetic intercession & prophetic evangelism

· A 1^st Century Understanding of Discipleship

Apply now and be eligible for Scholarships!

There are a limited number of partial and full scholarships available for our program that begins in September. Can't commit to a full time program, check out our night school or simply take one class at a time. The Open Heaven Prayer School is designed to foster true discipleship and intimacy with Christ. The curriculum of the school is based on a first century understanding of God, a perspective that the apostles had. If you are looking for ministry training or simply a new way to be set on fire for God this program is for you. The student will receive both intellectual and experiential training to walk in peace and stay in a constant state of prayer. Housing is available for those outside the Chicagoland area. Those who complete our program will have the opportunity to serve an internship and become certified ministers of our unique CRT (Cognitive Redemptive Therapy) counseling. For more information visit our two websites and contact me for a application or any questions you may have. We look forward to hearing from you!

Open Heaven Prayer School

Michael Ericksen

3541 N. Elston Ave.

Chicago , IL 60618

Web: http://www.sewministries.com/open_heaven_prayer_school.html

Myspace: http://www.myspace.com/openheavenprayerschool

Email: ohps@sewministries.com

Phone: (773) 243-5511

• Receive periodic updates on new One Great City postings: phil@nppn.org / Subject: OGC Updates

Fox Valley ~ United Prayer for City Transformation

Please join us for the

Fox Valley Annual Prayer Mini-Summit

Tuesday, July 10th, 9:00 am - noon, with optional BBQ lunch to follow for a $5 donation

Facilitated by; Tony Danhelka - Riverwoods Christian Center, St. Charles; Bob Whitt - Family Life Church, Elgin; Randy Schoof - Warehouse Church, Aurora

Location: River Valley Community Church, 1655 Bowman Drive, Aurora

Who Should Attend: Pastors and other church leaders, business - marketplace believers, intercessors, anyone interested in community transformation

Purpose: To come in unity to ask God's blessing and direction on the work He is doing through the church in the cities of the Fox Valley

Vision: To see the kingdom of God revealed - as God's people pray for, care for, and share Jesus with those who live in our cities

What We'll Do: The three hours will go quickly, as we begin with introductions, then as a whole group we'll pray for God's work in the cities of the Fox Valley. There may be smaller break-out prayer groups, covering the cities of the Valley.

Desired Outcome: Prayer for the cities of the Fox Valley, and the establishing and deepening of relationships among those who serve Jesus together in the Fox Valley

For More Info: Contact Randy Schoof randyschoof@warehousechurch.org, (630) 859-0600

Please forward this along to colleagues, friends, and partners in ministry and invite them to join us!

• Receive periodic updates on new One Great City postings: phil@nppn.org / Subject: OGC Updates

Fox Valley Congergations Caring in Collaboration

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Hundreds of volunteers expected for dozens of projects over weekend

June 15, 2007

Hundreds of volunteers will be lending a hand Saturday in a Fox Valley-wide service effort.

Involved in the project will be an estimated 400 volunteers from Family & Faith Christian Church in Aurora, 1,400 from Christ Community Church in St. Charles, and hundreds more through Ginger Creek Community Church, the Fox Valley United Way and the Center for Community Empowerment.

They will join together to perform dozens of separate projects in the Fox Valley, including efforts in Aurora, St. Charles and Elgin.

Long time volunteer Melanie Tulley of Christ Community Church said that the day is a productive one.

"We bring a lot of people together during one day; we get a lot of energy and enthusiasm," Tulley said. "It has a high impact, which is why I like it.

"We have had people from different organizations express their gratitude for what we have done. For the church, it is really about showing our love to the community, to show a helping hand and really show God's love in the community."

The Aurora projects will include spreading mulch at the Marie Wilkinson Child Development Center, fixing potholes in the Salvation Army parking lot, and painting classrooms and halls at the Aurora YWCA.

Volunteers participating in the effort will also fix up more than 75 homes in an Aurora housing complex, in addition to making repairs at dozens of non-profit organizations.

Larry Stratton, director of community impact at Christ Community Church, said the church's Day of Serving offers people an opportunity to serve not just for one day, but all year long.

"Sometimes the church can be isolated, but we don't think that should be the case," he said. "It is hard to care for the community if you don't know the community. It exposes our congregation to needs and helps them kind of have that servant heart."

Brian Basilico of the Fox Valley United Way said volunteers are welcome to join in the day's activities.

"We can always use more volunteers," he said. "If you can hammer a nail or paint a wall, you can get involved in your community.

"There's no shortage of work to be done."

For information, contact Basilico at (630) 692-1431, or visit the United Way Web site at www.uwfoxvalley.org.

• Receive periodic updates on new One Great City postings: phil@nppn.org / Subject: OGC Updates