3 Shootings and a Stabbing

Today we reach out to our partners and supporters to encourage prayer and action. Because myself, my family, and our community's friends are heartbroken from what seems like a never ending cycle of violence and crime. 

Over the past month we have had multiple fatal shootings and one stabbing within two blocks of our ministry house and there have been even more in other neighborhoods in Chester. Over the weekend of July 1st, there were two fatal shootings, you can read the stories here and here. To make things more challenging, on July 9th there was a stabbing that occurred on our corner of 23rd and crosby. And the most recent happened on Tuesday July 30th at Memorial park in Chester where one person was killed and another injured. 

Reading this caused me to relook at a crime map of Chester where Chester received an “F” grade for safety. The article cites 93% of cities are safer than Chester and there is a 1 in 23 chase of being a victim of a violent crime. 

Our city has been in mourning and it seems like we just move on to the next tragedy without being able to grieve from the previous one. Today we stopped and prayed for those impacted by the loss of life. Yesterday the Mayor, loved ones, and community leaders gathered to release balloons, pray, and encourage positive action. 

Over 35,000 residents live in the City of Chester, including myself, my wife and our kids. In times like these I cannot help being concerned for my family. But there is a time when someone must not only step up for their family, but must stand in the gap for all families. This is one of the reasons we launched Greenhouse Project, to help be part of the change from the inside out. 

We are praying and seeking radical change and know that will only come through the Gospel of Jesus Christ. We pray for hearts and minds to be changed and never want shootings, stabbings and senseless acts of violence to be widely accepted as normal. So we plan to invest in what we can do, and that is to help invest in the youth and in sharing the life changing Good News of our Lord and Savior. For only God can change what no man can. 

We never want to sanitize the reality of where we live and the challenges we face. This is real life for over 35,000 people, never knowing if our kids, our family and loved ones will be victims of the next crime. But God has given us a vision for a transformed city! 

Our ministry team is called to be like firefighters, to be in the fire, run after those in need, to help save those who are lost. Not only do we have the great Hope of Heaven, but we have witnessed first hand many lives being transformed. 

Isaiah 40:31 says this: But those who hope in the LORD will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint. 

In the midst of the heartache God has caused many of our neighbors to share testimony of how our blocks are starting to transform. This gives us fuel to keep going and to invest even more! As we get ready to go into another school year we encourage each of our partners and supporters to continue to pray, volunteer and give so we can have a great impact in the fall of 2024 and into 2025. 

Be on the lookout for our back to school supply list, sponsorship opportunities, and consider volunteering with our future events. Together we can see a great future for the City of Chester! 

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Praise Report! 9 lives saved and baptized!