Thanks so much for your support this month and most of all for your prayers. You just never know when you'll need them like we did Wednesday night on the South Side of Chicago. Were you praying?  Somebody was!!!

Chicago remains one of our key cities with many partners and I was there this week visiting and training the staff of one of our newest partners. We had a long day of meetings and touring this impoverished neighborhood, one of the worse I've ever visited. I met with Pastor Vincent and Sherry who are planting a new urban church in this part of town. They grew up in this hood. Vincent got involved with gangs as a youth, incarcerated several times in prison. Behind bars he met Jesus and felt the call to ministry. Sherry stayed with him throughout those years and the many trials they faced. But God has blessed their faith and their vision.

Everywhere we went, folks pulled us aside and said "Hey Pastor Vince, how you doing?" It was amazing to see this former gangster crack addict walking the same streets he used to hustle sharing love, compassion and the deliverance he found over addiction through Jesus Christ. We went door to door to invite folks to a Free Health Fair and Gospel Concert. With the help of the Salvation Army, hundreds of children received free backpacks, physicals (which are required for school), back to school supplies, food, games, you name it.

We started at 7am and now it was 7pm, time for Wednesday night prayer meeting and Bible study. No rest for the weary and believe me I was weary. But when we walked into "church" at the local elementary school that is on probation for low academic performance, I was shocked. Vince has only been a full time pastor for just over a month and the place was packed. 94 children, teens, moms, dads, grandmas, were playing in the gym, setting up chairs and music for worship. It was wonderful.

 
As the gospel band started to play I felt my weariness wash away.  That's how it is when you really worship, it makes all the work worth while. Folks were clapping, raising hands in praise, and we were having a great time. However the music was so loud we couldn't hear what was going on outside. Suddenly, the principal who loves what this new church plant and urban ministry is doing for the community, rushed in to speak with Pastor Vince.

The music abruptly stopped and Vince said, "Ok, we need to stop right now and pray. No one leave the building, it's been locked down. There's been a shooting outside in the playground." So we prayed. And I mean we prayed. I prayed like I haven't prayed in a long time. I don't think I've prayed that hard since we served as missionaries in Kenya when some drunken warriors were surrounding our hospital compound trying to kill some of our staff from another tribe.

It's a funny thing isn't it about prayer. We really don't focus like we need to focus until our lives or someone else's life is on the line, which is why these urban folks really know how to pray. They face it everyday. So we prayed and prayed.

Pastor Vince's devotion was on Psalm 91 and how appropriate for that night. "Whoever dwells in the shelter of the Most High will rest in the shadow of the Almighty. They say of the Lord, 'He is my refuge and my fortress, my God, in whom I trust.' Surely he will save you from the fowler's snare and from the deadly pestilence. You will not fear the terror of night, nor the arrow that flies by day."

What a comfort God's word is in times of real trial and tribulation. After the police gave us the all clear sign, we ventured out at 10pm. Fortunately no one was shot or hurt. It was just another gang drive by shooting. It didn't even make the news because it's so common.

The next day I flew home and all the while thanked God for prayer, protection, peace and the knowledge that there are hundreds of you covering us and our CityConnexx teams in prayer as we seek the Lord to be faithful in serving at-risk communities where Satan has come to "steal, kill, and destroy." Keep up the good work. A lot of prayer and support go a long way to keep the Devil at bay.

For Him and Them,

Dean Cowles
YouthPartersNET
President

LIVE COMPASSION!

Your Donations at Work:

Amador Street Hope Center in Vallejo CA serves children K-12 from their high-risk neighborhood during the school year with their Say YES After School Program. 

This youth program touches so many lives.  The children participate in fun activities, bible study and receive homework assistance.  Their parents receive peace of mind that their children have a safe place to hang out until they return home from work.  And the church members volunteer their time and money and see how God is working through this program to change the lives of these families. 

This past year they served 30 children in their Say YES program, most coming from Hispanic homes and culture, and are looking forward to another successful year.

Prayer Request:

One of their 11 year old students asked that we pray for her father who does not have a job and she hopes he finds one near their house.

One of their 12 year old students asked that we pray as much as we can for her because she wants to become a pastor when she grows up.