Constance Evangelical Free Church

We're so excited to welcome Greg and his team from Constance Evangelical to New Community Church in Dolton, Illinois! He and his high schoolers will be partnering with Joel and his team from Clinton Frame Church to serve the host church and the Chicagoland area!!

After dinner and a brief orientation meeting, the groups joined for some exciting games and began the process of bonding with one another. We are elated to see what this week of service will bring out of these fantastic young people!

Today the youth had the opportunity to sit in on a Sunday school lesson with Pastor Ed and other leaders from New Community Church. It was our first experience interacting with the members of the church who proved to be so welcoming to our large collective group!

After Sunday school, we were privileged to join NCC in worship service! All of the youth raved about how much of an awesome time they had in service with a charismatic group of worshippers and spending more time with the church members. We witnessed three baptisms as well and heard from Pastor Brooks, who is from Chicago's west side. He presented the word of God! It was an unforgettable experience.

After service we were lead by Pastor Ed into a prayer walk throughout the Dolton community! It was a very successful endeavor as we were able not only to pray for some for the needs of the area but with some members of the community per their request. It was a blessing to be used by God to be a blessing to others, and we wait with great expectation for the service we'll be doing tomorrow!

Today Greg and his group woke up early and drove into the city to serve with Olive Branch Mission! Located in one of the most impoverished neighborhoods in the city of Chicago, the shelter not only provides housing and meals but serves as a rehabilitation program that seeks to integrate the people they serve back into society. The youth served in several capacities today: they held a mini-VBS for the kids that lived there, prepared & served lunch in the kitchen and worked on some cleaning projects!

After the group came back from Olive Branch they served alongside Clinton Frame's high schoolers for the start of Vacation Bible School; they presented to over twenty ecstatic children who had been anticipating their arrival for months! It's safe to say that both kids and the youth groups cannot wait for tomorrow!

Today was another afternoon well spent at Olive Branch in Englewood! We played more games with the kids and helped prepare lunch for the women and children of the shelter. Our help was greatly appreciated by the director of the shelter who remarked, "I wish I could have y'all here everyday!"

Here is a photo of Zach teaching the key verse at another numerically successful VBS! God be glorified!

This Wednesday was the last day we spent at Olive Branch Missions, and it was our most productive day yet! Normally the director of Olive Branch would've had to spend a huge bulk of the morning preparing lunch and dinner for well over 100 people. Our kitchen crew was able to help her prepare lunch and dinner all before noon! They worked really hard and the director was really sad to see them go. We are so thankful for the time spent in service there!