Week 1 Chicago Focus

According to research carried out by the Heartland Alliance:

In 2007:

520 140 people in the Chicago area were living in poverty. More than 6% of the region’s population were living on approximately $200-400 to feed, house, educate, clothe and provide the necessary daily essentials for a family of four.

416 119 people were living in extreme poverty. This means that a family of four would be living on less than $200 a week.

Since 2007 it has been estimated that:

253 000 more people are living in poverty...

...87000 of them children.

160 000 more people are living in extreme poverty...

...54 000 of them children.

How does the gospel you seek to share meet these needs?

In comparison to global poverty, are these truly needs?

Which is more important: feeding a child or teaching them a Bible story?

What does God say about helping these families?

What strategies have you seen being used by Christians to tackle these issues? Do they work? What IS success in the realm of urban poverty and the gospel?

How can YOU begin, today, to present a whole gospel to those living in poverty in the US?

Week 1 Review

Due to unforeseen circumstances the blog is a little behind schedule. However, hopefully you aren’t! If you have started the six-week quest already, then please check back later in the day for our Chicago Focus for the week.

If you’d like to start the quest now, then follow the links below (these take you to an on-line version of the journal many of you already have).

Day 1
Day 2
Day 3
Day 4
Day 5
Day 6
Day 7
Day 8

Please stop by later as we look at poverty in our own city of Chicago and seek to shed light on our own 'blind spots'...

Are you in?

You’ve got the prayer journal, you’re ready to begin the quest towards discovering a holistic gospel…now what?

We don’t want you to take this journey alone! If you are ready to make a commitment to the six-week quest, we’d love to begin to build and accountable and praying community. Some of you may wish to meet for lunch each week, or perhaps your small group is taking part... whatever your commitment and circumstances we’d like to have you as a tangible part of our shalom seeking community!

Please post a comment below to tell us how you are going to take part in our quest! You don't need to sign up to any email account or blog network, just click the button that says 'Anonymous' and place your name in the body of the comment.

Suggestions for comments:

• Are you planning to use the prayer journal personally, with others, in a church setting?


• Would you like to meet with others taking part in the quest?


• Will you be using the blog as part of our on-line community?


• How can we help you make the most of this quest?