A Newsletter of Youth With A Mission Chicago April 2010

Colors of Chicago
Reaching the City to Reach the World
Celebrating 17 years of ministry to the nations in Chicago!

school of urban frontiers

For the last part of the School of Urban Frontiers, the team left for 1
month, visiting different urban centres, as outreach. As the team was praying for
the outreach and seeking the heart of God for this road trip, we felt God giving
us two themes: “Love without agenda” and “Preach the gospel in all times, if
necessary use words” (St. Francis of Assisi). On February 6th, the team left.
The first week of the outreach was at the YWAM Tyler base. There, the
team discovered some ministries in YWAM like Mercy Works (disaster relief),
Living Alternatives (teen and young women pregnancy), Strategic Frontiers, and
learned some key principles for pioneering ministries and the longevity in minis-
try. This week was also a time to continue to seek God, to pray on the different
words we had already received before and get ready for 3 weeks of outreach.
We arrived in New Orleans for Mardi Gras. The spirit of celebration was
filling the city, because of the Saints’ victory at the Super Bowl and Mardi Gras.
As we were walking in the city, shouts of “WHO DAT” was constantly resonating
in the streets.
We did mainly friendship evangelism during the nights of Mardi Gras.
2 by 2, walking the streets, being witnesses of Jesus Christ, helping people in
need. With helping drunk people, being introduced to tarot card readers, wor-
shiping in open-air, praying for individuals and over the city, we all had different
experiences and divine appointments.
As we arrived in Houston, we worked with the street community, the
transsexual community and homeless people. We were able to participate in
different ministries like “The Church under the bridge”, literally doing church un-
der a bridge for homeless people. We were also involved with “Street reach”, a
Thursday night service for the street community in the Montrose neighbourhood,
where we were able to
serve in different ways: serving food, praying for individuals and
childcare, etc.
The last week of our trip was in Dallas. We
worked with YWAM and the different programs that they are of-
fering for children and youth: an after-school program to help
the children with their homework, church service for children and
for youth. For both church services, we were involved in prepar-
ing the food, the lessons and the worship (hand motions!), and
preparing a drama. We were truly amazed by the work done by
YWAM in the neighbourhood and to hear how the life of the chil-
dren and youth are being changed by the presence of YWAM.
We were all challenged in different ways and
learned different ways of doing ministry. We saw the different
needs of the cities, we saw how people can be desperate, we
saw poverty, brokenness, people in need, suffering, we saw
God’s people waiting and crying out for help. We also saw that God is at work, He is moving in the cities, He is passion-
ate about the city, but we realized how urban centres are missing workers. Cities are ready to fall on their knees, cities are
waiting for more workers. And you, where are you?
- Nicolas Marin
 City Scape
YWAM Chicago
PO Box 268408
Chicago, IL 60626
ywamchicago@yahoo.com
www.ywamchicago.org
Director: Brad Stanley
Youth With A Mission
Statement of Purpose
YWAM is an international
movement of Christians from
many denominations dedi-
cated to presenting Jesus
Christ personally to this gen-
eration, to mobilizing as many
people as possible to help in
this task, and to the training
and equipping of believers
for their part in fulfilling the
Great Commission. As citizens
of God’s Kingdom we are
called to love, worship and
obey our Lord, to love and
serve His body, the church,
and to present the Whole
Gospel for the whole person
throughout the whole world.
YWAM Chicago
Statement of Purpose
YWAM Chicago is commit-
ted to city-wide ministry and
to the redemption of God’s
design for the modern urban
community. We endeavor to
present the Gospel to the so-
cially and culturally isolated,
to embrace and train the im-
migrant populations of our
city, and to seek to bring the
whole gospel to the whole city
through long-term community
development and short-term
outreaches.
Living in the city for 18 years, I have become overwhelmingly convinced that
God lives in the city, that He loves the city, and that His presence can be seen
and felt in the city. Its one of the reasons why we have put this page in our news-
letters, in hope that it might bring some perspective on how God feels about
the city and what He may be doing in the urbanization of the earth. However, it
would be inaccurate to say that this rural East Texas boy came to that realiza-
tion easily.
The first several months in the big city was hard. My wife Sherry and I were lead-
ing a pioneer team of 11, trying to establish YWAM in Chicago. It wasn’t hard
to see that God wanted to reach the masses of people, but I began to struggle
with hearing God’s voice and experiencing His presence in all the distraction.
I missed those quiet meditative times of solitude that I had enjoyed with the
Lord over the years. You just simply could not find it in the busyness of the city.
Outside the window of our studio the “el” train rumbled by every 3-5 minutes 24
hours a day. There was noise and domestic fights in our 50 unit apartment build-
ing through most nights. Street lights were always on. Police and emergency
sirens could be heard constantly. On top of that we had drug dealers and pros-
titutes outside our window calling to people all the time. How was I supposed to
have a “quiet time” with the Lord!?
I was drying up inside. I couldn’t seem to refuel in the Lord as I had done be-
fore. One day I got really frustrated with God. I simply told Him that He had to
provide some quiet isolated environment for me on a daily basis so that I could
meet with Him. I remember Him directing me to go and have my “quiet time” for
the next several days on Devon street near our apartment. This street happens
to be the busiest street in our neighborhood in the middle of the Asian Indian
district. It was definitely not what I was asking for. But, out of obedience I went
with my Bible and sat on a park bench for several days trying to seek the Lord.
It was really hard at first. All the noises, smells, and presence of people walking
all around me made it very difficult to focus on God. Before long I began to real-
ize two things. First, how to filter out the world and noise around me. Secondly,
and even more surprisingly, how to hear and see God in the faces of the people
and noises of the world around me. I found that even in the busiest place I could
experience God’s presence and hear His voice. My “quiet times” became dy-
namic. I felt as if God was sitting there with me in the middle of all that activity. As
I read the scriptures, God’s word had instant application in the faces and actions
of the people around me.
I believe this Urban generation is longing to discover God in this way. Many will
never be able to retreat from busy, noisy environments to be with God. And for
those that do get that rare chance, and discover God in isolated environments,
how will they hear Him when they return to city life? They want to know if God’s
presence can be felt in the busy world of the city. We must define the art of being
“alone with God“, “spending time with God” and “sharing intimately with God” as
internal realities and not merely External realities. 90% of the world’s population
will be living in cities by the end of the century. If we do not disciple them in this
internal, vibrant walk with God despite of their environment; they will be doomed
to live in a shallow and barren relationship with their God. The dwelling place of
God is with men. Let’s learn how to hang out in His living room.
- Brad Stanley, Director YWAM Chicago
 Chicago News
arts with a mission camp
a week long day camp ages 6 - 18 YWAM Chicago
June 28- July 2

(Kindergarten is a prerequisite)
$130 camp fee per participant KA Youth Summer Retreat
Registration fee:
$15 per family/($25 after June 1) Monday, Aug 2 - Friday, Aug 6, 2010
Location: First Evangelical Free Church Participants: 10 - 18 yrs
5255 N Ashland Ave.
Location & Cost: TBA
SPACE LIMITED: register early!!
www.ywamchicago.org
Contact: 847-680-1581 or
773.807.0972
grasswaters@gmail.com

Family Night new website

Join us on Sunday evenings at 5:30 at the base www.y wamchicago.org
for a pot-luck meal and fellowship time.
Questions? Contact Ruth @ 773.807.0972.
This is a great way to get to know YWAM alumni,
staff, volunteers and friends of YWAM.

monthly prayer updates

He interceded for the Hebrews that God might not destroy them. He prayed earnestly that it
would not rain and it didn’t rain for three and a half years. He pleaded he would not die and
God gave him fifteen more years. He slipped away often to pray in the morning. They devoted
themselves to ... prayer. And he admonishes us in Ephesians six after teaching on armor that
we must be “...praying at all times in the Spirit, with all prayer and supplication. To that end
keep alert with all perseverance, making supplication for all the saints”.

Proverbs 29:18 says, “where there is no vision the people perish” which we agree is true. In
our ministry we’re not suffering for lack of vision, but for the abundance of it! We need people
to pray with us to see the vision birthed. Starting in May we will send out monthly prayer
updates (and post on the web) with some prayer specifics. William Temple said, “When I pray,
coincidences happen, and when I don’t pray, they don’t.” We want to see things happen!

If you would like to receive this prayer update via email, please send an email to
ywamchicago@yahoo.com.
 Chicago Ministries

mesha schall
URBAN
DISCIPLESHIP


Back Row:
Rodger Kistler
TRAINING
SCHOOL

Mesha Schall
Loretta Troyer
Paul Patlur
Katrina Kistler
3rd Row:
John Martindale
Mesha grew up in YWAM
Steve Niles
Bronwen Niles (New Orleans, Texas and
Asia). She helped us start
2nd Row
Jordan Stanley the Arts With A Mission camp
Brad Stanley in Chicago and first came to
Joe Stanley staff that camp when she
Front Row: was 13 years old and con-
Jesse Johnston tinued helping every year
Kristy Bowman until she went to Asia with
Hayley Westbrook her family, followed by DTS
Joel Thomas
and SOE with outreach-
es in the States and Asia.
She just completed YWAM
The YWAM Tyler city ministries in Dallas, Houston, New Orleans,
Chicago’s School of Urban
and Chicago have teamed up to pioneer an Urban Discipleship Frontiers and is now helping
Training School (UDTS) at the New Orleans campus. It start- with UDTS in New Orleans.
ed on March 28! The Stanley’s will be directing the school and,
along with Loretta, Mesha, and Paul have traveled down to New
paul patlur
Orleans to help launchYWAM Tyler’s first Urban DTS.
As the world continues to urbanize at a phenomenal rate, there
is an increasing need to disciple this generation on how to know
God and make Him known in an Urban World. The students spent
the 1st week discovering how to seek the Lord, hear His voice, Paul has been interacting with
and walk in Intercession for the Nations. They were challenged YWAM Chicago for quite awhile.
He was part of the Friday Night Bi-
to take these realities and live them out in a city context. They did ble studies for Asian Indian youth
this by having Quiet Times and Intercession Times in some of the and has traveled the world with us
most broken and busiest parts of the city, like New Orleans’ Bour- to India, Uganda and to minister
bon Street and Jackson Square. They have already begun to to Native Americans in Oklahoma.
He also completed Discipleship
hear God’s voice and experience His presence in a World where Training School (DTS), School of
many believe He does not exist. It has been equally encourag- Evangelism (SOE) and School of
ing to see them already taking the things they are learning about Worship (SOW). Each of these
the Lord’s character in Class and sharing it with people on the schools are 5 months long and
include a 2 month outreach.
streets. These outreaches took Paul to
Please continue to pray for these students and the multiplication Peru, Haiti and North East United
States. Paul is staffing the UDTS
of the Urban DTS so we might see this generation mobilized with in New Orleans and then will be
the Heart of God to the Nations. working with us here in Chicago
for the summer.
 Season of Ministry
Stage 1
In just a few months YWAM Chicago will The whitish color indicates
celebrate its 9th year in the outreach building moisture, leading to the dete-
located at 1721 W. Wallen in Rogers Park. Af- rioration of the brick.
ter operating teams out of temporary housing
for over 8 years, it was an incredible blessing Stage 2
to purchase our own building in 2000. Many The grout/mortar
of you have been a part of the several thou- is gone.
sand who have stayed at this outreach facility
over the years. I would like to invite you to Stage 3
help us with a significant need in our build- The brick has completely
ing. Several years ago a church donated the wasted and crumbled away.
finances for us to replace 29 of the
windows in the front of the build-
ing, but 47 windows on the side and
back of the building are still in des-
perate need of replacement. HOW YOU
It has been a joy to see all the teams
and ministry that has flowed from CAN HELP
this building into our city. This year
we saw many teams come to brave Spread The Word
even the winter months with us. We We have put together a pam-
truly believe it is the Lord’s desire phlet to share this need. You
to see this highly used/trafficked can share this in your church,
building still hosting teams twenty neighborhood or workplace.
years from now. We would also like to
keep the cost low for ministry teams Volunteer
coming to stay in our building. But Perhaps you’re one of those
with inefficient cooling and heating people that likes to work
our bills are high... with your hands! We would
be grateful for a few hours of
Each window costs $200.00 to re- your time up to a week. In
place and we have 47 windows left. addition to the roof, brick
($9,400.00 needed) In addition to the
windows, the building needs to be tuck pointed. Because it is and windows we need a kitchen on the
an old building and weather is harsh, the bricks wear down in 3rd floor renovated, some plumbing is-
places and need to be reinforced. This has become a critical need. sues solved, a carport created next to the
We are now experiencing leaking and water damage in the build- garage, fencing resituated and we could
ing because of the crumbling brick. The estimate of this cost is keep going... If you would like more de-
between 8-10 thousand. In some areas, it is necessary to have tailed info, email us at ywamchicago@
the tuck pointing done before installing new windows. Will you aol.com.
please consider a donation for a tangible need with a tangible
result and help play a part in seeing the blessing of this building
continue to impact our city?
 PAINTING THE RIVER GREEN
Every March in Chicago, in celebration of Saint Patrick’s Day, the city dyes the Chicago river GREEN! From
a few hundred residents in the 1830s, Chicago emerged as the fourth largest Irish city in America by 1860.
Chicago’s Irish grew up and exerted their influence over the city. Their labor on canals, lumber wharves,
railroads, stockyards, and steel mills contributed to Chicago’s phenomenal growth from a frontier town to an
urban metropolis. Today roughly 6.6% of the population of Chicago are of Irish descent. There is even the
affectionate term “Chi-rish” for the Chicago-Irish!
So who is this venerated Saint from Ireland that we celebrate? Would you be suprised to know he wasn’t
Irish? Saint Patrick was an English boy who was kidnapped from his home and taken as a slave to work
in Ireland. He primarily worked isolated and afraid in the hills as a shepherd and began to call out to God.
God led him to escape and return to England. After working to catch up on his primary studies he studied
the Bible and his heart began to break for the Irish people who didn’t know Jesus. So, against everyone’s
advice, Saint Patrick left England for Ireland to become its first bishop and within a short time the Emerald
Isle was transformed into what tour guides in Downpatrick call “a Christian nation”.
God brought the gospel to Ireland through an English boy. And He brought the gospel to England through
another people and He brought the gospel to America from Europe. God desires all nations and all peoples
to come to Him and he gifts and calls one nation to bring the light and liberty of the gospel to another na-
tion. This is our heart in Chicago, to see nations blessing each other with the gospel and carrying that light
back to their nation. With hundreds of nations represented in Chicago that could mean a lot of blessing and
kingdom expansion!
“...they shall declare my glory among the nations. And they shall bring all your brothers
from all the nations as an offering to the LORD ... to my holy mountain Jerusalem”.
- Isaiah 66:19-20

YWAM Chicago Non Profit Org

PO Box 268408 US postage
Chicago, IL 60626 PAID
Chicago, IL
Permit No. 2010

Youth With A Mission is an international movement of Christians from many denominations dedicated to serving Jesus throughout the world. Also known as YWAM (pronounced “WYE-
wam”), our calling is to know God and to make Him known. Back when we began in 1960, our main focus was to get youth into short-term mission work and to give them opportuni-
ties to reach out in Jesus’ name. Today, we still focus on youth, and we also involve people of almost every age (even many people who choose to spend their “retirement” in active
service). Our many ministries fit into three main categories: evangelism, training and mercy ministry. We are currently operating in more than 1000 locations in over 149 countries, with a
staff of nearly 16,000.