Looking back over the years

As we end 2009, I am left at a state of reminiscing about past DOOR years here in Chicago. A lot of people have come and served with DOOR Chicago by way of our Discover ministry. I have seen many suit cases, buses, pillows, sleeping bags, back packs, and of courses the smiles of friendly participants coming to share the love of God with Chicagoland. 

I also think about the very first time I came to know DOOR Chicago. At that time I just finished my sophomore year of high school and really didn't know what to expect when I decided to participate in DOOR's Discern program. Every year I kept returning to the program for reasons unknown to me. Every year I would find a way to contribute a little more of myself to the program and continue to think about the commitment it has for serving. Every year I would grow wiser and spiritually as I served side by side with many others. 

DOOR has taught me the basics of what it takes to be a leader. These skills allowed me to be successful in receiving a POSSE grant (full tuition scholarship) to go off to Denison University. In 2007, I graduated with a BA in Communications and started as the assistant director in DOOR Chicago and now I sit as the current Director. 

I know that I am not the only person who looks back at their time at this program and think about the impact it has placed on their life. Everyone who has participated through our program has their own story of their experience with us. I thank God for blessing DOOR with the gifts and talents to help nature a young man from the west side of Chicago to be a fighter for God's kingdom. 
-Brian

Faith House

We've been putting some extra care and attention into Faith House. The house is a special two story house located right next door to First Church of the Brethren. The house has had a wonderful history and mission in the neighborhood. We're glad it continues to house groups and individuals as a special place for gathering on the west side of Chicago. It is our hope that more groups will be able to use Faith House for retreats and meetings. If you're interested, contact Brian Sales, City Director.

Silent Retreats in the Middle of City Noise

Silent retreats are a wonderful way to challenge a group together to path silence can take them individually. Time set aside is always a great way to reflect and think about God's plan for your life. It is a way to listen to the world around us.

So often we get caught up in our own realities and not pay any attention to those outside our world. Having the ability to see how we all depend on one another is truly a gift. This is one ability I think is missing in American culture. We tend to judge individual "success" from the perspective on the individual and not realize how many people played a role in that success.

Doing a silent retreat as a group is an interesting experience. Several people in the same space but avoiding eye contact. No one can complain about someone else leaving the mayonaise out of the fridge. No one can compliment each other on being silent so well. Each are left to thinking and doing alone. The folks that like to keep busy, find something to do, clean, create. The folks that like to relax, just nothing more. Often participants produce incredible pieces of art.

Service learning mission trips rely heavily upon reflection and interaction, but a silent retreat amidst the hustle and bustle of the city is just as profound. To remove yourself to listen and pray in the middle of the activity is a skill we need daily. When I think of a silent retreat in a city, I see an opportunity for me to listen to God and observe the ways in which 9 million people make the city of Chicago a wonderful place.

The City as a Teacher

DOOR Chicago recently sent off 18 folks to serve in Paraguay, South Africa, England and Austraila.  Since 2006 DOOR has partnered with Radical Journey, a program of Mennonite Mission Network, to provide orientation for Radical Journey's program.  This year the participants lived with Jesus People, an intentional Christian community on the
northside of Chicago.  I am happy to work with this program each year, as the teacher I learn so much.
1.  Jesus People is an amazing community of folks that share resources, live together, and do church.  When speaking to several members of the community, it became clear to me that the joy of community is sometimes the struggle of working together.  It isn't all lollipops, roses, and smiles.  Instead, getting past those things speaks clearer to community
than maybe anything else.
2.  I am constantly amazed at how the city teaches better than I do. The things that I don't plan, couldn't plan, or couldn't even dream up, come up in city life.  From people stopping participants on the street or getting lost, lessons that only the city and God could provide
growing experiences for the participants and me.
3.  Young adults who want to devote their lives to living for God and service are inspiring.  Participants who choose to participate Radical Journey are usually much younger than I, and yet I admire them as they continue the journey in this way.

-Krista

Summer Ends...

Greetings to all of you,

I hope God has been blessing all of you the way God has been blessing me. This summer in Chicago has been outstanding. We haven’t really had anything go “wrong” this summer at all! We have had groups from all over this country and parts of Canada feel God’s presence here and I am blessed to be a witness to it.

One story I have took place at a peace rally. I don’t know if this is making national news but Chicago has been hit hard when it comes to violent crimes in the past year. By July 1st of this year we have had over 300 violent crimes with some ending in death. In fact the weekend of July 24th, 4 people were shot and killed and 3 were critically wounded. The rally was put on by Brenda Matthews and I want to say that I am a witnessed to God’s uncanny ability to touch our hearts. I remember when Brenda said to me “you know what I should put on a rally” and two weeks later there I am standing out in the rain visiting with old friends and witnessing some of East Garfield Park’s God giving blessings. I am always impressed by the things Brenda can do and the people God has surrounded her with and I know that was reflected to the groups that witnessed a community bare it soul to ask God to anoint them as instruments of peace and to bless the Chicago community with the ability to love not destroy.

Another example of God’s blessings actually happened at our front steps. I should say on the wall next to our front steps. For 6 weeks a group of youth from the west side community along with aid from the city’s park district, and First Church of the Brethren (the place where DOOR Chicago is housed) re-painted a mural that was on Faith House (a building that we rent from First Church). During the 6 weeks groups got to see the transformation of this wall and witnessed the message the kids and First Church wanted to convey towards the community.

Finally I witnessed the transformation of my summer staff. This year for our end of the summer retreat we had a lock-in at Faith House where we did not communicate with the outside world for 24 hours and took that time to fellowship with one another. After our lock-in we then drove to the Indiana sand Dunes where we played at the beach and hiked. After the beach we came back to the city to have dinner at one of my favorite places called Café Too. Over dinner we all shared to one another what we felt were our best qualities and it was really overwhelming with all the positive feedback that they had for one each other. What is really funny is after dinner we went to a video arcade place and played laser tag against one another and they were all trying to dominate the game! It is truly a blessing to see the level of relationships we have all formed with one another and how God can bring complete strangers together to do the work we are all called to do. I would like to thank each of my staff this summer (and all the staff across the network) for their commitment for doing service and their open mindedness for learning new ways to praise and have a relationship with God.

DOOR Merchandise

This summer you'll have the opportunity to purchase DOOR Chicago t-shirts and/ or Nalgene 32 oz waterbottles. All of the money from the sale of merchandise go to our local leadership development programs. Our development fund is used in several ways, scholarships, training, and supplement to salaries for leadership positions.
It's a win- win. You get a great fair trade shirt and the local community get leadership training and experience for our young people.

Summer is coming.....

Greetings and Salutations from Chicago!!
Things have been very busy this past spring here. I have had wonderful groups from all over the country and even Canada!! All were truly special and helped the city in so many ways. Ways in which I know you will once your group comes to do God’s work. If you are anxious and excited about your upcoming trip to DOOR Chicago please visit our YouTube page. At this page you can view the facility you will be calling home for your stay and see pictures of groups who have visited. Also, we are having a food drive to help support the local food bank and their many food pantry partners. Now until Aug 15 we are collecting non perishable food items so that the local food bank and pantries can continue their efforts to feed those who need it. Please do all you can to help us to pass our goal of 1200 can goods!! If you have any questions about this event and others please contact me. Thank you and God bless.

Here comes the Spring

Greetings from Chicago! This week launches the start of our spring season which means we welcome spring groups. We are always grateful and blessed to have eager people to come and serve with us in the city. The start of the spring also brings the start of this year’s food drive to raise 1200 lbs of non perishable items. If you would like to donate items please send them to the DOOR Chicago office. If you would like to donate funds please send a check made out to DOOR Chicago and in the memo section put Food Drive. Also, if you would like to see the facility that you will be staying at feel free to check out DOOR Chicago’s YouTube videos!!! Thank you and God bless.

Snowy Chicago

We are still "Seeing the Face of God" in the snowy cold of Chicago. Please consider signing up for a winter or spring weekend. Contact Brian at Brian@DOORnetwork.org for more information.