I stood on the corner of Wilson Ave. and Sheridan Road surrounded by a group response where this past Monday a shooting occurred involving 5 individuals, 4 injured and 1 dead in the Uptown neighborhood of Chicago. Though in my neighborhood, it’s a couple blocks away from where I lived.
A community organization and other groups gathered its members in response to this Monday’s past shooting and to take a stand against violence in the community. A few folks from Ceasefire, a group trying to prevent violence spoke about the incident and the important of offering a helping hand to our neighbor and working together against violence. It was a eerie feeling in the air as we all stood in circle where the shooting had happened in front of the Uptown Baptist Church steps. On the ground, etched dried water stains on the sidewalk pavement that possibly had blood pools as an article I read on the shootings stated.
We prayed over what had happened and wishing God’s protection for all of us. Amidst it all a speaker from Ceasefire reminds us that “this affects everyone…”
A woman talks about his boyfriend, Darius who got shot and eventually died from the incident when he was going to buy her food. Her eyes filled with sadness and pain as she starts to cry in front of the group of on-lookers. A guy nearby holds her and tries to comfort her.
How does a missionary respond to violence in his/her backyard…….
I think this is a difficult question to answer. Initially when I heard about the impromptu gathering via. email from ONE Northside, a community organization covering different neighborhoods in the Northside to fight injustice and building power, I thought it would be an opportunity to stand in solidarity with individuals from the neighborhood.
All I can think about as the appropriate response to this egregious violence and the end result of a slain individual from this incident is presence. Through my plethora of missionary knowledge, “ministry with..” and being present was all I could do. To the hurting individual who lost a person she deeply loved, to a community feeling unsafe and fearful of violence….all I can do is remain present. To offer nonverbal consoling love that God’s Love is greater than the sum of us and the violence here.
During the brief gathering, a pastor addressed as Pastor Tim (which I would identify as a neo-prophetic voice) made a poignant point to tell us that that God hear us. That was the take away message I took from his short speech and prayer.
Chicago is known for its violence. Family members and individuals would remind me about the violence that happens and to be careful before I even moved here. This time, the violence hits close to home literally as it’s in my neighborhood.
At this time, I will keep Chicago in my thoughts and prayers for an end to violence, to those mourning and for those who fear, healing and comfort.
Please keep Chicago in your prayers and the violence in our communities.
In Christ,
Mistead
Updated Information: The individual who I discussed in this post passed away four days after the incident. Please keep the family in your thoughts and prayers!
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Neo-Prophetic Voices in the Windy City 