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CHA considers term limits on residents

Submitted by CSM on Fri, 04/11/2008 - 11:49

Chicago's Housing Authority (CHA) was recently featured in this Chicago Tribune article CHA is looking to adjust term lengths for residents - creating quite and uproar in the community.

What do you think? Would enforcing term limits be a good idea?

Learn how you can serve the people of Chicago with CSM!

City of (homeless) children

Submitted by CSM on Fri, 05/30/2008 - 11:14

Chicago is in the midst of a tough debate. It is looking to spend over $100 million in creating a Children's Museum on one hand, but on the other it continues to have over 10,000 homeless children.

Read more

Authentic Compassion

Submitted by Center for Student Missions on Tue, 07/01/2008 - 12:18

I am reading a book that a former staff member blessed me with called: Here and Now by Henri Nouwen. An excerpt out of the book is called "From Competition to Compassion".

"Compassion - which means, literally, 'to suffer with' - is the way to the truth that we are ourselves, not when we differ from others, but when we are the same."
....
"It is not "excelling" but "serving" that makes us most human. It is not proving ourselves to be better than others but confessing to be just like others that is the way to healing and reconciliation."

Read more

Authentic Compassion

Submitted by Center for Student Missions on Tue, 07/01/2008 - 12:29

I am reading a book that a former staff member blessed me with called: Here and Now by Henri Nouwen. An excerpt out of the book is called "From Competition to Compassion".

"Compassion - which means, literally, 'to suffer with' - is the way to the truth that we are ourselves, not when we differ from others, but when we are the same."
....
"It is not "excelling" but "serving" that makes us most human. It is not proving ourselves to be better than others but confessing to be just like others that is the way to healing and reconciliation."

Read more

Glimmers of His Radiance

Submitted by Center for Student Missions on Thu, 07/17/2008 - 12:24

As you know, part of the experience of hosting is to lead your debrief after each day of service.

With one particular group, I was having a hard time coming up with a debrief that would fit their needs in order to grow spiritually and be challenging enough.
 
As I was praying about what it was they needed to understand, I glanced up at the night sky. Where I am from you can see millions of star. Well, sometimes in the inner city you have to search really hard to find a star the shines bright enough to be able to see it over the fluorescent city lights that light up the night sky.
 

Read more

Chicago - A Whole New Side

Submitted by Center for Student Missions on Mon, 08/11/2008 - 13:28

People generally divide Chicago  into three sides: the north, south, and west sides. CSM Chicago  used to have north side and south side prayer tours that we would take our groups on the first night they arrive in the city.  Our prayer tours are driving tours where we share about the issues and struggles of inner-city life, leading groups in praying over the city. Things have changed so much on the north side, that we are no  longer doing our north side prayer tour. So this spring we created a west side prayer tour.

Read more

Keep on Servin'...

Submitted by Center for Student Missions on Thu, 08/14/2008 - 12:48

One of our students, Cori, was so moved by her experience in Chicago that she decided that she wanted to do a VBS for kids in the poorer section of our town. So in less than three weeks, she organized everything, from lining up Bible story teachers and volunteers, to developing a schedule, to getting small groups to commit to provide food, to shopping for all the supplies, to getting her friends to do everything (games, crafts, etc.). She had anywhere from 12-20 kids attend each of the four days. I couldn’t be more proud of her!
-Mike Fitzpatrick
La Croix UMC

Read more

Top 10 reasons to serve with CSM in Chicago around Easter time

Submitted by Center for Student Missions on Thu, 12/04/2008 - 13:13

10. Get in touch with your inner-artist!  Color Easter eggs with homeless children.
9. Diversity.  Come stay in one of the most culturally diverse neighborhoods in the US.
8. Need.  The need in Chicago is huge, but volunteers are few.
7. Good eats!  Chicago is known for its fabulous food.  Come try some of our tastiest ethnic restaurants.
6. Great conversation.  Don't just serve a meal at a soup kitchen; offer the gift of companionship as you sit down and talk with a patron at a soup kitchen.
5. Party!  Throw an Easter celebration for families at a homeless shelter.

Read more

Authentic Compassion

Submitted by Center for Student Missions on Tue, 07/01/2008 - 12:18

I am reading a book that a former staff member blessed me with called: Here and Now by Henri Nouwen. An excerpt out of the book is called "From Competition to Compassion".

"Compassion - which means, literally, 'to suffer with' - is the way to the truth that we are ourselves, not when we differ from others, but when we are the same."
....
"It is not "excelling" but "serving" that makes us most human. It is not proving ourselves to be better than others but confessing to be just like others that is the way to healing and reconciliation."

Read more

Authentic Compassion

Submitted by Center for Student Missions on Tue, 07/01/2008 - 12:29

I am reading a book that a former staff member blessed me with called: Here and Now by Henri Nouwen. An excerpt out of the book is called "From Competition to Compassion".

"Compassion - which means, literally, 'to suffer with' - is the way to the truth that we are ourselves, not when we differ from others, but when we are the same."
....
"It is not "excelling" but "serving" that makes us most human. It is not proving ourselves to be better than others but confessing to be just like others that is the way to healing and reconciliation."

Read more

Glimmers of His Radiance

Submitted by Center for Student Missions on Thu, 07/17/2008 - 12:24

As you know, part of the experience of hosting is to lead your debrief after each day of service.

With one particular group, I was having a hard time coming up with a debrief that would fit their needs in order to grow spiritually and be challenging enough.
 
As I was praying about what it was they needed to understand, I glanced up at the night sky. Where I am from you can see millions of star. Well, sometimes in the inner city you have to search really hard to find a star the shines bright enough to be able to see it over the fluorescent city lights that light up the night sky.
 

Read more

Keep on Servin'...

Submitted by Center for Student Missions on Thu, 08/14/2008 - 12:48

One of our students, Cori, was so moved by her experience in Chicago that she decided that she wanted to do a VBS for kids in the poorer section of our town. So in less than three weeks, she organized everything, from lining up Bible story teachers and volunteers, to developing a schedule, to getting small groups to commit to provide food, to shopping for all the supplies, to getting her friends to do everything (games, crafts, etc.). She had anywhere from 12-20 kids attend each of the four days. I couldn’t be more proud of her!
-Mike Fitzpatrick
La Croix UMC

Read more

Chicago - A Whole New Side

Submitted by Center for Student Missions on Mon, 08/11/2008 - 13:28

People generally divide Chicago  into three sides: the north, south, and west sides. CSM Chicago  used to have north side and south side prayer tours that we would take our groups on the first night they arrive in the city.  Our prayer tours are driving tours where we share about the issues and struggles of inner-city life, leading groups in praying over the city. Things have changed so much on the north side, that we are no  longer doing our north side prayer tour. So this spring we created a west side prayer tour.

Read more

Top 10 reasons to serve with CSM in Chicago around Easter time

Submitted by Center for Student Missions on Thu, 12/04/2008 - 13:13

10. Get in touch with your inner-artist!  Color Easter eggs with homeless children.
9. Diversity.  Come stay in one of the most culturally diverse neighborhoods in the US.
8. Need.  The need in Chicago is huge, but volunteers are few.
7. Good eats!  Chicago is known for its fabulous food.  Come try some of our tastiest ethnic restaurants.
6. Great conversation.  Don't just serve a meal at a soup kitchen; offer the gift of companionship as you sit down and talk with a patron at a soup kitchen.
5. Party!  Throw an Easter celebration for families at a homeless shelter.

Read more

City of (homeless) children

Submitted by CSM on Fri, 05/30/2008 - 11:14

Chicago is in the midst of a tough debate. It is looking to spend over $100 million in creating a Children's Museum on one hand, but on the other it continues to have over 10,000 homeless children.

Read more

CHA considers term limits on residents

Submitted by CSM on Fri, 04/11/2008 - 11:49

Chicago's Housing Authority (CHA) was recently featured in this Chicago Tribune article CHA is looking to adjust term lengths for residents - creating quite and uproar in the community.

What do you think? Would enforcing term limits be a good idea?

Learn how you can serve the people of Chicago with CSM!

TechMission Corps City Vision College ChristianVolunteering.org