“I went to Summer CUP with high expectations to grow in my understanding of ethnicity, justice, and poverty – as most students probably do. And I did learn a great deal about those things and about myself relative to them; namely, I grew a deeper consciousness of my own brokenness in racial stereotyping, was struck by how passionately and fiercely God cared about justice being carried out (especially by His own people), and gained an appreciation for the simultaneous sorrow and hope within the city of Chicago. As the program was ending and I had to leave the city, I felt much better prepared and passionate about seeing my campus fellowship become one which was healthily multi-ethnic and which took seriously the call to bring about justice. The ways I was transformed and equipped, but especially the prayers I lifted up to God throughout the summer on behalf of our fellowship, had visible impact as my dorm’s community grew tremendously in African-American representation and as our small group leaders latched on to multi-ethnic vision – each doing at least one cross-cultural discipleship.
However, I think the deepest impact CUP had on me in my return to campus was through the spiritual discipline of community and being part of my site team. As I went through the next fall semester coordinating ministry in my dorm and leading a team of small group leaders there, I continually referred back to things I learned while at CUP. There were multiple instances where I was vastly better equipped for leading my team through conflict because of the plentiful time spent in conflict resolution at CUP. I was able to see and address many things that affected the functioning of our team such as self-protection, trust, competition, and judgement because I had had my eyes opened through my team at CUP. The journey of living, working, eating, doing devotions, and having fun all as part of a team for 7 weeks had more impact on my ability to lead than any other experience in my life. A summer spent at CUP is great for anyone, and it is especially one of the best experiences available to missional leaders and leader of leaders in a campus fellowship.”
Kevin Wallington was on the Lawndale Summer CUP Team in 2010. He was the resident Southerner (from Alabama) and the most likely in the apartment to burst in to spontaneous song or dance. He is now on staff with InterVarsity at Illinois Wesleyan.
Read the article “Miracle at St. Marcus” about how a CUP Alumni is making a difference.
(Link thanks to Ryan)
There are many values that we want to see our chapters and student leaders grow in – Evangelism, Discipleship, Justice, Authentic community, etc.
Chicago Urban Program’s Spring Break can help you as you as you try to instill the core commitments of InterVarsity into your chapter and student leaders.
Here are core commitments that can grow through an Urban Program Spring Break.
Value – Community: We promote authentic relationships and redemptive communities marked by God’s grace and truth.
CUP allows students to have honest dialogue about their ethnic identity and about racism and injustice. Students and staff often deal honestly with their own brokenness and their need for the cross and for reconciliation at CUP.
Value – Discipleship of the Mind: We engage in learning and thoughtful Biblical reflection in every area of life.
CUP is a training program, not just a service trip. Students spend time learning what the Bible has to say about the Kingdom, the Good News, the poor and justice. We teach about the history of racism and injustice in our society. Students are challenged to embrace a robust Gospel that deals with both individual and corporate sin.
Value – Leadership Development: We develop women and men to serve as God’s leaders at every level of InterVarsity and ultimately for the Kingdom of God, honoring God’s gifts and calling in them.
CUP offers opportunities for student leaders to grow in cross cultural relationships and conflict resolution. They grow in their understanding of their own ethnic identity, allowing them to serve better cross culturally.
Value – Whole Life Stewardship: We proclaim Jesus as Lord over all creation and culture, striving to integrate faith, life and vocation in serving Him.
Many of our students will end up working and living near cities. CUP helps them understand how God is the Lord of the city and how they can be involved in the His work in urban areas. Students see various models for how to integrate faith, life and vocation in their lives.
Value – Ethnic Reconciliation and Justice: We pursue ethnic reconciliation by practicing mutual empowerment, grace and truth and by promoting personal and systemic justice.
CUP focuses on these issues through teaching, worship, dialogue, small groups, testimonies, and service. Students hear directly from people who have been hurt but who are committed to reconciliation. They work alongside ministries seeking to promote the Kingdom.
Value – Church: We partner with churches in campus ministry and equip students, faculty and staff to be lifelong active members in local congregations.
Value – Missions: We serve God and partner with His people to extend His kingdom cross-culturally on campus and around the world.
CUP partners with local ministries and churches so students learn from those who know the city. Students serve under local Christians who disciple our students in ministry and service.
His name was Blue Eyes and from the very beginning, I knew he was someone important. And it was all thanks to a super soaker. One day we were just chilling outside on the street corner talking with people and just hanging out with our neighbors when I saw a big guy, shirtless, long cornrows, with shades on, taking a water gun from a little kid. He was going around spraying people with this big water gun: children, women, other grown men, me. And no one was saying anything about it. Later I found out that he was the second in command of a drug-dealing gang in our neighborhood.
Blue Eyes was an interesting person. He didn’t have a wife or kids, but he was obviously very protective and very attached to the neighborhood kids. At the street corner, there was a fire hydrant that was almost always turned on because of the heat. And the kids would run around and play in the water like they do in old movies, except in real life. The water spouting out of the fire hydrant was so strong that if a kid stuck his leg into the water too close to the spout, he would literally go flying with the stream of water. But Blue Eyes would always be watching from the background, shades on, scowl on face, arms crossed, making sure the kids didn’t get too close to the fire hydrant or run into the street when cars were coming, a gang leader guardian of sorts, keeping watch over the corner.
Unfortunately, it was not always a happy corner. During the second week of our time in Chicago, we heard gunshots at night outside our window. On one of the nights, there was a gunfight that went on for almost ten minutes on our street corner. The next day, we learned from one of our neighbors that one of the gang members was shot and killed by a rival gang during the shootout. I don’t think he was even 25. It was not something I had expected, going into the trip. Dealing with death 10 days into my trip was not something I had foreseen. It was a solemn and sobering moment, seeing the brokenness in our world
firsthand in such a tangible way.
But even amidst that brokenness, I saw God work. In the aftermath of the death, Blue Eyes approached the pastor of the main church in our neighborhood. He told the pastor that he wanted the neighborhood kids to be involved with church activities so that they wouldn’t get caught up in gangs. He wanted them to
have a better life than the one whose funeral was being planned. He wanted them to live a better life than he, and he saw the church as a way to save future of the kids on the corner.
Blue Eyes showed me that gang members were just people. And not just people, but people who love. People who love, whom we should love, our neighbors, just as much as anyone else.
-Humboldt Park student
Fatigue and annoyance hit me hard by the end of week two. Up until that point, CUP had been difficult, but tolerable. The thundering of the el at night did not faze me, I almost welcomed the lack of phones and computers, and sleeping on the floor in a humid room was no problem. Yet I was not prepared to deal with constant community. With eight of us sharing an apartment and a mandatory buddy system for venturing outside, there was no way to escape people. All the face-time aggravated my introversion until the symptoms began chewing at my resolve and I realized that my weakness was not going to be physical.
The state of emotional exhaustion I faced was horrible but helpful. When I finally arrived, it made me realize a number of things about God, the world, and myself in general. I didn’t have the emotional stamina to project an image of having things in order. My first option was to disengage from the situation, to retreat and muster my strength. Yet the long discussions each night hindered my attempts; I could not escape. I couldn’t articulate myself well in conversation, but my one consolation was that the discombobulated thoughts were genuine. This made me more aware of my tendency to project an image, especially at Northwestern. When I had time to organize my thoughts and temper my emotions, I could appear however I desired. Yet when the façade chipped off, I found myself not nearly as charitable or friendly as I would have suspected.
This epiphany also helped me to view others differently. People in Lawndale seemed to act irrationally, especially in terms of spending. They would sacrifice long-term goals for a quick fix at McDonalds or new Nikes. At first I dismissed the habits as a result of low self-control. Yet as I considered my own emotional state, I wondered what would happen if my deprivation were financial instead. Might it lead me to similar choices? Rather than judge the actions of those around me, I was able to empathize(at least in part) with the mutual messiness. Our choices were not ideal, but rather flowed from a survival mentality. Instead of expecting behavioral change, I saw a need to lift the burdens first.
Even more important, the messiness I saw in the community and myself illuminated my desperate need for grace. In playing like I had it all together, I was not relying on God to change me. Such a position only deceived myself and fostered pride in my own efforts. The vulnerability brought about by CUP was uncomfortable, but allowed me a glimpse at my own deficiencies. It pulled me back to God, as I saw that I could not even fix myself, much less society.
Will, Northwestern Student
I met Jeremy in the first few days working at a summer youth program for middle and high school students. Jeremy was one of the most consistent attendees of the program. He was usually there before I came at 9AM and often left after I left at 5PM. Jeremy enjoyed our summer program and the friends he has made there, but his schedule was mainly dictated by his single mother’s working hours. When I first met Jeremy he seemed like an energetic teenager with a little bit of a rebellious attitude, but mainly just enjoyed having fun being himself. He was a huge Chicago Bulls fan talking about the team daily, always eager for his mom to come so he could go play basketball.
As I spent time with Jeremy and the other students, I noticed Jeremy would occasionally mention some of his past behavioral problems. I was amazed at his openness and willingness to talk about such topics. One day he shared the story of how he was suspended for bringing a knife to school. Due to my past context, I had thought people only behaved like this because they were immature or wanted to create trouble. Jeremy went on to share how, while he recognizes he made a poor decision, he was trying to help his sister. For weeks and months Jeremy’s younger sister had been bullied and had her lunch stolen day after day. As the older brother and only male in his household Jeremy felt responsible to fix his sister’s pain. He only resorted to bringing a knife after other attempts, including talking to teachers, did not help his younger sister. As I listened to Jeremy’s story I realized how different the environment he is growing up in and the environment I grew up in are vastly different, although only 20 miles apart. It was heartbreaking to see how the pressures of Jeremy’s position turned an attempt to help his sister turn wrong. It was also tough to be in a place where 12 year old kids like Jeremy have to make decisions like this. While Jeremy regretted his decisions, he was very open to discussing his past and growing from his mistakes.
Over 60% of the students in the summer program came from single family households, and most household incomes were under the poverty line. Faced with poor school systems and low-income, single parent households, students like Jeremy have to face a high level of responsibility and make decisions requiring a high level of maturity at a young age. Kids in Humboldt Park often have to grow up quickly. In bible studies throughout the summer, especially in Amos, I saw how God seeks justice and righteousness for all people, especially the poor and oppressed. God does not just care about people knowing and worshipping Him. He also desires for Jeremy, and other children, to not have to face the hardships and tough decisions Jeremy had to face. This summer I saw God’s heart for the poor goes much beyond their spiritual well being.
So I’m back at home, away from Lawndale and in my comfortable, air-conditioned, microwaves, grocery stores and no fear of violence suburban home. It is relieving, and I love my bed, but I hate how easy it is for me to forget the friends I made in Lawndale, and to not think, pray, or take action on behalf of my kids who can’t read, or get one meal a day, or get beat and cursed at by adults in their household. I have a whole different set of concerns here, like what classes I’m registered for and how to get my cell phone fixed rather than how to teach my 2nd grader her ABC’s and teach her that she’s not worthless and stupid.
The last story I want to tell is the story of Ms. Chandler. “Excuse me, I brought Ameer here, and I was wondering why you were over here talking to him while church is going on!” This was the first sentence I heard from her, and even then I was struck by her protectiveness of kids who weren’t even hers. One day after church I asked her why a middle-aged white woman like herself looked out for five poor black kids from the hood. She started like this:
“I was just a regular ole lady living in the suburbs. I am college educated and raised one daughter in Indianapolis, Indiana. One day, God told me to take this homeless man to Chicago to see his family a couple times a year. I ended up doing that for seven years, lost contact with the homeless man, but met a Sharonda and her family. I moved to the Northside and started working for an insurance agency while being involved with Sharonda’s family. Then seven years ago, the cops stopped me at a stop sign while going to pick up the kids. It was one of those lightbulb moments. I knew then that my heart was with Sharonda’s kids, and not with my career like I had thought for so long. The next month I moved into the Westside deciding to commute to my job instead of commuting to “my” kids. I mean look at them, they are precious. What else would you do”. She was crying during most of the story.
I met her because one day I found out one of my kids, Ameer, had slept on his steps to get away from violence in the house, and had no food in the household. She was an advocate and provider for Ameer (Sharonda’s son) when the violence and drugs of the neighborhood had taken away his parents and too much of his childhood.
You are Ms. Chandler. I am Ms. Chandler. We have so many concerns and stresses and ambitions that will continue to make us very successful. We are college-educated and have careers that place our minds and bodies away from those in poverty, and those oppressed. But that does not change that there are people who live minutes away from us who live in abject despair, terror for tomorrow and pain and suffering today. I am inviting each and every one of you to take a small step like Ms. Chandler did, and do something. Some of you may already be living, contributing, working or advocating for the poor and oppressed. Please give me some of your expertise. Others may know very little or nothing. I have a handful of ideas, and I’d very much like to ask you what you think about the things I’ve decided to do.
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