Missions
Local Outreach
City Vineyard places a high priority on meeting the needs of people in the Lakeview neighborhood. This is why we do periodic outreach activites as a church.
City Vineyard is currently in active partnership with
Lakeview Food Pantry with the aim of collecting food for local people in
need. We have already witnessed an outpouring of generosity from grocery
shoppers at the local Trader Joe's and Jewel and we anticipate even
more in the future! We praise God for their open hearts and that we
have the privilege in doing His good work and sharing our Lord's heart
for the community.
Be sure to check the Events section of this website for more upcoming outreach opportunities.
Missions Outreach
City Vineyard missions
programs focus on taking our faith across borders to affect positive
change in the lives of those in other countries.
Various members have been involved with the following countries
in recent years: Afghanistan, Brazil, Central African Republic, China, Democratic
Republic of Congo, France, India, Mexico, South Africa, and Zambia.
In 2004, we raised funds to build a health clinic in the southern part of Zambia. We
partnered with
WorldVision to help
their organization sustain the work of pre-natal and post-natal care for mothers. We
sent a team of people to the ribbon cutting ceremony in Zambia in February 2005.
Ongoing Work in France
Debbie Tooley, a missionary
with
LYDIA International and member of City Vineyard of Chicago, is
sharing God's love in Marseille, France. She is currently involved in two major evangelistic programs
to minister to children and families in Marseille. They
are:
Gospel Kid Clubs
Debbie and her local church in Marseille host multiple
clubs each week for the neighborhood children. Clubs include
Bible teaching, games, crafts, songs, and a snack. Parents that generally would have nothing to do with any Christian church, and parents that do not trust people outside their family clan (which is why most of their children do not attend school), have both been eager to have their children participate in the clubs. Many of these children have given their hearts to Jesus, and are now sharing the gospel with their families. We rejoice as parents have begun giving their hearts to Jesus, too.
Tutoring Program
Illiteracy is common among the poor immigrant families in the neighborhood. During club times the children have learned to write their names, to cut with scissors, and to count in French and Spanish. They have learned some basic manners, as well as achieving an oral understanding of the French language. Yet, there is so much more for them to learn. So, beginning in spring 2009, tutoring sessions were offered to give academic help to children who are struggling academically as well as tutoring for the children that do not regularly attend school. One grandmother was delighted to have her very own tutoring session.
French philosopher Blaise Pascal's prayer echos the cry of our hearts, "Lord, help us do great things as though they were small, since we do them with Your power; and small things as though they were great, since we do them in Your name."
Will you partner with us in prayer to reach these precious souls in Marseille? We need and appreciate your prayer support. Please pray that God will continue to use us to show His love to these hurting children and families, to make disciples among the neighborhood, and to break the cycle of generational illiteracy.