Serving the City

On Saturday, Mar. 5, students from Moody and other schools will visit various ministry sites throughout Chicago to reach the city for its annual service retreat, Service In the City. In anticipation of this purposeful day, we asked Connie Koo, last year’s Service in the City student coordinator, to reflect on its impact.

By Connie Koo, Moody Theological Seminary graduate

Last years’ Service In the City (SITC) was a great success with 240 students from Moody Theological Seminary, Moody Bible Institute’s Undergraduate School and Campus Crusade for Christ at colleges across Chicago registered for the annual outreach event, serving 12 communities across the Chicagoland area. The theme of last year’s SITC was “Seek the Shalom of the City” from Jeremiah 29:7.

Under the leadership of Dr. John Fuder, our students visited many neighborhoods on Chicago’s Southside, where gun violence and poverty are part of people’s daily lives. With the partnerships and generosity of World Vision International, Willow Creek Community Church, Harvest Bible Chapel and the Chicago Food Depository (through the City of Chicago), our outreach teams were able to seek the shalom or peace of these communities by giving out care packages and groceries to local families, senior homes, homeless shelters and community churches.

During the visits, we learned valuable lessons on the importance of a holistic gospel, caring for not only the soul but the wellbeing of the whole person. We saw how positively communities respond when they can see our love and desire to care for them in a tangible way, and that gave us opportunities and pathways to talk to them about our Savior and the reason for the hope that we have.

       

Having learned this from last year, we have continued our partnership with World Vision International and the Chicago Food Depository for this year’s SITC. Our theme this year is “Zealous For Good Deeds” (Titus 2:14) as we continue our Moody tradition of doing good in the name of Christ. This Saturday, once again, teams of students will mobilize to reach different parts of the city, meeting needs and consoling hearts.

The zeal of the Lord was evident among our students last weekend as they gathered together and prayed while assembling care packages in preparation for the big day. There is a sweet sense of anticipation among the student body as we prepare for Service in the City 2011.