Chicago: Day 3

The weather in Chicago was cold and snow was still on the ground this morning, therefore we couldn't do our outside concert.  So, we made some changes to the schedule and started the morning off with a communion worship service.  It was a powerful time of sharing communion with our family groups.  

It was awesome to share communion and explain what each part of communion with each other.  It was neat to see the students serve each other too.

After that, we headed to Feed My Starving Children (FMSC) to pack food for children in other countries.  Due to the weather, we were able to do a 4 hour session and help them catch up on the deficit that they had due to the snow.  

 Vitamins, Veggies, Soy and Rice make up the meal packs that are sent to the children in other countries.

 When we were finished, we went into the Warehouse to pray over the pallets we packed.  We also sang for the employees at FMSC.

Team Burkina Faso beat FMSC's current table record with 61 meals packed in a 2 hour session.

Our final totals for our 4 hour session.

We had a great day of ministering! 

 Wednesday we are at the Salvation Army doing work projects and a concert.

Chicago: Day Two

This morning we woke up to SNOW!!!!  It put a slight delay in our day, but the kids took the opportunity to play in it for a little bit.  After they had a little bit of fun in the snow, we all met in the conference room for some praise and worship and a message from Steven.
We were finally able to load up and head to Uptown Baptist Church.  It's funny to see how people handle all the snow up here vs in Huntsville.  Huntsville would have shut down.  Chicago didn't even have a school delay.  People drove on the roads like normal.  It was just a normal wintery day up here.  Once we arrived at Uptown, some of the boys unloaded the equipment, while a couple of others began helping with projects.

Shortly after that, we had lunch which was catered to us by Inspiration Kitchens. 'Inspiration Kitchen provides essential social services to Chicagoans hardest hit by homelessness and poverty. They inspire their participants to take action to improve their own lives. Inspiration Kitchens helps individuals gain valuable skills and experience that lead to employment in the food service industry.'  It was really neat to hear the guy who brought the food over explain their story to the students.  

After that, it was work projects for everyone!  A lot of cleaning was done inside the church today.  Our students worked hard to make that church sparkly clean. :)

We ended our day with a couple of concerts for the homeless people that eat dinner there on Monday nights.  

We were also able to give out the toiletry bags that we put together last weekend.  111 bags were given tonight, as well as many extra items that were donated to the church to use as needed.  Thank you to all who donated.  It was very much appreciated!

We are looking forward to an exciting day of ministry tomorrow!

Chicago: Day One

We made it to Chicago with no issues.  We all enjoyed a nice, long bus ride. :)

Today our day started at Uptown Baptist Church in Chicago.  Our choir led the worship for them.  The congregation was very involved in the music singing along and praising Jesus.

It was a shortened concert that included the testimony of one of our students and followed by the preaching of an intern/church planter who challenged us to love because its what binds us together in harmony (Colossians 3:11-17).  We are excited to serve with this church again tomorrow in ministry projects and serving the homeless in their area.

We headed to lunch to get a Chicago staple- Chicago Deep Dish Pizza- at none other than Gino's pizza.  We feasted on salad, breadsticks, pizza & cookies.

Our final concert of the evening was held at Ashburn Baptist Church.  We gave another shortened concert for them including our stomp team.  Our students did a phenomenal job.

The church was so sweet and even provided us dinner!  It gave us an opportunity to sit, talk and get to know some of their members.

Tomorrow we have a busy day of ministry projects and concerts at Uptown Baptist Church.  Please pray that we can minister to the church and to the people we come in contact with.

Opening Thoughts 2015

The theme of the trip, “Restore,” was chosen after months of prayer and discussion with others at WBC. It is a theme that can resonate with everyone, because we all need a restoration by God. We need to be restored to the image in which God created us. So many people I meet are trying to find restoration through human ways, but only God can restore the longing of our souls. The best way to restore the lost, broken, and hurting is to point them to Christ, our Healer.
We will be spending lots of time on the trip meeting people’s physical needs through donating our time, energy, and resources, but the ultimate expression of restoring Chicago is to give them the Gospel. Being obedient to Christ, through the power of the Holy Spirit, we use the gifts that have been given to us as we sing and speak the name of Jesus. I believe we all need a restoration; yes, even the choir students and sponsors. I pray that we would not be so busy doing the work of the Lord on this trip that we miss his voice speaking to our hearts. Pray now that God would reveal areas that need a restoration in your life.
The ministry we engage in will be diverse and is intended to give students a brief glimpse of different kinds of ministry. Concert venues include churches, homeless shelters, public squares, a school, and community areas. 
Our students will be exposed to the realities of a fallen world: people that have been neglected, who are hungry, and who have no one that loves and cares for them on this earth. It will be difficult. It won’t always be pretty. But that’s reality. The experiences that students often have on these kinds of mission trips can impact them for a lifetime. It can break down the walls of selfishness and expose the compassion that Christ-followers should display.
The adult sponsors accompanying the students on this mission are all gifted, trusted individuals who have a heart for students and evangelism. They each pay financially for this trip and sacrifice throughout the year as servant leaders. Please be in prayer for them as they teach and exhibit the attributes of Christ during our time on the trip.
In closing, please know that I will do my best to provide the leadership you expect on this mission trip. It’s hard to believe, but this is my 19th student choir mission trip at WBC. In the past ten years I have learned that there are always unpredictable situations and difficult decisions that have to be made. Please pray that I will have divine wisdom in making those decisions.  I am excited to be ministering with your student on this mission trip!
Love,
Rev. Matthew D. Sloma