Home
Chicago Church Pays Price for Stand Against Gangs
CHICAGO, IL (April 24, 2002) - Immanuel Evangelical Covenant Church has tried to
help curb gang activity in its neighborhood, but it has paid a price for
its stand.
The church was vandalized in the early hours one week ago as five stained
glass windows were broken in the sanctuary and nursery areas. Pastor Linnea
Carnes estimated the damage at $3,000. Carnes believes gang members may
have been responsible.
Immanuel Covenant had filed a police complaint recently against one local
gang member. A year ago the church partnered with local police to install
additional lighting in the church parking lot to discourage drug dealing
that had occurred in the area.
"We told the police right off the bat that the incident (broken windows)
was a result of the gangs," Carnes said. "But we don't have any hard
evidence - police said we wouldn't get fingerprints off of the bricks and
rocks."
Immanuel Covenant has a park-like area located between the church and
Covenant Home of Chicago that had become a hangout for gang members and
drug dealers, said Carnes, who has been the pastor for nearly three years.
At the request of the congregation of 70, the Chicago Police Department
monitored activities more closely.
The church has made efforts to protect neighborhood children and minister
to them through a Young Life youth program that meets at the church, led by
Anthony Silano. The program has run for a year and a half and has made a
positive impact at Budlong Elementary School, located across the street
from the church. Keeping the area kids safe has made it more urgent than
ever that Immanuel Covenant take a stand, said Carnes, who asks for prayer
regarding her physical safety and that of her congregation, as well as
protection against more vandalism. "We want the neighborhood people on our
side," Carnes said. "They don't want gangs and neither do we. Our church
has become more of a neighborhood group and we've got to take a stand on
this."
Copyright © 2008 The Evangelical Covenant Church. |
