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Women Get Close Look at Tough Life of Inner City

CHICAGO, IL (September 1, 2002) - A dozen women from six states recently spent a week in Uptown Chicago as part of an inner city mission trip sponsored by Covenant Women Ministries (CWM).

CWM participants worked out of Jesus People Covenant Church USA (JPUSA) and learned about a variety of ministries to the underserved in Chicago. A tour of particularly downtrodden neighborhoods provided a backdrop for the ministries the women would visit. The stark contrast between Chicago's famed United Center - a multi-million-dollar basketball and hockey complex made famous by Michael Jordan and company - and the poor neighborhood situated directly across the street gave the group some insight into the disparity between the "haves" and the "have-nots" in Chicago.

"We phased them into Jesus People by having them stay in an international center in the neighborhood," said Ruth Hill, CWM's executive minister. "Then they stayed in an apartment that JPUSA uses for youth groups, with just three-tiered wooden bunk beds. It was a bit of a stretch for some. The Sunday worship service at JPUSA was also different - it was another Covenant church, but what a difference from their normal worship experience."

During the week, the group worked with abused women and their children at JPUSA's Leland House, served meals to the homeless in Uptown and helped organize a thrift shop on the city's west side, among other activities. (Accompanying photo shows some of the women sorting clothing.)

"They met abused women who were motivated to change their lives, but who had so many obstacles - finding a home, getting a job, caring for their children without transportation," said Hill of the group's experiences. "They moved from a quick judgment to a deep appreciation of the obstacles some of these women face."

Besides doing hands-on ministry, the participants heard from various speakers, including Elouise Spenser, director of Wellspring Center for Hope, a ministry to abused women located on Chicago's south side. Spenser told the 12 that statistically, two of every dozen women are abused in the United States and their lives are shattered by feelings of guilt and shame. Hill said some of the women were deeply affected by Spenser's words.

Another speaker was Covenanter Flor Retamal, whose husband, Luis, is pastor of Iglesia del Pacto-Grace in Chicago. She told of her husband being a political prisoner in Chile and of the dramatic rescue of her husband and her family three decades ago.

To view additional photos from this trip, see CWM Inner-City Ministry CWM is sponsoring a Sankofa trip to the South October 11-14 and 45 people have registered, according to Hill. To learn more about CWM and its ministries, call Hill at 773-907-3332 or email her at cwm@covchurch.org

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