Sunshine Gospel Ministries

Learn about and Experience Urban Ministry

Join Sunshine Gospel for a week of intensive training (college students & adults) in urban work. The training includes using various media in discussion forums as well as service work with partnering ministries across Chicagoland to learn about God’s heart for the poor.

Originating as a ministry to the homeless from Moody Church in 1905, Sunshine Gospel Mission – as it was named at the time - has broadened in its outreach to families of economically-isolated communities on Chicago’s south side. The Sunshine Center utilizes youth programming, technology training, and short-term missions with groups from around the country to accomplish its mission: to seek renewal in the city through ministries of discipleship, mercy, and justice. They do this through building relationships, teaching and mentoring, developing life skills, care and advocacy in their local community.

“This is a terrific ministry that we have been aware of for many years. I am encouraged that Mission to North America is now partnering with Sunshine. I would encourage any church that is seeking to empower their congregation for word and deed mercy ministry to participate with us in Chicago.” —Ted Powers, MNA Church Planting Coordinator

The Ministries’ current 61st Street location was a large renovation project of an abandoned turn-of-the-century building. The facility is now used community functions as well as to house staff. Seeking to minister the Gospel in one of the most diverse cities in the nation, Sunshine Gospel Ministries offers partnering churches and organizations an opportunity to listen, learn, and serve.

Purpose of Sunshine Missions in Chicago:

Equip Churches: Church ministry groups will better understand God’s heart for the poor and be equipped to live out lessons learned in their home church context.

Build Relationships: There is the potential for long lasting ministry connections with urban ministries in Chicago to be built between you, Sunshine, and other like-minded city ministries.

Empower Sunshine’s ministry in the city: By bringing ministry in word and deed, through long-term ministry in the community, Sunshine has extended itself and its reputation enhanced. Their incarnational witness allows them to build trust in relationships and an openness to Gospel ministry.

Living Arrangements:
Groups will stay in local churches or ministries in the city.

Pillows and blankets/sleeping bags are required. Blow-up type mattresses optional.

Food is supplied by Sunshine staff, but group leaders will organize and prepare meals.

Group aspects:
Size: 50 people per week limit.
Age: This program is intended for college through adult aged participants. Additional chaperones must accompany high school groups.
Leadership: Group leaders must be present with the group at all times. If young men and women are along, at least one male and one female leader must also accompany the group.
Transportation: You need to have one or more vans available for transportation in the city.

Schedule:

Saturday afternoon through Saturday am – 7 days (this may be adjusted depending on specific group needs).

Sunday worship

One evening is generally available to see highlights of Chicago (Millennium Park, Navy Pier, a Cubs or White Sox game, etc.)

We will have one meal together at one of Chicago’s famous pizza places (Lou Malnati’s, Giordano’s, etc.)

Each evening is spent at “home base.” Home Base is the church or ministry site where your group is staying; the facility used depends on the group.

Each day you will be in 3 locations:

• Location 1: group Bible study site (this will most likely be at your home base but will depend on group size)
• Location 2: work site (will depend on the week but his may be at Sunshine’s building, an inner-city public school, a park, another ministry or church, etc.)
• Location 3: ministry location. This will be different EACH DAY. The ministry sites will intentionally be designed to give your group a wide exposure to needs around the city.

Sample Day:

• 7:30 Rise and Shine
• 8:00 Group Breakfast
• 8:30 Time for individual prayer and devotions
• 9:00-11:30 In-depth, interactive Bible study (Sunshine staff facilitates)
• 11:30 Lunch
• 1200-3:00 Travel to service work site
• 3:30-4:30 return to home base for clean up
• 5:00 Dinner
• 5:30-10:00pm Salvation Army Feeding route (feeding the homeless in outdoor locations around the city).

Costs:
Per Person: $300.00. This includes resource materials, housing and lodging. Everything you will need while participating. The fees you pay are for the sole purpose of covering costs for the ministry or church with whom you are serving; MNA receives no income or financial benefit from the fees you pay.
Deposit: $50 per person to reserve spaces. It is acceptable to send an approximation of the number who will serve on your team. Deposits are recommended as early as possible in the year to reserve dates. Deposits are transferable but not refundable.
Spending money is appropriate but not necessary.

Need more information?

Contact Arklie Hooten ahooten@pcanet.org / 678-294-3011 or

Sherry Lanier

MNA ShortTerm Missions and Disaster Response Facilitator
678-294-3012
slanier@pcanet.org

Read what Sunshine Ministries is up to by clicking here.

Read about Sunshine Ministries in Chicago in the Fall 2006 issue of Multiply.

Back to MNA ShortTerm Missions