Real Hope in Chicago

by Wayne L. Gordon, John Perkins (Foreword), Randall Frame (Primary Contributor)

When Wayne Gordon and his wife started a Bible study for high school kids in North Lawndale, Chicago, people warned them that a white couple moving into a black neighborhood as a recipe for disaster. That was twenty-five years ago. Today, what began as the Gordons' seedling Bible study has become the Lawndale Community Church. It has a staff of 150, has renovated more than 100 local apartments, has helped more than 50 young people graduate from college, runs a medical clinic that treated 50,000 patients in 1994, and has become a vital part of rebuilding an inner-city neighborhood into a community of faith and hope. Real Hope in Chicago is Wayne Gordon's inspiring account of how people, white and black, rich and poor, old and young, worked together to transform a decaying neighborhood into a place where love is lived out in practical and miraculous ways. It offers an exciting model for interracial cooperation, urban-suburban church partnering--and real hope for the inner cities of our nation.

Genres: Christian, Nonfiction, Memoir, Justice, Religion, Biography Memoir, Social Justice

224 pages, Paperback

First published September 25, 1995

Reviews

[Todd]

My Uncle Gordie wrote this 20 years ago! An interesting read about his journey living among the urban poor (he still does today). God can do amazing things.

[Parker]

Fantastic take on community development, holistic healthcare and mentorship all within a multicultural underserved community. Great thoughtful read.

[Laura]

Inspired by a real faith lived out in a real community in humility in Chicago.

[Maria L]

Everyone needs to read

[Julie Wucka]

Great stories and highlights the many challenges of urban neighborhoods that still exist today

[Glesnertod]

Author Wayne Gordan tells a short, but luring story of urban work in a rough neighborhood in Chicago. With a holistic approach to life, Gordan engaged people with the needed spiritual structure offered in Christ in addition to those basic necessities of life on earth. Gordan refused to deny people the invitation to know Christ just because he cared for their job opportunities too. Many ministries seem to focus only on one part of the call to being Salt and Light to our neighborhoods, and usually this means spirituality takes precedent only to become disconnected and removed from the day to day struggles of people. But God made us both physical and spiritual beings. Lawndale Community Church saw no part of the human predicament as less important, except for their own. And this allowed the poor and marginalized real hope. This was a refreshing read, for, although not so well written and despite Gordan springing out of a deeply evangelical background, he was able to articulate life in the Kingdom.

[Joel]

Great read about the story of redemption in one of Chicago's worst neighborhoods in the 80's and 90's. It's an encouraging tale of the struggles and victories encountered by one man on his journey to change the bad to good, to actually do something about the evil that has become synonymous with inner city. Intertwined in the true-story account is some practical advise, mostly it is the author recounting his time in Chicago so far.

[Jaime]

this is a book about the church where i did my chicago urban project. i read this book before i went to chicago, and i seriously cried like 3 times while reading it. i think i was very emotional because i was going to the place that the book was talking about. and the stories are just amazing. definitely hopeful. the book brings back fond memories to me. i heart it.

[Shari]

We visited Lawndale Community Church this year on a cold, gray Sunday in January and felt so welcomed. What they're doing is incredible. Thank God! He writes plainly, yet it's still very inspiring. He doesn't share all the details, of course, but it's not sugar coated either. Loved the community and relationships that they have formed!

[Katie]

learning a lot about the history of Lawndale, especially Lawndale Community Church. Its also kind of scaring me about my new neighborhood. On the other hand, tremendous acts of faith and resurrection are occuring there. Its a captivating book.

[Cliff Nellis]

An amazing story I thought was to good to be true. Turns out its even better in real life. Second only to the Bible itself, no other book has changed me and inspired hope within me more. Its a remarkable story that continues this day.

[JonM]

There are a few ideas/solutions that are outdated, but I think this book is a must-read for Christians interested in urban ministry. The book is inspiring, and not at all in a cheesy, superficial Joel-osteen kind of way.

[Brian]

This was a fun book to read after I had visited Lawndale last year in a class at Wheaton College on Church. I love the empowerment and development culture that Coach Wayne has created in Chicago. I was most impressed with his longevity.

[Grace]

incredible testimony of how God's moving in Lawndale (west side of chicago)

[Amanda]

Well written. Autobiographical account of change and hope. I had to keep some tissue nearby - lots of sentimental moments, but overall - a good book.

[Pam]

Neat ministry near Chicago. This book was written in 95 so somewhat dated

[Rose Peterson]

Because Wayne Gordon also grew up in Fort Dodge, my dad insisted I read his book about his life in Chicago before embarking upon my own urban adventure.