January/ February Newsletter
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Facebook: Courtside Ministries Chicago
Twitter: @CourtsidePrayer
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Praying in the New Year
Please pray and support Courtside Ministries as we expand and see increased coverage of the ministry. In 2014 we hope to see Courtside Ministries start chapters in many new cities and states. We continue to have ongoing discussions and meetings for start ups in FL, NC, TX and OK, while expanding deeper and wider in our existing cities.
Luke 18:1-8
Then Jesus told his disciples a parable to show them that they should always pray and not give up. 2 He said: “In a certain town there was a judge who neither feared God nor cared what people thought. 3 And there was a widow in that town who kept coming to him with the plea, ‘Grant me justice against my adversary.’
4 “For some time he refused. But finally he said to himself, ‘Even though I don’t fear God or care what people think, 5 yet because this widow keeps bothering me, I will see that she gets justice, so that she won’t eventually come and attack me!’”
6 And the Lord said, “Listen to what the unjust judge says. 7 And will not God bring about justice for his chosen ones, who cry out to him day and night? Will he keep putting them off? 8 I tell you, he will see that they get justice, and quickly. However, when the Son of Man comes, will he find faith on the earth?”
This winter we have been contemplating this powerful parable and encouragement by Jesus to persevere in prayer. Through this harsh winter and the adversity that all of us face, it is a blessing to remember that God in contrast will grant us justice against our adversaries and He will respond in a loving and caring way to His sons and daughters. But will we have faith and believe in Him and the power of prayer or surrender to unbelief and doubt? This is a battle for all of us. But God is able to strengthen and empower us beyond our weakness. It has become apparent that an awakening has ignited in the prayer movement. We are thankful for your prayers and belief, coupled with ours. John Wesley said, "God does everything by prayer and nothing without it!" In all sincerity, please let us know how we can pray for you, we love hearing the answered prayers for our friends!
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Testimonies
A man just released from jail, was given $50 from a volunteer and was so blessed that he began to cry and firmly recommitted his life to Christ. We gave him church and housing referrals, and two weeks later he returned to tell us he was connected to the church and housing. He was thanking God whom he met on the courthouse steps and gave him a new beginning!
A middle-aged man passed us last month and said, "Don't waste your time, they are all guilty". Our volunteer in an honoring way said, "God's love and mercy can meet the most guilty person's needs". Two weeks latter that same man came up to us and humbly received prayer as we witnessed the tangible presence of the Holy Spirit working on him.
While we prayed with a lawyer, we asked her if she prayed for her clients. She told us she never thought of offering them prayer and felt ashamed for never combining her desire for justice with her desire to see the kingdom of God advance. Our team encouraged her not to feel shame, and she thanked us for convicting her in her practice before she left.
A woman powerfully forgives her tenants for not paying rent for three months and regains joy and peace in the process. A lost young man seeking an opportunity for community service was given a chance to serve. We prayed for families going through child custody and saw much forgiveness and repentance. A couple in a desperate place in their marriage received hope and began the process of reconciliation and were referred to a marriage counselor. With tears and joy they all blessed God! Come join us and be honored to get a front row seat to see God meeting people where they are at.
Glory to God! Prayer still changes things. A woman diagnosed with schizophrenia gets prayer every week and has not had an episode for months. A man with a cane forgave many people and he walked up to us today with NO cane...pain gone. A man struggling with alcoholism repented for his sin. Overall, there were 10 commitment and 12 re-commitments to Christ after only praying outside the courts four times. We are excited to see what God will do when we start praying on a regular schedule.
Volunteers watched and prayed as the SWAP program men and women began to clean up outside the courthouse. Seven of us approached over 30 of them and giving them very specific words of encouragement and knowledge, as many individuals responded surprised, "That's for me." The Gospel was shared and many of them responded in a significant way! The supervisor came and watched on and said, "Don't stop, this is important and we all need this." God's presence and power is shifting the atmosphere and allowing divine favor!
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Opportunities
Consider donating to Courtside and the ministry and evangelism we do in Chicagoland, California, Indiana, Colorado, and many more cities and states to come in 2014. Courtside Ministries is a registered 501(c)(3) charitable organization. All contributions are tax-deductible. You can also make an in-kind gift of securities (like Stocks and Bonds) and financial instruments (like IRAs & 401(k)s) and possibly be eligible for favorable tax treatment. Contact us for more details.
We can receive donations to Courtside Ministries, 1 North LaSalle Street, Suite 600, Chicago, IL 60602. Also through Pay Pal on our website or via telephone through credit card.
Empower us to expand the number of courthouses, cities and days through volunteering, administrative support, donating Bibles, giving referrals and intercession. E-mail or call with questions. Courtside Ministries is in need of a volunteer to help with maintenance of our website. If this opportunity interests you, contact Mike Kienapple at courtsidemin@gmail.com if you have skills in coding HTML/ CSS or know Wordpress. We are also seeking a grant writer to help us expand our influence. Please contact us if you or someone you know would be interested in this opportunity. |
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Join us at the Courthouses in Chicagoland
Cook County Criminal Courts:
2650 S. California Ave, Chicago, IL 60608
W, TH, F (8:30am-12noon)
Daley Plaza:
50 W Washington St Chicago, IL 60602
W, F (8:30am-12noon)
Maybrook Courthouse:
1500 Maybrook Dr Maywood, IL 60153
M (8:30am-12noon)
DuPage County Courthouse:
505 N County Farm Rd, Wheaton, IL 60187
T, W (8:30am-12noon)
Porter County Courthouse:
16 Lincolnway, Valparaiso, IN 46383
M, W (8am-12noon)
Markham, IL Courthouse:
16501 Kedzie Ave Markham, IL 60428
Tuesdays: (8am-11:30am)
Will County, IL Courthouse:
14 W Jefferson St, Joliet, IL 60432Mondays: (8am-11:00am)
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Copyright © 2014 Courtside Ministries Chicago, All rights reserved.
Thank you for your partnership with Courtside Ministries. Let us know how we can help you!
Our mailing address is:
Courtside Ministries Chicago 3105 Parker Drive
Valparaiso, IN 46383 |
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