Chicago Peace Campaign

In lieu of the challenge of violence in our city, a new movement has been started called the Chicago Peace Campaign. It is a comprehensive peace plan developed to mobilize churches, community organizations, and concerned neighbors towards collaborative actions that promote peace throughout the city. The movement is being spearheaded by Chris Butler (26 yrs old), who grew up in Chicago and is burdened to see Chicago's diverse communities unite around the cause of peace. He loves Christ and loves the city, and it is out of this heart for the Lord and for people that this vision has been birthed. I was privileged to be at the initial meeting for this movement, surrounded by urban ministry veterans, pastors, and community organizers. Each person at the initial meeting was then exhorted to recruit ten people to come to the launch meeting this Saturday. We are praying that 200 people will be in attendance at this initial launch meeting.

Here is a brief description of the mission of the Chicago Peace Campaign and its main pillars of action.

The Chicago Peace Campaign is a mobilization strategy to fill the city of Chicago with "the way of peace" through life giving words and action, leading to a measurable decline in the rate of violence in the city, especially among our young people.

Peacemakers Projects: Organize, coordinate and support service projects that will become deterrents to violence and monuments of peace.

Friday Night Lights: Night time outreach in rough areas. Light up dark corners with physical lights while lighting up dark souls with the light of the Gospel.

Beautiful Feet: Recruit a corps of street pastors to go house to house with message of peace and be a presence for peace in the streets.

Peaceful Speech: Communicate the message of peace through new media (website, facebook, text message etc.), traditional media (radio, television, newspapers) signs and events.

Pray for Peace: Cover the Chicago Peace Campaign and the city of Chicago with prayer.


I will write an update after this Saturday's meeting and as the various activities begin to unfold. The launch meeting is this Saturday, April 25th from 10am to 12pm at the Chicago Embassy Church 5848 S. Princeton.