Cedarville Magazine, Fall 2018

For more than 30 years, Cedarville has cultivated a relationship with Inner City Impact (ICI), a program for children and teens in Chicago. Each year, Cedarville sends a team of students to support ICI’s ongoing ministry to at-risk youth. For some of these students, what begins as a short-term trip develops into long-term city ministry. GROWING A FRUITFUL PARTNERSHIP Since 1972, ICI has served children and teens in urban Chicago. Many of these youth face significant challenges in their neighborhoods and family lives. ICI provides themwith a safe place to hang out, helps them build healthy relationships, and teaches them life skills. Most importantly, they learn about God and discover their self-worth in His eyes. Each spring, a team of Cedarville students spends a week serving youth through ICI programs. They focus on building relationships with the youth and supporting the full-time ICI staff. Cedarville team members usually spend their mornings volunteering in public schools. They assist teachers with classroom projects and tutor kids who need help with their studies. By completing these hands-on tasks, the team allows teachers to focus more time and energy on their students. In the evenings, the Cedarville team organizes age- appropriate games, teaches Bible lessons, and interacts with children at ICI facilities. Through their time with the kids, Cedarville students have many opportunities to share the Gospel. “We prepare our students to be a blessing and serve well as they seek to serve and share the Gospel with young people,” said Brian Nester, Director for Cedarville’s Global Outreach. “In the end, we not only want to see people come to Christ, but also to see the ongoing long-termministry at ICI strengthened by our efforts.” TRANSFORMING LIVES ICI strategically serves in neighborhoods with great need. Among them are Logan and Cicero, two communities where a large number of people live below the poverty level. The ICI staff builds relationships with the Logan and Cicero youth, helping them with homework and walking beside them as they face family problems. In many cases, these relationships extend to the children’s parents. Ultimately, ICI’s desire is for youth to learn about Jesus and be transformed by the Gospel. During the 2017–2018 school year, ICI worked with nearly 1,600 kids, with more than 350 involved in one-on-one Bible studies. Through the ministry of ICI, it is evident that only the Gospel can bring lasting change for these at-risk youth. When the Gospel changes their hearts, it touches every part of their lives and community. “We try to provide an opportunity for youth to see what it means to see the Gospel not just preached but lived out in their lives,” explained BJ Bechtel ’99, Chief Executive Officer of ICI. “Our goal is for them to experience the love of God so that they can rethink their worldview, rewrite their futures, and ultimately be transformed.” Undoubtedly, ICI’s focus on Jesus gives Cedarville students a vision for urban discipleship. Through the short-term trips, Cedarville students witness how the Gospel is impacting families and communities, which inspires them for future service in inner-city settings. LEAVING A LASTING LEGACY For some students, what begins as a short-term trip at ICI eventually leads to summer internships or full-time positions. A perfect example of this is ICI’s CEO. DOMESTIC 16 | Cedarville Magazine