Pastor Protests on Motel Roof, Asks for Absent ‘Christian Brothers' to Help Stop Gang Violence
Rev. Corey Brooks of the New Beginnings Church in Chicago is camping out on a motel roof for the last two weeks to raise awareness for the ongoing violence problem in the neighborhood, and he is asking why more Christians are not supporting his cause.
The Super Motel on King Drive in Chicago was a den for drug use and prostitution for many years, reported The Chicago Tribune. The motel also attracts much violence and turmoil to the area.
In an interview with The Christian Post, Pastor Brooks told of some of the horrific ordeals the community has suffered through in recent times. He has been to approximately 10 funerals of African-Americans from his church who have died in gang-related violence, but the incident that prompted him to action was when a gang opened fire at a family who were on their way to bury their murdered 16 year-old-boy. At that point, the Reverend realized more must be done to counter the problem.
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The Pastor set his sights on taking down the Super Mote, and he is hoping to gather $450,000 to raze the building. He has a host of plans for maximizing the empty space, and envisions rebuilding it as an economic recourse that will provide job opportunities for youths and serve as a community center. As the pastor describes it, he wants to provide “Salt to the Earth and Light to the Darkness.”
On his ProjectHood.org website, Brooks is asking others to help reshape the community and end gang violence. Hood stands for “Helping Others Obtain Destiny.”
The pastor, however, revealed there was a lack of Christian support for his work, and asked: “Where are the Christians, where are my fellow pastors?”
He shared with The Christian Post that most people who have helped him out with his cause are not been members of the Christian church. He is calling on his ‘brothers and sisters in Christ’ to help in a mission that can transform the community for the better.
A group of around 30 Occupy protestors has also joined him in camping near the motel. The pastor revealed that the Occupy movement and he do not share the same beliefs and goals, but they are united on ending the ending violence, drug use and prostitution in the community, and transforming the neighborhood into a productive center that will educate and provide jobs to youths.
They are hoping their combined efforts will bring attention to the problems in the community and pave the way forward towards progress.
