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THE CENTER of Englewood is owned & operated by Shepherd's HOPE, Ltd. & houses our food pantry & family feeding center as well as 17 other ministry partners in the building who provide a variety of holistic services to this community.
Repentance & Forgiveness = Healing Englewood
Merry Christmas!
I can’t believe we are at the end of another year. Probably one of the craziest years in American history. I want to thank GOD that I don’t have to judge life by what I see or hear on the news. By GOD’s GRACE, I get to watch MY LORD do miracle after miracle by turning The Center of Englewood into a melting pot of 17 hard-working grass roots ministries that are gradually changing the landscape of this neighborhood.
 
Less than 6 months ago The Center was made up of Shepherd’s HOPE, By the Hand and couple small ministries. When, in July, By the Hand told me they would not be renewing their lease, I was a bit apprehensive but at the same time excited because I knew the ministries we had on our waiting list.
Growing our services
By GOD’s grace it only took 3 weeks to fill the 11 rooms that By the Hand vacated and 2 other rooms that were available. Only GOD. Besides the new occupants of the rooms another Church became part of the team, 1 Church Englewood. We now have 3 church services on Sunday. We also added Family Dinners to our menu of hot meals on Monday thru Thursday from 5 pm to 7 pm. (For now these are made possible in part by grants from West Side United and Dunkin’ Donuts). From humble beginnings, we are now a ministry that serves our community 7 days a week!
 
At the beginning of 2021, through our Food Pantry and Family Feeding Center, we were touching the lives of 5000 individuals a week. Today, at the end of 2021, we are touching the lives of over 6000 individuals a week. Thank you, LORD!
Stories of Impact
Beyond our doors
Something we do not talk about very much are the over 19 additional ministries (beyond our tenants) that we share food with and that take the food and serve people in need throughout Chicagoland. They serve people as far north as Evanston and as far south as Hammond, Indiana. A great story showing us that He only gives us a glimpse of what he is doing through us, came to light recently. Throughout the year we have been getting donations from an older gentleman in Evanston. It perplexed me how he found out about us. He always attached a note with each gift (see photo). One day I was chatting with one of the 19 ministry leaders we share food with and he happened to mention to me that his list of people in need started a little further south of The Center and ran all the way to Evanston. The question that had been bothering me for a year had been answered. What a glorious GOD we serve.
In God's time...
I could write a book just on the last 6 months. I’m going to share just one more story about one of the new ministries in the building, The Chicago Peace Initiative led by Jeff Maxwell, a gentleman I have known for at least 10 years. When we first met, I was a white guy coming into his community with only food and myself to offer. Jeff wasn’t impressed. As time went on, we had our disagreements and eventually stopped working together and went our separate ways for at least 4 years. During that period the LORD was growing Shepherd’s HOPE and Brian Anderson. Jeff had really decided to submit himself to his relationship with JESUS and had grown a great deal spiritually. About a year ago, a mutual friend brought us together. After Jeff saw how obedient Shepherd’s HOPE had remained, and I saw how JESUS had changed Jeff, we decided to start working together again. It was simple. Put GOD in the lead and walk hand-in-hand through the wasteland called Englewood together, using our talents as GOD has gifted us to build an army of young men to glorify GOD! Doing it one life at a time! The rest will be history!! Jeff has a great rapport with the young men in the community. We have the facilities ready to be used by the LORD for such a time as this. 
Reaching young men
Jeff just had an event in our auditorium on Friday, December 18 with about 30 young men and their mentors. First of all, Jeff and the mentors (former gang members) apologized to the young men for their role in the devastation of Englewood and the lack of male leadership while these young men were growing up. The young men forgave them and started a new era in the growth of Englewood built on the foundation of forgiveness.
 
Also at this event was Isreal Idonije from the Chicago Bears, He spoke to these young men and mentors about not giving up no matter how great the challenge you face. Isreal went on to share his story. What a great afternoon of redemption.
Feed My Sheep - Physically and Spiritually
All kinds of "food"
In a small way, I have given you a glimpse of what the LORD is doing through The Center of Englewood, Shepherd’s Hope, the 17 tenant ministries and 19 other partner ministries and the 70,000 pounds of food a week. HIS command to us as disciples is, “Feed MY Sheep!” (Donate Here)
Our 17 Ministry Partners at The Center
Something Good in Englewood – tutoring and mentoring for youth & teens
Pass-It-On Academy – affordable daycare for working parents 
New Life KNEW Solutions – mental health assistance for families & individuals
New Hope Medical Clinic – free basic medical services
Plano Vision Center – eye exams and eyeglasses for all ages
First Responders of Englewood – violence prevention, intervention & community outreach Midwest Coalition to Stop Violence – violence prevention, intervention & outreach
Chicago Peace Initiative – Community outreach, job placement and evangelism
Basketball by Blue – skills training for youth and teens
Gospel Warriors – Media production, gospel ministry, and general education training
Comp-U-Dopt – computer skills training for youth, teens and adults
Brown Sugar Youth Entrepreneur Academy – entrepreneurial training for youth and teens 
Cobra Back Foundation - 7th District Police build relationship with ages 9-17 youth thru RCP
Rip’n & Sew’n: A Sowing & Reaping Ministry – teaching sewing skills and mentoring
New Life Resurrection Universal Mission Church – Sunday Services, bible studies, job training
Ashes to Beauty Church – Sunday Services, bible studies, and community outreach
1 Church Englewood – church leadership and programming
Shepherd’s HOPE Needs Your Help! DONATE Online NOW
All this takes a lot of man hours, a lot of resources and above all a lot of LOVE.
 
We are in dire need of your financial HELP! We have 14 of the 17 ministries who are grass roots programs and unable to pay the going rate at this time. We opened the feeding center for dinner because the need is great, serving 50-75 people a night. The grants we received will help provide for 6 months, but we are praying that GOD will supply well beyond that time. We had a sound system installed in the auditorium not just for the churches or for all special the events that have taken place in the last week, but for next week and throughout 2022 and beyond. We had to increase our labor force to accommodate the expanded services in the feeding center as well as the auditorium and gymnasium maintenance.
 
We work hard every day at The Center of Englewood. We have a leadership team and crew that is unwavering. Your financial help will insure that GOD can continue to grow us as we serve this community into 2022 and beyond. Your year-end donation will keep all our programs going. 93% of funding received (per our tax returns) goes directly to making a positive impact in this community.  
December Calendar of Special Events (a sampling)
Dec 2   Cafeteria 2-4:30 pm Repass led by Crystal Peck
Dec 10 Drive up Free Computer distribution to Lottery Winners (Comp-u-dopt)
Dec 16 Auditorium 4:30-9:00 pm Precious Blood Play & Concert
Dec 18 Gym 11:00 am - 1:00 pm Cobra Back Christmas Give-away for Girls
Dec 18 Gym 1:30 - 5:00 pm Postal Worker Toy Giveaway (Tia Tegues)
Dec 18 Auditorium 12-3 pm Chicago Peace Initiative Kickoff (Jeff Maxwell)
Dec 18 Rm 211 Christmas Toy Giveaway (1st Responders of Englewood)
Dec 18 Library Family Christmas Celebration & Toy Giveaway (Ashes to Beauty Church)
Dec 19 Gym 1-4:30 pm Cornerstone Family Christian Center (Pastor Bernadine)
Dec 21-23 Rm 206 10am-3pm Christmas Break Fundays for Kids (Brown Sugar Entrpreneurs)
Dec 20-22 & 27-29 Rm 207 12-3 pm Computer Activities for Christmas & Kwanza (Comp-U-Dopt)
Dec 21 Gym 6-8 pm Cobra Back Christmas Event for Seniors (Sgt. Dixon)
Dec 23 Cafeteria 5-7 pm Shepherd’s Hope Family Christmas Dinner
We love you all. We wish you and your family a Merry Christmas and a spiritually prosperous New Year! Please consider our needs and pray for us as you close out the old year and bring in the new!

Remember throughout the holiday season as followers of Jesus, He call us to Feed His Sheep – physically and spiritually!
 
Thanks again for all your support throughout the years and into the future!
I love you all!

Brian Anderson
Executive Director, Shepherd's HOPE
Email Brian or call 773-351-3336
Click the image to donate through our secure website. You can designate your gift to a specific area or donate in honor of a loved one.
If you would like to visit and serve this community, we would love to have you! Just click image or
call 773-756-3535
Send your check to:
Shepherd's HOPE
PO Box 21013
Chicago, IL 60621

The LORD has put together a tremendous group of ministries. The LORD is going to change Englewood through these obedient ministries working hand-in-hand with each other, glorifying JESUS in everything they do.


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Your support brings HOPE to those in need...