David Wolfe had eight kids to feed, though sometimes his choices undercut that goal. Selling cigarettes and drugs on local street corners may have put dinner on the table, but it also frequently landed him in jail, a pattern since age 15. Every time metal bars separated him from freedom, David vowed he would not return. It's an easy pledge when others control your every move. On the outside, and in his own power, he often fell short.
At age 40 — after another jail stint and with his children ranging in age from 5 to 15 — David headed to New St. Jude Church of God in Christ to work off court-ordered community service. It was at the tiny, Tudor-style storefront church, just east of Chicago's Oak Park neighborhood, where David finally realized he was ready to break the grip of street life.
The odds of success there are low.
In the neighborhood surrounding the church, the median household income is $15,368, with unemployment at 19 percent, according to 2016 figures for the census block where New St. Jude is anchored. Nearly 36% of residents live below the poverty level and the average age is just 26, meaning there's not a lot of older, seasoned role models to offer guidance or wisdom. By contrast, the average age in a nearby Oak Park census block is just over 38. The average income for all of Oak Park is $82,826, more than five times higher.
Still, David's exposure to the people of New St. Jude offered him a new perspective and he was taking notice. He found a job and was beginning to provide for his family legally. Last summer, at the invitation of the church, David brought his children to a Cru® Inner City PowerPack® outreach. PowerPacks® are brightly colored backpacks loaded with school supplies and gospel literature. The annual distribution is a joint venture between Inner City, which provides the packs and supplies, and our partner ministries, which are already well established in urban communities.
New St. Jude has partnered with Cru on a variety of outreaches for at least a decade, said Shantellas Veal, a volunteer with the church. Shantellas said the giveaways are important because they open up a pathway to share God's Word.
"People pay attention more," Shantellas said. "They're more eager to listen to what you have to say."
For David, it meant he was able to provide for his children without standing on the street corner peddling goods that could land him back in jail. With their physical needs met, he and his children were able to relax and enjoy numerous activities the church hosted as part of the outreach.
"They were so happy because we were playing little games with them about the Bible," she said.
| "So not only did he receive God, but his blessings started coming in. He said, 'God is a good God.'" | Along with the games, church volunteers addressed the spiritual needs of their guests by sharing the gospel during one-on-one breakout sessions. The message of God's love resonated with David and several of his older children as they all accepted Christ as their Savior. |
"It was an awesome feeling to see another life can be saved," Shantellas said.
Before leaving the PowerPack outreach, an animated David was sharing gratitude to his hosts and praising God for helping his family. He marveled at how quickly God showed up when he was finally ready to shelve his own plans to follow the lead of Jesus.
In the midst of the conversation, David's phone rang. On the other end was a Realtor who told the father a bid he made on a house outside of Chicago was accepted. He would soon be able to provide longer-term stability for his children. Although he no longer attends New St. Jude because of the distance, Shantellas said David remains active in a local church.
"So not only did he receive God, but his blessings started coming in," Shantellas said. "He said, 'God is a good God.'"
Before leaving the neighborhood, David stopped by New St. Jude one last time.
"He just came in and thanked us, saying if it wasn't for us he never would have turned his life over," she said. "He would probably still be on the street selling drugs."
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Lori Arnold serves as senior writer for Cru's inner-city ministry.
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