Follow the links below or scroll down
to read all about our ministry.
If you need any further
information, you can contact us at:
Mission:USA/ P.O. Box
316/ Forest Park, Il. 60130 or 708-771-8007 or info@missionusa.com
Who we are
Ministry Description Our History How we’re funded What we believe Statement of Faith God and You
THE
BRIDGE
Basic
Description How can my church get
involved? How can I attend? Info for prison ministry staff and volunteers
News
and Info
Press
Quotes Newspaper Articles Ministry Letters Staff Bios 
Mission:USA images slideshow!
Mission:USA Productions
Training Coming Attractions Urban Echoes
Mission:USA Ministry Description
Mission:USA is a nonprofit nondenominational
Christian missionary organization that shows inmates and gang members on the
streets how much the Lord loves them and how He can help them change to live a
life outside of crime.
Mission:USA walks step by step beside these
individuals with a troubled past, providing a combination of counseling, education, housing, and
job information, clothing, and most importantly, a relationship with God that
gives them the strength to make the 
dramatic change in their lives.
Mission:USA uses a small, highly skilled
staff to lead the intensive program. Our strategy is based on
multiplication--teaching former inmates and gang members who have succeeded how
to help others through the transition process. This technique has proven
effective, because it provides a comfortable and culturally appropriate
environment for newcomers.
Mission:USA ministers to young men and women
inside the jails and on the streets after they are released. We are one of very
few programs in the nation that can legitimately claim to do so.
Mission:USA also provides training and encouragement to churches and para-church
organizations looking to use Mission:USA strategies in their own ministries.
Click here to learn more.
Our program utilizes large group meetings and
one-on-one counseling. Many of our initial contacts are made with gang members
in prison who want to change their lives, but don't have any idea how to do it.
We minister to them through visits, phone calls, and letters.
Our ministry techniques have proven
successful and Mission:USA has been featured in newspapers, magazines, radio
and TV. Click here to go to our Press Coverage section.
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Our History
Glen Fitzjerrell began his career in Texas
where he grew up, working as a prison chaplain of the nation’s top juvenile
correctional facility. Eventually however, Glen left his beloved Texas and
moved to Chicago more than a decade ago to work under Gordon McLean, a man
considered by many to be the top innovator in the field of at-risk teen
ministry. As Glen got to know Chicago gang members in prison and on the
streets, he was surprised to find how open they were to Christianity. Once he
understood the gang culture, it was easy for him to introduce many gang members
to the Lord.
Unfortunately, the local churches were not meeting the
gang members' needs for continued spiritual growth (discipleship). We began to
ask ourselves if this lack of proper outreach was due more to a lack of
training and equipping, rather than a lack of willingness to obey the Biblical
command to minister to “the least of these” (Matthew 25:31-46). As we talked to
pastors and church leaders, we found this to be the case in many instances.
This began to open the door to bridging the gap to meet the needs of
ex-inmates.
Years of experience taught Glen that gang
members who want to leave their gang must have a long-term support program to
replace the physical, emotional, and spiritual needs that the gang serves in
their lives. When they leave the gang they are in culture shock and do not know
how to function successfully in a gang-free world. This led to the development
of THE BRIDGE program.
In 1996, he founded Mission: USA to meet
these long term needs for gang members and ex-offenders. Since then, Mission:
USA's reputation on the streets and in prison has become contagious. The word
on the street is: "When you're serious about the Lord and changing your
life, call Mission: USA."
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How We’re Funded
We’re funded by people like you. The vast
majority of our income comes from private individuals sending in support
dollars to keep us going. For more information about giving to Mission:USA
directly, click the icon to email us. 
Mission: USA is a tax-exempt 501 3(c) nonprofit
organization. All gifts are tax-deductible and all givers will receive a
receipt for their tax records. We do not wish to have restrictions on our
ministry, therefore Mission: USA receives no government funding.
We
have formed Mission:USA Productions, which will use seminar presentations,
music recordings, print publications and more to share the experience of our
work among gang members. In addition to being a source of inspiration and
instruction, these productions will provide financial resources that will allow
us to do even more on the streets. In this way, we are opening a window of
opportunity that will allow us to bless the church as the church blesses those
who are lost and hurting in our nation's ghettos.
We also hope that THE BRIDGE services
themselves will provide some additional income for the ministry.
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What We Believe
Most of the questions people ask us are about
church doctrine. People want to know what we teach the individuals in our
program, and where we stand with doctrinal issues that are important to them.
We divide doctrinal issues into two categories. The
first is essential doctrine. These are the doctrines that separate Christians
from non-Christians and effect our clear understanding of a right, healthy and
permanent relationship with God. Essential doctrine includes: Salvation by
grace, the Trinity, the existence of Heaven and Hell, the Virgin Birth, the
Resurrection of Christ, Complete Truth of the Bible, the Unchanging character
of God, and Eternal Security. Although not all-inclusive, this list gives you
an idea of what we mean by essential doctrine. (See our Statement of Faith for more).
Non-essential doctrinal issues are peripheral
issues or denominational distinctives that do not effect a person's eternal
destiny. These are lifestyle choices that each individual Christian makes.
These issues include denominational choice, baptism by sprinkling or immersion,
end-times beliefs, lifestyle issues such as dancing, drinking, gambling,
jewelry, and smoking. We believe that none of these issues effect whether a
person is going to heaven and hell, and should be personally decided by each
believer. We believe that true change comes from a sincere commitment to Jesus
Christ, and this commitment cannot be measured or judged by lifestyle issues
alone.
What denomination are you?
Mission:USA is a non-denominational organization. We are not affiliated with
any church denomination, though we work with and minister to members of many
different denominations. We teach Biblical truths in a casual worship
environment that includes music and prayer.
What version of the Bible do you believe
in?
We believe each person should read and study a Bible they can understand.
Because the reading level of most of our young people is quite low, we use a simple
language version. When they become more advanced, they typically use an NIV
study Bible.
Do you believe in the Baptism of the Holy
Spirit?
We believe in the Baptism of the Holy Spirit as it is described in the Bible.
We do not teach that it is a separate event from salvation, but that it is the
supernatural event that takes place at the moment of salvation itself. We do
not teach that "signs and wonders" or speaking in tongues are a necessary outward sign of salvation.
Do you believe you can lose your
salvation?
No. Once a person is saved through faith in Jesus Christ, they are adopted into
God's family and that cannot be undone by “backsliding”. Salvation is eternal.
Mission:USA does not compromise on this point of doctrine.
What do you believe about baptism?
Baptism is an outward demonstration of an inward change. Placing water on the
body symbolizes the cleansing of our souls of sin. It also symbolizes our dying
to our old way of life and being raised from the dead with Christ. It doesn't
matter whether this is done by immersion or sprinkling. If an infant is
baptized, we believe that person must make an informed choice of whether they
want to follow Jesus Christ in order to receive the gift of eternal life.
What if I have other questions?
Click the icon to contact us by e-mail if you have any
further questions. 
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Statement of Faith
We believe the Bible is the authoritative,
divinely inspired word of God, infallible in the original writings.
We believe in one God, eternally existing in
three persons, Father, Son and Holy Spirit.
We believe in the deity of Jesus Christ, who became
man without ceasing to be God, His virgin birth, His sinless life, His death in
payment for the sins of the world, His resurrection, and His return.
We believe that salvation is the gift of God
by grace received through personal faith, allowing for the indwelling of the
Holy Spirit, atoning of sin, and permanent adoption into the family of God. We
believe all who accept salvation belong to the family of God, regardless of
church denomination.
We believe that all those who receive the
free gift of salvation are eternally secure and that their salvation cannot be lost.
We believe it is a responsibility and
privilege for all believers to serve the Kingdom of God in some capacity and to
consistently grow in their knowledge and understanding of God.
Click the icon to contact us by e-mail if
you have any further questions. 
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God and You
Many people ask us what we tell the young men
and women in our program that helps them connect with God and find the strength
to change their lives so dramatically.
The answer lies in a personal relationship
with God. This is a one-to-one relationship that exists outside of church
membership, lists of dos and don'ts, and the beliefs of the family that raised
us.
The Bible says in Romans 3:23 that all humans
have sinned and fall short of the glory of God. In God's eyes there are no
levels of sins. A person who tells a little white lie is just as guilty before
God as a murderer.
In Romans 6:23 the Bible says that the result
of this sin is death. Death is defined as eternal separation from God, spending
eternity in hell when we physically die. But in the same verse, God offers a
gift of eternal life (eternity in heaven when we die) through Jesus Christ.
Jesus is God's provision for all people to connect
with God. Without Jesus, we could not stand before God because of our sin.
Jesus is the Son of God who walked the earth as a man for 33 years. At the end
of that time, God allowed the government and religious leaders to kill Jesus.
They thought they were killing Jesus to get rid of a threat to the established
church. But God's plan was for Jesus' death to serve as the final sacrifice for
all men's sins, once and for all.
The Bible is very clear that believing in Jesus
is the only way to have a relationship with God. In John 14:6, Jesus said,
"I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father
except through me."
How do you take the step and make the
connection? Romans 10:9-10 says: "If you confess with your mouth,
"Jesus is Lord," and believe in your heart that God raised him from
the dead, you will be saved. For it is with your heart that you believe and are
justified, and it is your mouth that you confess and are saved."
Confess means to agree with God. In this
verse, being saved means being saved from eternal separation from God in hell.
God wants everyone to be with Him. He doesn't
care what you've done or said in the past. What matters to Him is whether you
will accept the gift He's laid out for you. God promises in Revelation 3:20
that He stands waiting, ready to come into anyone's life who wants a
relationship with Him.
So how do you begin this relationship?
There's no set prayer. It should be your own prayer from your heart. God knows
you and what you really feel. The prayer below is an example of what you can
tell God when you ask him to start a personal relationship with you. You can
use it, or you can use your own words.
"God, I'm a sinner. I want to be
forgiven. I believe Jesus died on the cross for me and He rose again. I want to
give my life to you, so you can help me to live like you want me to. I want
Jesus Christ to come into my life and heart. I ask it all in Jesus' name. Amen
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THE BRIDGE
For most of us, “church shopping” can be a slow, weary,
and sometimes unpleasant effort. Trying to find a church that meets our
needs, with a pastor that preaches in a style we prefer, with the doctrine we
believe, and a good geographic location, can often be burdensome to the point
of defeat. For inmates being released into our communities, it can prove fatal
to the health of their walk. How are these former inmates to know where they
can find a church in their neighborhood that wants them? How are pastors to
know about well-discipled ex-inmates who are passionate about their walk for
the Lord?
Now, with a single weekly meeting called
THE BRIDGE, Mission:USA is bringing everything together. We’re bridging
that gap, and giving these men and women a wide variety of options, creating a new community to replace their previous
relationships in the gangs, and on the prison decks.
Quick facts on the weekly meetings of THE BRIDGE:
- Three
pastors each bring a 10-minute sermon on the same pre-selected situational
topic to give the attendees a sense of how each pastor brings the Word.
- These
pastors are from a variety of denominations and represent churches from
key strategic geographic areas. As a group, they are also ethnically
diverse.
- Participating
pastors and their corresponding churches are hand-picked by
Mission:USA staff, who attend services and conduct on-site evaluation of
the service and congregation to ensure quality and their commitment to
“the least of these”.
- Each
week we feature a different music team.
- A
different church provides childcare, refreshments, greeting and ushering
each week, acting as a “host team”.
- Information
regarding jobs and housing needs can be obtained from a special booth set
up after the service, during the food and fellowship time.
Response since the kickoff of THE BRIDGE:
- Pastors
have eagerly recruited well-discipled ex-offenders to their churches, and
are coming back for more
- Pastors
report that they have been fed during the meetings, and have
returned to be fed
- Host
teams report having a “short-term missions” type of experience
- The
multi-racial makeup of the service turns out to be a source of excitement
Stay
tuned for information on the expansion of
THE BRIDGE!
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How can my church get involved?
There are 3 ways your church can get involved: physical
support, music team, and/or host team.
Physical support is the easiest. Your financial support gifts can help us show the love of
God Himself to His precious lost sheep. In an organization like this, every
dollar makes a difference, and we thank God every day for our supporters. In
addition to direct contributions, we also accept physical donations that can
aid us in our ministry (everything from donuts to minivans). Give us a call at
708-771-8007, and we’ll be happy to let you know how you can get involved. See
also the “How we’re
funded” area of this website.
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How can I attend?
You are welcome to visit THE BRIDGE
to get a picture of how you can fit into THE BRIDGE’S ministry team. Our
services have yet to find a permanent home, however you can contact our office
at 1-888-DA BRIDGE, and we’ll be happy to tell you of the service nearest you,
and help you find your way there. Please feel free to leave your name and a
callback number, and we’ll be happy to return your call to make sure you have
all the latest and most accurate information available.
NOTE: Our meeting places are subject to change! If
you’re coming for the first time, or if you haven’t been to THE BRIDGE in
awhile, then you should call our toll free number (1-888-DA BRIDGE). We always
have the latest information updated there. Here’s our current meeting
information, as of our last website update:
When: Every
Tuesday at 7:30pm
Where: Lawndale Community Church 3827 W. Ogden Avenue
Chicago, IL 60623 (On the south side of
Ogden between Pulaski and Hamlin)
Parking: On Ogden and the feeder street in front of
the church
For Help Call: 773-398-0470
How to get there:
From the east on 290- Exit Independence, proceed west to
Pulaski, turn left (south) to Ogden, turn left and look for us on the south
side of the street
From the west on 290- Exit Cicero, turn right (south) to
Cermak, turn left (east), to Ogden, look for us on the south side of the street
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Info for prison
ministry staff and volunteers
As many of you know, for the past 5 months our BRIDGE service
has been up and running, and it’s been quite a journey. We began the program by
finding and training a number of local pastors that were excited about having
former inmates in their church. We then contacted area chaplains and prison
ministry volunteers to tell them, “your aftercare ministry dreams have come
true”, and that they can send us as many guys as they wish.
Finally we recruited music teams and choirs to provide music
for our weekly programs, and we added host teams that provide welcome gifts,
refreshments, and greeters. All in all it’s been a roaring success, we've had
crowds as big as 100+, we've continued to add new pastors to our lineup, and
we’ve seen ex-cons invited to join as many as 4 or 5 churches and attending
those churches after meeting these pastors in our services.
Yet we have one problem only you can help us solve: SEND
US MORE!
The pastors of the churches that are part of THE BRIDGE have
been heatedly asking, “when are more coming?” These pastors are telling me that
there aren't enough new guys for them, and that the guys that have been
attending are already too "picked over", meaning that there are
too few new men per pastor at each meeting. These pastors are telling me that
they have to pounce on new guys “like a duck on a junebug” (as we say in
Texas), just to end up getting them into their church.
I'm going to say this again, because I know as a former
chaplain myself this is an amazing thing to wrap our minds around, but these
pastors have seen what you and I have seen in these guys, they've seen the
seeds that you've sown, and they've seen the willingness for these guys to
serve God...and they want more. They've been very supportive with
each other and friendly in the "competition", but they want
more, and I'm promising that there is more where these are coming from.
They've even started bugging me about taking them in with me at Division Ten,
so they can get a jump on the competition. Can you imagine? It's all finally
coming together.
I know we’re all used to dreaming of the day when the church
would see the potential in these men, a day when any church would take even a
few of our guys, but we don’t have to dream anymore, all that and more is here.
All you have to do is what you already do best: disciple these guys the best
you possibly can, and send as many as possible to THE BRIDGE.
To help you in these efforts, we reprinted our Bible
bookmarks for you to hand out. We often get 2 or 3 letters a week, and a phone
call or two per week, just from our bookmarks. I know from experience that
inmates often worry us with questions about what life will be like on the
outside. Now you can tell them they have a place where they can go, where they
will be valued for the hard work of discipleship that they are putting into
action. A place where they can find a church in the part of town they want, of
the denomination they want, and a pastor that brings the Word in a way they
want. Job and housing information are available as well. You can hand them a
bookmark, dispel their fears, and move on to discipleship.
In addition I am making myself available to each and
every one of you, to personally visit your facility, and invite your
inmates to our services. I just returned from a visit to St. Charles, and the response
was amazing. The sense that these volunteers are “connected” to a larger
community, and that the work that these inmates were putting into the Bible
study would be honored in a place like THE BRIDGE, by real pastors in the real
world, was a real boost to their determination to learn more, grow more, and be
ready for a new life on the outside. We’re planning to put St. Charles in our
rotation, and we look forward to many more productive visits.
Contact us at 708-771-8007 to let us know how many bookmarks
you need (they’re free to you, of course) and let us know when you’d like us to
visit your facility, and we’ll make it happen.
One last thing: we are happy to follow up on any of your
inmates that call or write us looking for aftercare, but recently we’ve been
urging chaplains to take all this to another level. Simply recruit a volunteer
that is looking to do some sort of aftercare ministry (or ask around among your
existing volunteers). Create a list of inmates that you think would get the
most out of THE BRIDGE (and that could help secure a good reputation for your
ministry with local pastors). Then simply have that volunteer pick up that
inmate and bring him or her to a BRIDGE meeting…and just like that, YOU are
doing aftercare!
Of course, most institutions have restrictions about
volunteers working with the same inmate on the inside and the outside, so you
may have to recruit “aftercare only” volunteers, or something similarly
creative. But if you encourage inmates to seek a place in the Christian
community, you meet them on the outside, you take them to THE
BRIDGE, you introduce an ex-inmate to 3 or 4 pastors at THE BRIDGE, and you mentor that former inmate as they find a new church, YOU are
executing a complete aftercare solution! THE BRIDGE is simply a tool for
getting it all done.
Have you been waiting for the day when you can tell your
supporters and others praying for you, that you are in fact doing aftercare?
Now you can. Mission:USA is pleased to provide you with our BRIDGE service simply
as a venue for all this to take place. We believe in what you do, we believe in
those you are discipling, and we know their potential. Let’s work together and
reap this harvest while it’s ripe!
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Press Quotes
The following are quotes from various articles that have
appeared in the secular press. To read a recent full-length article, scroll
down to the next section.
“Mission:USA kids said the commitments they’ve made to the
ministry rival that of joining a gang. One major difference is that this gang’s chief is Jesus Christ. This is
accomplished by letting the kids be disciples and recruit others, much like
Jesus’ first followers.”
Chicago Tribune
(Portions
featured subsequently in the “Quotes of the Week” section)
“Mission:USA is undoubtedly on a mission of heavenly
proportions - to give gang-bangers and drug dealers, burn-outs and dropouts,
cold blooded killers and convicted felons, a new shot at life by providing them
with a foundation of trust, love and family under a renewed belief in God”
StreetWise Magazine
[Mission:USA] is a safety net out there on the streets for
these inmates that get released.
NBC Morning News Broadcast
“Mission:USA was started as an extension of their Christian
activism. Their approach is not to simply preach the Bible, but to help gang
members out of the rut that their lives have become. They deserve a measure of
credit for keeping peace on the streets.”
WGN-TV Superstation News Broadcast
“Amazement seems to be Glen’s specialty as they awaken the
victims of the street to the healing powers of God and open the eyes of a very
different community to the unifying forces that transcend across all demographic
lines: acceptance and belonging”
StreetWise Magazine
“During the process of redemption some gang members teeter
between crime and Christ, but Glen Fitzjerrell does not let go.”
Pioneer Press Newspapers
“It’s all in a days work for Glen who finds no neighborhood
too dangerous to enter, no past too dark to overcome. Mission:USA is deeply
spiritual and radically practical...Glen will do anything to help his listeners
understand.”
New City
“They know the gangs and who the leaders are. The gang
leaders know them and respect who they are, and what they are doing. When a kid gets in trouble, Mission:USA is
there.”
Wednesday Journal
“They make a difference, they change the lives of former
gang members”
Chicago Up Close program US99 Radio
“After hearing all this [interviews with kids from
Mission:USA’s ministry], I began to rethink my own spiritual beliefs”
Ira
Glass National Public Radio, recipient of the Peabody Award for excellence in
radio, host of “This American Life” and admitted atheist (portions of several
of his NPR interviews were rebroadcast during their pledge drive as part of
their “best of” series of shows)
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Newspaper Articles
Below is a recent article on our ministry, or you can scroll
farther down for a previously printed article, both from local secular
newspapers.
Forest Park Review
May 5th, 2004
Headline: Mission:USA—a real department of
corrections
By Tom Holmes
Fifteen
years ago, Glen Fitzjerrell, now a Forest Park resident, got a job right out of
college working as a prison chaplain in Texas. While working at that job, he
figured something out. He put it this way: “Jail and prison ministries do
incredibly good work. In fact, I will say that they are the biggest and best
force for change in the city. The problem is that all the work they do gets
dumped out on the street when a person leaves prison, and often they don’t know
what to do or where to go.”
Everyone
knows that the transition from prison to the “outside” is very difficult for
most ex-convicts. The same is true for their relationship with God and church
involvement, according to Fitzjerrell. He therefore decided to leave his prison
chaplain ministry in Texas and be reassigned by Youth for Christ to Chicago to
experiment with what was then the new concept of prison and street follow-up.
The result
of Glen’s pioneering work is an organization called Mission:USA, the main
program of which is called THE BRIDGE.
The concept behind the program is that guys who have just gotten out of prison
need a church which is emotionally safe for them and meets their needs. Some
congregations feel called to minister to ex-offenders. What Mission:USA does is
to provide a bridge between those two groups.
Every
Tuesday evening in a building near Cabrini Green, a group of newly released
prisoners and people wanting to leave gangs, as well as pastors from three
churches in the Chicago area, get together. The three pastors each give a short
sermon as a way for the ex-offenders to check them out. Mission:USA volunteers
then provide a meal during which the pastors and ex-prisoners can explore the
possibilities of getting together further. This is part of what a flier says
about THE BRIDGE:
Maybe you
have a prison record, maybe you’re a gang member, maybe you don’t have fancy
clothes to wear to church. Maybe you have an ugly past, a rough present and an
uncertain future. Be certain of this: God
wants you, and we’ve been where you’ve been. We’re here to walk beside you
and help you find THE BRIDGE to a closer walk with God, a new church family, to a
new set of friends….We’ve searched the city, and every Tuesday, we bring in
three of the best pastors we can find to preach…It’s like church-shopping,
where the churches come to you!”
Fitzjerrell
commented that both groups need training for the connection to work.
Congregations and pastors need to be trained in how to be open to these new
people who were recently behind bars or in prison, on the one hand. And on the
other hand, the guys who have just been gang banging or adapted to prison
culture need to hear the gospel and be discipled.
Glen
clarified that THE BRIDGE works with
what he called the “superstars” from the population of ex-convicts and former
gang members. Men who come to the Tuesday meetings are referred to Mission:USA
from contact with prison ministries, urban and street ministries, local
churches and residential ministries. “It’s almost like the NFL draft,” Glen
said with a chuckle. “of all the ex-gang members and ex-inmates, we get the
kind of guys on Tuesday evening who are already doing evangelism and leading
Bible studies on prison decks.”
To go along
with this organizational system for addressing the needs of ex-convicts and former
gang members, Fitzjerrell has also developed a style of ministry with them that
you might call “person-centered ministry.” It begins with the assumption that
there are no bad human people, just bad behavior. Fitzjerrell explained, “As a
Christian, I don’t have the right to be anti-human being. As a Christian, I’m
more offended by what they do, than who they are. I don’t approve of gang
violence. In fact, most gang leaders themselves don’t want their children to be
in gangs. I care about these people. What we ask people to consider is, ‘Why
not assume that these guys care for their children, fear God, and want a better
life just like the rest of us?”
What Glen
discovered in his street ministry is that gang members want the same things
everyone wants. “Gang members want a better life for the guys, more security
for their neighborhood and to care for their children,” he said. “But they
believe that dealing drugs is the best way to get those things, and that gang
banging is necessary to protect the drug trade to protect that way of life.
What I say to them is, ‘I think there is a better way to get what you want.’”
To be able
to say that to people who have lived a life of crime, however, means that you need
to earn the right to be heard. To do that, Mission:USA begins working with
people when they are behind bars. Then Glen and his team follow them when they
are released from prison and are out on the street. They introduce themselves
to gang leaders and get the leaders’ permission to minister on their turf. Once
the gang leadership accepts Glen and respects his work, he becomes sort of like
their chaplain and is called upon to pray with gang members when they are in
the hospital and to speak at their funerals. “What we discovered,” he said, “is
that a gang is a natural social network which we can work through.”
Fitzjerrell
contends, “I really believe that the methods and approach we use demonstrate
credibility on our part and earns us the right to be heard. Our goal is the
same as that of most congregations, i.e., to do basic, honest-to-goodness,
straightforward evangelism and discipling. It’s like anywhere else. After you
establish a relationship with people, you can effectively help them grow.”
Finally,
Glen Fitzjerrell has a vision for Forest Park. “My wife and I and our
associate, Mike Gonzalez, live in Forest Park and have our offices here. But
most of our work is done in the city. I like the idea of using Forest Park as a
location to do more of our ministry. It’s centrally location, and along with
Oak Park and River Forest, it is a neutral island in the middle of a sea of
gangs. I would like to get these guys who are moving away from a life of crime
to get away from the environments they are used to.
“I realize
some people might be afraid of ex-inmates and ex-gang members coming to Forest
Park once a week to be ministered to. I respond with the analogy of a lightning
rod. A lightening rod attracts the lightning that would have destroyed the
building and manages it in a way that does no harm. Gang activity is a reality
that can be faced and controlled, or it can burn you.”
Read another article on Mission:USA by scrolling down, or click here to return to the top
Oak Leaves - December, 1998 (edited for length)
On a mission
Activist works to bring Christianity to gang members
By Todd Shields
Minutes after Glen Fitzjerrell turns off
Austin Boulevard, leaving the tree-lined, suburban streets of Oak Park, the sky
dims like a darkening movie theater and a cool rain begins. He drives a truck
on Irving Park Road into North Chicago; through swirls of white vapor above the
warm pavement this early fall afternoon. He pushes past Pulaski and Western
avenues, past Chicago Joe's restaurant, entering the coarse, inner city toward
Sheridan Road as its criminal threat and grit poverty become more evident.
Eyes peer from dark doorways and men in
hooded jerseys loiter on every other street corner and gangway. Still a
somewhat healthy neighborhood, families, homes and work are in full gear here.
Tired, young mothers cart home groceries for dinner. Though cold showers
provide relief from the heat, they rid the streets of what Fitzjerrell, a white
man tooling around in a dangerous neighborhood, is trying to find hardened gang
members. ”These showers aren't good. They're making everyone go inside,"
he says, turning into one-way streets, searching brownstone apartment steps.
Not make-believe
"Some of the gangs in this area are from Belize in Central America or are
transplanted Chicago South Siders. This is not make-believe out here and
there's no suburban wannabe's. These guys will shoot and leave you for
dead," he explains. "Or if they thought I was a prominent citizen and
would be missed, they'd tie me up, stuff me in an apartment basement and hold
me for ransom. They don't play around."
After another 10 minutes of cruising,
Fitzjerrell gives up and drives south to Logan Square, hoping to find some
Spanish Cobras. Neither priest nor minister, Fitzjerrell works to bring
Christianity into the lives of these urban, street fraternities living in
Chicago's most notorious neighborhoods and housing projects.
Committing to convert society's most apparent
throwaways, he formed Mission: USA, a nondenominational, nonprofit ministry
solely funded by private donations. Without a church or chapel, Fitzjerrell
enlightens gangs from a vehicle, an apartment, in jail cells and on parkways.
Since then, Glen has gained notoriety for Mission:USA's gutsy, street-level
approach.
Religious mission
"Mission:USA is like a religious mission for the gang culture,"
Fitzjerrell says. "There are missions for troubled areas in Africa and
South America, for instance, but we have a big trouble spot right here in
Chicago with the gangs. We try to plant a church without walls right here in
the hood."
In 1991, after graduating from the University
of Houston with a degree in history, he pursued a chaplain apprenticeship at the
city's Harris County Youth Village Correctional Facility. Admittedly, neither
an "academic type," nor one for soft-selling the virtues of Christ
stuck behind a pulpit, Fitzjerrell soon learned he could address more serious
problems in Chicago.
"While in Houston in my beloved Texas, I
met a lot of gang members headquartered in Chicago. I thought that's where I
could help the most, where I could strike at the root of the problem, which is
on the streets," says Fitzjerrell, a sincere and amiable man with a slight
Texas twang, who usually starts sentences with "Wull, I tell ya…"
The downpour stops as Fitzjerrell enters
Logan Square; however, he notices something else that sends his Latino
fellowship into hiding.
'Sweep day'
It's "sweep day in the K-Town area. "Sweep day" is a city
ordinance allowing Chicago police to go door-to-door, street-by-street once a
week to arrest reputed gang members for loitering, mob action or any
outstanding warrants. Squad cars cruise the streets and two officers wrapped in
bullet-proof vests stand on a front porch, talking to a disheveled man who
appears to have been rousted from bed or is very drunk.
Little kids, showing no interest in the
patrolmen, race bikes up and down the sidewalks near Nixon School. They also
are unperturbed by the thudding whir of a police helicopter high above the
treetops. Fiztjerrell spots three men and a young boy near a backyard garage
and eases to a stop.
"Hey man. What's up? The five-o (police)
are in the hood, huh?" he yells, shifting his Texas accent to West Side
street slang. They hesitate, recognize him and approach the vehicle. The
apparent leader smiles at the preacher and offers his hand. The knuckles are
tattooed "Life" in crude, black lettering, indicating an eternal
pledge to the Insane Spanish Cobras, on of Chicago's oldest and largest street
gangs.
A gang governor, Jose, 23, has been a Cobra
since he was 10. Although he is struggling to end his membership through
Fitzjerrell's guidance, he still commands much respect among Cobra underlings
and elders. Any gang boss reaching that age without being murdered or sitting
in prison is considered smart, tough and a survivor among peers, Fitzjerrell
later says. Similar to an Englishman's reserve or an American' individuality,
respect is a very weighty quality in describing a gang member's reputation.
Getting out
Fitzjerrell schedules a meeting with Jose and drives off. In addition to
teaching the Bible's salvation, Fitzjerrell encourages gangs to re-enter high
school, hold down jobs, obey probation rules and, if needed, attend drug and
alcohol counseling. "Most guys know their lives are completely out of
control. They have kids with other mothers; they have no jobs or education.
Because of their criminal activity, most expect to be dead or behind bars
before turning 21. After that age, lives are largely unplanned," says
Fitzjerrell.
At times, he convinces a parole or probation
officer to permit a gang member to complete a house arrest sentence by
participating in a community service program under Fitzjerrell's guidance. The
work could include stuffing envelopes for Mission:USA or speaking to a church
group about the organization. "Community service in a Cook County
Sheriff's program also could be picking up trash in the wrong neighborhood,
meaning in enemy territory. That's not good. I can fulfill that obligation
elsewhere," he explains.
Edward Zanghi, a parole agent for the
Illinois Department of Corrections, has directed six "clients" to
Mission: USA over the past few years. "So far, not one has returned to
prison and I think it's because of Glen and Jane's work. He attributes Mission:
USA's effectiveness to a high standard of hands-on accountability, in which the
Fitzjerrells personally manage a parolee's rehabilitation. "They'll pick
up people at their homes, drive them to a (Narcotics Anonymous) meeting, then
drive them home. They are very responsible in making sure people actually go to
church, counseling programs or job interviews."
Character witness
The Fitzjerrells frequently appear in court as character witnesses for gang
members in trouble. They also take them to church and buy them Bibles.
"They really talk to these men as individuals, rather than criminal gang
members. They point out the wrong ways of gang life and actually show them how
their behavior leads to crime. I wish we had more organizations like Mission:
USA," says Zanghi.
In reducing crime, Fitzjerrell favors
preventive programs as opposed to filling up and building more jails.
"With today's high recidivism rates, if you think jail is a solution then
you aren't thinking straight," he says. "In my program, if 20-25
percent of my guys went back to prison, I'd quit in shame. I'm neither critical
of jails, nor am I a bleeding heart, but there are way too many offenders for
lockups to handle. A decent kid goes in and comes out a criminal. I believe
Mission: USA has a better solution."
Fitzjerrell says Mission: USA has converted
about 35 gang members to Christianity just this year and another 65 have
potential. He estimates total membership in Chicago's top four gangs-the Latin
Kings, Vice Lords, Disciples and Insane Spanish Cobras-at about 25,000. The age
range is 15-21 years, with leaders being 18 to 22.
"We need someone out on the streets who
can deal with the heart and who can actually help out, hands on. Creating a
miracle through a relationship with God and a sense of right and wrong - that's
the business we're in," he says. "I show them how to change through
Christ, jobs and education, then help them every day to get there." In
formulating a ministry style, Fitzjerrell prefers honest dialogue with gang
members, combined with Christ's methods of recruiting fiery followers who, in
turn, become passionate disciples.
Straight talk
"How does a white guy from middle-class Texas come to gangland Chicago and
expect to have an effective ministry?" he laughs. "I talk very
straight with these guys, very blunt. It's a Texas thing because we get to the
point. My preaching doesn't beat around the bush when I'm trying to reach them
about changing their behavior."
Recalling the disciple Peter, the
"blue-collar fisherman who Christ believed was the rock around which he'd
build his church," Fitzjerrell says gangs have the same potential passion
for a working-class, modern religious revolution. And if faced with saving the
world through Christianity, "I would start right here in Chicago by
finding 12 guys who, I think, can change everything," he adds, thumping
the driver's wheel.
"The Cobras and others like them aren't
ashamed of being in a gang, and they draw upon that same passion in accepting
the Lord. They have a soldier's mentality for finishing mission with full
force, right or wrong." While most ministries focus on evangelizing
nonbelievers and hope an organized discipleship will follow, Fitzjerrell skips
ahead to attracting disciples to Mission:USA.
In doing so, he employs the algebraic concept
of an exponential growth curve, as did Christ, for time required to teach a few
powerful followers is long, but results are fast and worth the wait. "I
can evangelize gangs easily because most of them already believe in God. My
real work is in the discipleship. Christ took 12 men, taught them for three
years, then things really began happening. I try to do the same here."
Activist approach
Showing his activist approach, Fitzjerrell is critical of clergy that rely on
image in serving people. "When you're doing religious work, you learn
image is more important than what's on the inside, what truly matters. As an
example, if I was preaching in church and said I had problems really listening
to my wife, that'd be OK with the congregation. But if they saw me smoking a
cigarette, my credibility goes right down the tubes. I've never been hung up on
image or veneers.
Fitzjerrell admits that gangs, in dealing
drugs and protecting neighborhoods with appalling violence, draw little
sympathy from law-abiding citizens. Yet, gang members acknowledge their
criminal behavior, which is a useful starting point in the conversion process.
"Gangs have a great deal of shame regarding the horrible things they have
done, so much so they feel they are unredeemable," says Fitzjerrell.
"I have to get rid of that guilt. It's amazing what happens when you get
off fixing blame and, rather, fix the problem."
Preaching lessons
Once the Texan convinces gangs of his sincerity, he preaches the lessons of
eternal life by a forgiving God. "Imagine the selling point of that offer
to them. But some are still unsure of why God would want them back. That's
where I say Jesus is the bridge, that they can undo all wrong, have a family,
have a normal life and a loving God who will never leave them."
Even during the process of redemption, some
members teeter between crime and Christ, but Fitzjerrell does not let go. For
instance, gangbangers frequently huddle and pray before going on a drive-by
shooting, hoping to kill the opposition. "Gangs know that God will not
bless murder, but they pray not to get shot. The violence outrages me. Yet
their praying essentially asks God to send me forth so I can introduce them to
Mission: USA," Fitzjerrell says.
"Just like whole countries, gangs see
themselves as nations. When attacked, both pray not against the act of killing,
but pray for protecting their way of life," he says, further explaining
that once an enemy gang gains control of a neighborhood, they often force
families from homes using constant harassment and attacks.
Sitting in an Oak Park restaurant with
Fitzjerrell, Jose has a habit of throwing quick glances at any brown-skinned
customers passing his table. Three days later, in fact, Jose is jumped by a
rival gang while walking alone on a gangland border street. A broken nose, a
concussion and several facial cuts, he is hospitalized for five days. Fearing
attacks there, most injured gang members register under false names.
"Stuff happens. I'm all right," he
says days after being released, smiling and shrugging. This is Jose's second
attempt in two years to foreclose his Cobras ties, a decision that, if
otherwise he was not an influential leader, could result in a severe beating by
his cohorts.
Street code
Part of street code called a "violation in," newly recruited gang
members endure a two-minute beating. The same ritual, a "violation
out," is performed on veteran members wanting to quit the gang life.
"I can walk out because of my rank. Sometimes they look at me funny, which
could be dangerous for them and they know it. They never ask me about leaving.
They have too much respect," Jose says.
Because Fitzjerrell's purpose is convincing
young men to exit the brotherhood, one would think gang leaders seeking
strength in numbers will oppose his efforts. However, knowing that superiors
see themselves as parents within the gang family, Fitzjerrell uses that
relationship to reason with them. He frequently can talk a leader out of
performing a violation out on a departing partner.
"Gang chieftains aren't barbarians. They
want to see their people go to church and straighten out, but they also want
them to stay in the group. I help them sort that out. For one, they know I'm
doing the same for rival gangs."
Never threatened by gangs or caught in an
attack, Fitzjerrell does not encourage trouble. "I go out in the hoods
from 2p.m. to 9p.m. I'm very careful." Coming to Chicago, Fitzjerrell
already had a few gang contacts set up by members in Houston; yet, initial
trust started with formally meeting gang chiefs in Chicago.
"I asked permission to be in their hood.
There's a part in the Bible saying you must show respect to those in authority and
that's what I do. I've never been denied from working in a neighborhood,"
he says. He also convinced the gangs that he, too, was on a spiritual journey.
"That initial bond with them comes from my humility in wanting to help and
serve them."
Prompting Jose's religious transformation, as
is true for many gang members he counsels, Fitzjerrell draws parallels between
their troubled lives and those in the Bible. Biblical stories of loyalty,
hypocrisy, faith, oppression and momentary weaknesses of leaders are familiar
themes to gang members.
"Glen's method of explaining the Bible
opens up a lot of doors for me. It allows me to identify with people in the
Bible to the point where sometimes I say, damn, how did Glen know that?"
says Jose.
The narratives demonstrate as well how
pointless and at its worst, fatal, gang existence can be. "The biblical
lessons I drive home show these guys are on the wrong end of life's
propositions. I acknowledge that they are doing their best to survive, but in
the long-term career of selling drugs and fighting, they'll die or go to
prison. And when they are killed, someone else will surely take their place on
the street corner selling dope."
Jose interjects, "I want to go back to
high school and get my diploma, get a job, get away from the hood and find a
soul mate. There are no choices for me as long as I remain in the gang. I'll
take whatever the Lord throws me."
Losing friends
Over the years, Jose has lost six friends in gang-related slaying. He names
each, drawing in a deep breath to voice the last one. "My brother is a
Disciple, but blood is thicker than water. We don't bring the (gang life)
home."
Though peddling crack cocaine and marijuana
brings in money-Jose estimates Chicago gangs can sell up to $5,000 worth in
three days or 12 guys selling drugs in a bar nets $500 each in a day-he says
the pressure of street dealing is unbearable. Protecting turf with guns and
avoiding arrests is daily. With Fitzjerrell's religious influence, Jose
struggles between acting on his old, lashing-out instincts and the new,
nonviolent precepts.
"Yesterday, we had to march on guys in
the hood. I was split on pulling out a gun or resolving it calmly. Back in the
old days, I would've turned around and started blasting away," Jose
plainly says, between bites of lunch.
And in the midst of embracing God while
maintaining a gang affiliation, does he sense a moral conflict in that
decision? "I do. I'm still stuck on being fully saved, yet I realize
change for me is coming. I have a conscience now. I'm not perfect and I never
will be, but I can change because of him," Jose says, pointing at
Fitzjerrell.
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Ministry Letters
February, 2004
Mission:USA has become widely known for our
work with inmates, but did you know that we minister to other types of groups
as well? Our 15 years serving God on the streets among Chicago gangs and in the
prisons has given us a sense of how to overcome obstacles that churches, youth
groups and other organizations might face. It’s a great way for these groups to
get inspired and support our work at the same time!
For example, we
spent four days from our recent Christmas holiday with a Korean youth group in Wisconsin. You might think we use a
“scared straight” technique to keep the kids following Christ, but we know that
the opposite approach is much more successful. We use humor, stories from the
streets and jail, and Mike shares his testimony about how God saved him from a
life of gangs and drugs. The young people
love that we “keep it real” and aren’t afraid to answer tough questions.
Last weekend we were in a completely
different ministry environment, training and inspiring Willow Creek’s Prison
Ministry team. We get so excited about equipping others by sharing our
techniques and successes with those God has burdened to reach out to His “least
of these”. Our favorite part of the time is afterward when the volunteers ask
our advice on specific ministry situations, and thanks to our cutting-edge
techniques and research, we’re blessed to be able to give simple, practical,
and effective solutions. In the past few months, requests for pastoral and
ministry staff training have gone through the roof!
Last year we spoke
several times to a church that was searching for a pastor. The church
had been through some struggles and lost some members, but the congregation
remaining was strong and eager to grow. We were able to come in and inspire
them to keep going. We’re pleased to announce that this month the Lord has blessed
them with both a new pastor and a new building!
We’re excited to see
that the street-tested ministry techniques we use every day are helping
suburban and rural churches reach new levels of growth and passion. Thank you
for keeping us on the front lines! If you’re interested in having Glen
Fitzjerrell speak at your church, contact us at 708-771-8007 to discuss
scheduling and topics. All speaking fees support Mission:USA’s ministries.
Since you can’t be at THE BRIDGE
each week, we want to let you hear what people have told us about their BRIDGE
experiences.
We’ve passed out over
20,000 Bible Bookmarks with information about THE BRIDGE to Illinois prisoners
and have received a steady flow of letters from inmates. Here are some of their
comments:
“I am not a
Christian and I know very little about the Bible, but I am teachable and
reachable. I know that God has carried me for a long, long time, and I just
want to learn how to thank Him and find out what my covenant is from God to
me!”
“I’ve always wanted to change my life, I
just never met anyone who was genuinely concerned about me and others like me.
Gangbangers and drug addicts really are good people with good hearts. We are
just misunderstood and we sometimes allow the influence of what others think of
us determine who we are. I just thank God today that I know who I really am (a
child of God).”
“My biggest problem when I get out will
be to stay strong and focused so I won’t do drugs again. To answer your
question, YES I would like to go to THE BRIDGE. God bless you for trying to
help people like me. You’re truly blessed.”
We’ve had 70-100
attendees at THE BRIDGE each week. Here’s what they’ve written to us about their
experiences.
“I think THE
BRIDGE is a wonderful place. It’s a place of worship, fellowship, fun, gifts,
food and great Christian brothers and sisters. Thank you for THE BRIDGE. I’m
learning so much and having so much fun. I’m truly grateful.”
“THE BRIDGE is
a place where you can find the Word and remove pain that the soul has been
collecting.”
“I think THE BRIDGE is a great way to
fellowship and gain exposure to different churches.”
“THE BRIDGE is a Christian growth experience for
everyone. Love is shared here.”
“I think THE
BRIDGE is a wonderful place. It’s a place to make me feel at peace. It’s a
place of God.”
Each week we feature
three pastors from three churches that we’ve hand-picked for quality. Nearly
every week a pastor will remark about being spiritually fed themselves and enjoying the fellowship of meeting and associating with the other pastors.
Here’s what some of the pastors have said at THE BRIDGE.
“This felt more
like church than our Sunday service each week. And I think we have a great
Sunday service!”
“Being here has made a world of
difference for our people. Reaching out at THE BRIDGE has made reaching out to
our neighbors seem so much easier.”
“Being
here has made me a sharper preacher. It keeps me on my toes when I start
reading a verse and THE BRIDGE finishes it out loud from memory.”
Our
Host Team is a group of 8-10 Christians who make the meeting a “welcome home”
party by adding lots of love, hugs, gifts, and hot food each week. Host Teams come
from churches all over the Chicagoland area. Here’s what some said about their
night at THE BRIDGE.
“Serving at THE BRIDGE is like a mini
missions trip in my own city. We grew as a team, got recharged and excited to
tackle our own mission field at home”
“We decided to start doing the greeting
at our church on Sundays the way we learned how to greet people at THE BRIDGE.”
Each week we bring
in a different music team to lead the worship. We’ve had everything from Gospel
to Salsa to (can you believe it?) Bluegrass. Our group loves it because it
makes every week special and unpredictable. Here’s what we’ve heard from our
music team:
“I loved
playing here. This is the most authentic Christian experience I’ve ever been a
part of.”
“I’ve been
leading worship for a long time, but this is the first time a group has sung so
loudly that I almost couldn’t hear myself play.”
So much has happened
over the past decade to prepare this ministry to launch THE BRIDGE, and we are
thankful for every person who has helped along the way. You may not be able to
attend THE BRIDGE each week, but your help is essential to continuing this
amazing ministry. After our first couple months of running the weekly meeting,
we see that our program expenses are about $1600 per month. Please pray for
this need and consider whether you might be part of the answer. It may not seem
to you that $25 or $50 per month really makes that big of a difference to a
ministry like ours, but let me assure you it does! All we need are (20) new $50
per month givers and (24) new $25 per month givers and we’ll meet our current
BRIDGE operating expenses. No matter where you live or what you do, you can be
a valuable part of THE BRIDGE. Join the team today—there’s a spot open just for
you.
March, 2005
Each week we talk
about THE BRIDGE helping ex-offenders connect with a new church family, but
here’s a connection you’re not going to believe!
Last October we got
a letter from Antoine, an inmate in an Illinois prison. We hadn’t met Antoine,
but this is not unusual. We get 2-3 letters per week from inmates who have
received one of the 25,000 Bible book marks we’ve distributed through prison
chaplains we’ve recruited to our BRIDGE sender team.
Antoine wrote: “I
received this book mark eight months ago. I read the front about THE BRIDGE and
getting connected, but never read the back that explained what Mission:USA was
and where to write you. Praise God this bookmark has continued to journey with
me (a prime example of Romans 8:28). I’ve been diligently seeking God to see
where I fit in when I’m released and God has led me to you. Now that I have
finally read the back of the bookmark, I know exactly what I need when I’m
released. Christ and you. Please would you be supportive of me and help me
build my life on solid rock—Jesus Christ?”
I wrote Antoine back
myself, as I do with every inmate, and assured him we were excitedly waiting
for him. A few months later, we got a message on our voice mail. I chuckled
when I heard his matter-of-fact voice that life long friends use, “This is
Antoine. I just got home. I’m ready to come to THE BRIDGE.” I’m so thankful
that we’re able to connect so intimately with inmates by letter that they feel
perfectly at ease the first time we speak on the phone.
Antoine’s first
BRIDGE day was a busy one for us. Mike had several men to pick up, so he called
one of our faithful pastors and asked him to bring Antoine to the meeting. Our
pastors love this opportunity to spend one-on-one time with BRIDGE attenders.
It gives them a head start on inviting them to their church and their address
for picking them up on Sunday morning.
When this pastor and
Antoine arrived at THE BRIDGE meeting together, they were hugging each other
and excitedly repeating the same story to every person there: When Pastor
Hardnett arrived at Antoine’s house, they recognized each other from several
years before when Antoine had been a hardheaded street kid and Pastor Hardnett
had lovingly tried to minister to him and keep him from making the kind of
mistakes that eventually put Antoine in jail. The moment Antoine saw Pastor Hardnett, he felt complete love and huge
confirmation that God really wanted to give Antoine a second chance to start
over and live his life righteously. Pastor Hardnett was so blessed, his feet
barely touched the floor all evening! Pastor Hardnett and Antoine have been
inseparable ever since. These connections are what THE BRIDGE is all about.
Imagine being a recently released inmate, feeling
unsure about spending an evening with strangers, but trusting God for the
courage to do it. Then one of those “strangers” shows up at your door and turns
out to be the one person in the whole city of Chicago that you know and trust
to help you follow the Lord! It’s been amazing to see God reveal himself in so
many different ways to those attending THE BRIDGE. I write this so you know
that you are a part of every miracle that takes place at THE BRIDGE. Although
you aren’t there physically, we consider you a vital part of this team. Thank
you for keeping the gas in our tanks!
Pastor Hardnett with the BRIDGE crew in the first row,
third from the left.
May,
2005
People like you, who financially support our ministry, are the gas in
our tank and the shoes on our feet to keep us out there. You mean more to us
than we can say. But last month was the first time one of you loaded up the
family in the van and drove 150 miles to personally help out. It was a night to
remember!
The Spares family have four girls, ages 4, 7, 9, and 10. The girls,
along with mom and dad (Karen and Randy) and a family friend, served as our
host team for a recent BRIDGE meeting. Usually our host team consists of a
church group with 6-10 adults and sometimes some teenagers. Occasionally
younger children tag along and try to stay out of trouble. But this was
altogether different—the family was serving as a unit and the children were
helping the same as adults!
As the men filed into THE BRIDGE meeting, they had to reach WAY down to
shake the tiny hand of four-year-old Kerri as she smiled boldly and loudly
chirped “welcome to THE BRIDGE!” The men were impressed with the large banner
created by all the girls urging them to “Taste and see that the Lord is good!”
Kerri was quick to point out she’d drawn the watermelon.
During the meeting,
Kate and Jill, ages 9 and 10, took turns giving cues to the pastors when they
had 2 minutes to go (when you have three pastors preaching in a night, you have
to keep them all on a tight schedule). As the girls jumped in the air in the
back of the room holding up two fingers, barely visible over the crowd, the
pastors grinned and were quick to comply. Seven-year-old Amy passed out the
gift bags to the newcomers and tried to take over running the PowerPoint from
Jane.
When the meeting ended and it was time to serve the meal, the girls
each took a position and never left their post. Kerri stood behind the serving
table, with her head barely clearing the table to reach way over her head to
pass out rolls.
BRIDGE Program Director Mike Gonzalez wanted to share this story with
you because he wants you to know there’s always a place for you at THE BRIDGE.
He came to the Lord later in life and had some early struggles. It touched him
deeply, as it did all the people attending THE BRIDGE, to see these children
with such sweet spirits, serving the Lord so diligently.
The Spares have had a relationship with us for nearly 20 years. Over
the years Karen would call to encourage us and ask for prayer requests. Karen
and Randy raised their daughters praying for the men and women we minister to.
They’ve shared our lives and these ministry letters with the kids since they
were born. When the call to action came, the family team was ready.
The Spares probably
felt the same as many of you, “I could never do what you do”. But the hearts
that led the Spares to support us were the same hearts that rocked the house
for our guys at THE BRIDGE!
How long are you
prepared to wait for a miracle? People often ask me: “do you ever get
discouraged or lose heart when you see guys doing poorly?” Our answer is always
“NO!” and this letter contains the reason.
I met Shawn in 1995
at the Cook County Jail. He was 19 years old, facing serious charges, and a
member of the Latin Brothers gang known as “Heavy-B”. Shawn accepted the Lord
while he was locked up, then he was released on bond for about 10 months. We all knew he would have to serve time, but
I wanted to make the most of the time we had together on the outside.
Shawn became a
founding member of a program we called the “Holy Nation”. It was an
experimental ministry program that taught us many of the principles that we’re
using in THE BRIDGE today. Before Shawn returned to prison he was baptized.
Through the years we
lost touch with Shawn as he was transferred from prison to prison. We prayed
for him frequently, but he didn’t answer our letters. I had to leave him in the
Lord’s hands. At the time he went to prison, he had a tough choice facing him:
drop his gang affiliation, follow the Lord, and enter the prison as a “neutron”
or keep his gang status which would give him a certain amount of physical
protection and turn his back on his new-found faith. Unfortunately, he chose
the latter. Every few years we’d get a letter from him letting us know he was
still alive, far from the Lord, and deeply involved in the gang. Last week we
got an eight-page letter from Shawn. I’ll let him tell you the rest of the
story...
How are you guys doing? I hope that everything is fine when
this reaches you and God’s grace keeps you with joy and love in your hearts
daily.
Man, Glen it’s been one wild ride homie. I’ve lost
faith all together at one point. I befriended pagans and even Satanists looking
for “true” knowledge and understanding. I dropped off everything that I was
taught. Everything I learned in life was given to me not searched for. It was told,
not “learned”. So I shed my skin and started from zero.
You know I always kept it real with you and could never be
phony. All my time up in here I gave myself to the gang, not God. I even turned
my back on Him. I drenched myself in the lifestyle of a soldier for my Nation [Chicago
gangs refer to themselves as “nations” and lower ranking gang members are
called ”foot soldiers”]. Through all of this I never counted on one thing.
And that was God never giving up on me.
I may have gone totally south on Him Glen, but never did He take His grace away from me. Yes, I’ve lost time. I should have been
home last February. So my actions did have their consequences believe me, but
never did He allow me to fall down. I was still able to stand after it all. He
saw me through every step of the way. Even when I didn’t believe He was
there, He proved that He was there by protecting me. Ever since I got saved He
has been with me. He always had my back to the fullest. He never left my
life, even when I tried to push Him away.
Why? The only answer I could come up
with is that He wants me. We are all here for a purpose and I believe He has
plans for me. So many signs over the years were like big red stop signs telling
me to go back. I didn’t listen. I did “my thang”, you dig? I did what I wanted to do. Now here I am at the end of my bit, and I finally get it.
He has shown me where my path leads. And He is also showing me where His
path leads. One is Life, the other is Death. Right now coming home to the hood
I could have it “all”. But Glen it won’t last. I can’t come up like that
without coming down.
My out date comes with a crossroads. I have two choices in
front of me when they let me go. One is doing things my way. The other is
allowing God to take over completely and let Him do His “thang”.
Glen you just don’t know what a truly hard choice this is to make. I’ve been a
Latin Brother for going on 12 years now. “Heavy-B” is who I became. It’s my
identity. The Nation gave me a sense of worth and purpose. It gave me strength
and power. There’s just one price to pay and that’s my soul. The life I
could have is an illusion. It won’t last because it can’t last. Even
with all the stuff I’d have I wouldn’t have happiness. There would be a void in
my life. I see this. God has shown me this through the lives of other Brothers
in here. Guys who did it their way instead of His. It’s scary
You know how I am about half-stepping right? I don’t play
that. I talked to you a long time ago about that on the phone. It’s all or nothing with me. So I’ve done it Glen. I’ve put my life in His hands and am letting His
will be done. I dropped my flags
already [“dropping your flags” refers to leaving and no longer
affiliating with your gang] and there’s no turning back. It’s not over yet.
I still have to deal with my violation when I get out [a “violation-out”
refers to an extensive beating, that must be taken to totally sever ties
to a gang]. But I’m not scared or have second thoughts. I know He has my
back and that He will protect me. If it’s meant for me to perish then let it be
so. But if my purpose is to still do work here for Him then I know He will heal
my wounds and my life will go on with Him as my guide. I have total trust in Him.
I’m straight up walking into the lion’s den, but I fear no evil. He will be right
beside me Brother. I’m sacrificing my life here.
I love this thug life that I live man. As a little kid it’s
all I ever wanted. But it’s not His path. It’s a path of destruction. My
paradise isn’t here on earth. This is only a place where I get my chance to get
close to God and show Him that I am truly a believer in His Word. Heaven is the reward I will receive when
this life ends and the new life in eternity begins.
You never gave up on me. That’s meant a whole lot. It’s
taken me a lot of years to figure it all out Bro, but I’ve got it Glen. I don’t
expect it to be easy Glen. It’s in His hands and He will guide me to where I
need to be. I know He will make a way for me if I only do my part. I will, I must.
I am. I’m sure temptation is far from done with me. But I also know that He
will not put anything on me that I can’t handle. I will not fail the test. And
if I stumble I will get back up and press on.
My entire bit I’ve told younger cats to get right and let
this thug life go. But I couldn’t lead by example there. I was being
hypocritical, you feel me? That’s done though. I can speak from my own
experiences now and in the end show them where I am at today. It’s over
Glen and now it’s on.
All the love and strength I put into my Nation I now am
giving to God. I’m still a soldier, but I fight for another cause and
with a mightier weapon. I truly am proud of you for not giving up on the
Brothers and Sisters in this thug life. It’s beautiful Glen.
And I’ll never forget how you were there for me in my times
of pain. You helped me pull through so many difficult times. So I trust God’s
way. I’m not saying to myself “OK I’ll check this out and if it doesn’t work
then “I’ll do my thang.” There is no doubt. It will work. I know it will. I feel it. He’s got me. So I’m not looking back. Tell them Brothers
and Sisters out there that I know and feel their struggle. The devil has got a
hit out on all of us to fail. He doesn’t want us to go “pancake” on him [pancake…as
in to “flip sides”…it’s a good thing I’m bi-lingual huh?]. But if we only
give God an honest run I’m telling you that He won’t let us down.
I’m free today. My burdens have been lifted. I have
such a contented heart. I’m locked up, but free in spirit and in mind. That’s
not my strength, but His in me. The blessings I have are from Him.
And I am grateful for Him having
shed His grace on me. My past is just that, the past. I’m on my way Glen. Like I said, it’s on. I
still have a lot to change and a lot more growing to do. But step by step He will
mold me into who I should be in this world. Keep doing what you are doing out
there and representing for Him. I dig this BRIDGE that you have started up. It
means a lot to a brother coming home to know that he has a place to go and be
accepted wholeheartedly!
How can we ever get
discouraged hearing wonderful news like this? Those seeds found such fertile
soil, as I read this letter, I could swear I heard him preaching to me,
repeating back to me things I said to him nearly a decade ago. Man
I love my job!
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Staff Bios
Glen
Fitzjerrell, president and founder of Mission:USA, began his career as the
chaplain for the nation's top juvenile correctional facility. Since then, he
has been working with gang members and inmates for a decade and a half in both
Chicago and his native home, Houston, Texas. In 1996,
he founded Mission:USA. Mission:USA’s new BRIDGE program has taken the worlds of
church planting, prison ministry, and urban churches by storm. He has spoken to
a wide range of audiences, including churches, youth groups, and ministry
staff, from Los Angeles to New Jersey and most points in between. He has been a
special guest chaplain for the Chicago White Sox and Milwaukee Brewers. In
addition to hosting his own radio program, Glen has been interviewed on
National Public Radio's "This American Life", Moody radio, NBC, and
WGN-TV news, and many more stations across the country (but his main claim to
fame was actually turning down the chance to appear on the Jerry
Springer show!). Glen is a natural storyteller and weaves his dramatic urban
experiences with down-to-earth realistic spiritual applications for audiences
everywhere.
Other staff bios coming soon…
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Mission:USA Productions
Mission:USA Productions is the division of Mission:USA that
makes products and services available to help the Church reach the world, while
also generating support dollars for the ministry. For example, when you bring
in a Mission:USA team to do training for your church or group, the cost of that
training goes directly into our work behind bars and on the streets. You get the training, we get more ministry done, everybody wins! Our latest
and greatest production is called Urban Echoes, click here to get the full scoop! As we
mentioned above, we’re known for our ministry training, and we’d love to share
our street-tested ministry methods with you and your group. Scroll to the next
section to find out more. And finally, click here for our coming attractions.
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Training
The
area of our ministry we most often get asked about is ministry training.
Mission:USA is pleased to provide training to churches, youth leaders, prison
ministries, and other ministry personnel--both volunteer and paid staff. In the
past few weeks alone we’ve provided training for Willow Creek Community Church,
The Salvation Army, and a local staff of Presbyterian church-planters. We have
a burden to share our cutting edge techniques with you and help you adapt them
to meet your special needs. We want you to reap the benefit from the hard-won
and often experimental ministry strategies we’ve developed over our many years
in this most challenging mission field. Contact our office at 708-771-8007 and
we’ll be happy to work out the details with you.
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Urban Echoes tells the tale of one man's path from suburbia
to working with the most notorious street gangs in Chicago. As entertaining as
it is thought provoking, Urban Echoes is a 90-minute, 2 man stage production
combining music, comedy, and storytelling to portray one man’s fascinating
spiritual journey. Experience a memorable evening that opens a window on an
ordinary man living an extraordinary life.
Urban Echoes is enjoyed by both Christian and secular
audiences alike, revealing the honest personal struggles that go on behind the
scenes in the world of urban ministry. Featuring original music by Chicago
sensation Jed Brewer, who will appear live for every performance.
Click the headphones to listen to the Urban Echoes
preview! 
Urban Echoes is perfect for:
- Outreach
events
- Singles
& college aged groups
- Retreats
- Fellowship
and Fun nights
- Coffee
Houses
- Fundraising
events
Audience members are raving:
“It was a great chance to relax and enjoy wonderful
stories from a Christian brother with down-to-earth honesty. Real”
“It was very entertaining, fun, thought-provoking, and
down-to-earth.”
“This was not
only inspirational, but filled with humor, song, and most importantly, a
life-giving message.”
“Urban Echoes is
a powerful vision of ministry in the ‘real world’ by a ‘real man of God’.”
“Funny,
down-to-earth and very real. It will touch your heart, and your life.”
100% of surveyed audience members said they would
recommend Urban Echoes for their unchurched friends.
Are you looking for a hot new special event to inspire your
people to take the next step in their Christian walk? Or maybe you need a
vehicle that offers them an opportunity to make that decision to follow Christ
for the first time. Urban Echoes is the high-quality, professional, turn-key
solution you’ve been looking for.
For booking info, contact:
Jane Fitzjerrell
Mission:USA Productions Coordinator
jf@missionusa.com
773-398-0402
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Coming Attractions
Coming soon we’ll be giving you the opportunity to purchase
new super-cool merchandise that will help keep Mission:USA going strong! Stay
tuned for info on Mission:USA apparel, music CDs, and (hopefully) some
publications that will help you share your faith.
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If you need any further info, click here
contemporary
music from churches of the “Caucasian persuasion.” We love the variety, and we
love to sing! A recent comment from a song leader of a music team from
Iowa: “I couldn’t hear myself singing. I had the volume up, and your guys sang
so loud I could only hear them…I didn’t know leading worship could be
that much fun…when can we come back?” If you’re a local church, music teams are
another way for you to get exposure and bring people in. For more information
about having your music team play THE BRIDGE, 
Mike
Gonzalez came on our staff as a full-time ministry worker in 2003. Mike is
a product of Mission:USA’s work with Teen Challenge. After graduating from the
Teen Challenge program, Mike completed an internship there, working with
program participants. After transferring to work for Mission:USA, Mike showed a
flair for urban ministry in the cutting-edge world of Mission:USA’s ministry.
He’s thrived in the pressure-cooker environment of street and prison ministry,
and he continues to learn and grow at a truly amazing pace. Mike handles all of
our logistical needs, and is also our resident fix-it guy. We are greatly
blessed to have Mike on our staff. Though Mike is the straightest-looking
member of our staff (that’s him on the left), he often shocks people by telling
them that he was once a gang member in the Imperial Gangster organization, and
that he served time in Cook County Jail while struggling with drug addiction.
He truly has an amazing testimony, reminding the many gang members he works
with, “If I can make it, you can make it…if we both stay connected to God and
each other.”