This past spring the Chester church plant team was given a challenge to be visionaries. We were asked to dream, and imagine where the city of Chester will be in ten years. In the fast pace of city life we were to ask ourselves; what will God have done here in 10 years? Well, the answers may surprise you, but the passion for them to be a reality will not. Here is a glimpse of Chester 2021.
April 8, 2021
The city has gone through an undeniable and unparalleled community transformation. Today marks the tenth anniversary of the horrific Minaret Temple shooting (a party where two teens were killed and 8 wounded), as youth and adults gather at the peace vigil, there is a joy in the air. There has not been a homicide in Chester for three years. This gathering marks ten years of change and progress. It began when three youth, who were in attendance at the party, invited their hurting friends to a Bible study. The Bible study began to ignite change on the streets, in the schools, and in the hearts of teens all over Chester.
Students at Chester High were showing up, attending class, breaking up fights and their teachers were noticing. Bible study at Miss Dolly's could not be contained, so others were started. Organic churches began to spring up in every neighborhood, as Chester High students and teachers needed more space to meet. The student's not only affected the faculty at the High, their parents wanted to know what was going on. Moms, dads, siblings, and other relatives have become regular fixtures in organic churches city wide. As faith in Christ has been affirmed and deepened the city began her change as well.
The men in the churches began to take back the corners, no more drug deals, they have become places of prayer and safety. Every morning as children walk to school there are men on the streets making sure everything is safe. These men saw kids who looked hungry on the way to school and called their wives, who now provide breakfast to kids and lunches to those who may need a little extra.
Over town, the down town section of Chester, has gone from run down and abandoned to an epicenter of the arts. Every night there are at least four family classes filled with people acting, painting, dancing, and reflecting the gifts of the Creator. Not only have the art classes brought families closer together, they have been training young men in the art of graffiti. If anything inappropriate is spray painted on a wall, these young men go and cover it in art, they attack the broken world with beauty. These young men have allowed a few girls in on the fun, but the young ladies really live to go along with the guys and plant sunflowers, mums, daisies, anything colorful. There are almost as many flowers in Chester as there are weekly Bible studies.
The elderly saw the change and started "history" classes on Saturdays. The 9th Street Community Center has been standing room only for five years now. Children, teens, and adults gather to hear about the civil rights movement, learn spirituals and are instructed on the ways of non-violent protest. These times of teaching have lead to intergenerational friendships and mentoring relationships. The friendships have evolved into multi-generational gardens across the city.
Overall the city is doing great. The graduation rate at Chester High has gone from the second worst in the state to second best in the state. Students who then go off to college, can not wait to come back to Chester as productive members of society. They are creating jobs, opening businesses, and several of them got together and bought the Philadelphia Union as a co-operative soccer team. Members of the community can buy in and share in the profits. Besides new jobs, there is no longer a need for a grocery store, there is one, but most of the produce is grown in the neighborhood and in the winter it is grown in the community green house.
There is so much more to to my vision of Chester's future, God has big things planned for this city, and I am glad I get to be a part of it. Please pray, as Jesus did, "Thy Kingdom come, Thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven."
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