Executive Director, Arloa Sutter

In early June, I traveled to Israel with 600 people from Moody Bible Institute. It was marvelous and a spirit-enriching journey. Despite the conflicts of the 21st century, walking through Jerusalem and the countryside brought me close to the Lord in a very special way. It is difficult to find words to describe how awesome it is to be in the place where Jesus lived, to walk where he has walked.

Over two weeks, I journeyed to the most amazing places, that until now, I have only been able to imagine. I have ridden on a boat in the Sea of Galilee, where Jesus walked on water; we visited Capernaum, and the Jordan River where some of the members of our group were baptized. Our whole group came together to meet in the theater at Bet She’an, where the bodies of Saul and his sons were hung by the Philistines, and we traveled to the Judean wilderness where Jesus went after his baptism and fasted for forty days. The desert was barren and extremely hot – I could not imagine fasting for that long in such a place.

This journey has greatly influenced the way that I view scripture. Physically being here and seeing these places first hand has demystified it for me, making it real, rooted, grounded in this land. I will never read the Bible in the same way since being here. The entire experience has been truly remarkable.

The Kresge Foundation grant is an “all or nothing” challenge. In order to receive the $400,000 grant, Breakthrough Urban Ministries must raise an additional $1 million toward the construction of its new Breakthrough Ministry Center by March 2007. If you would like to make a gift to help Breakthrough meet this grant please click here, or call Nancy Hall at 773.722.1144, ext. 290.

Celebrate the Block!

On Saturday, June 24, at 1 p.m., you are invited to be our guest as we break ground and dedicate the site of our new headquarters and facility for Men’s Services. This new 24,000 square foot facility is located in East Garfield Park only two blocks from the Breakthrough Joshua Center where we offer the Women’s Services program for women in crisis and the Youth & Family Services for families in the community.

“Our vision,” explains Arloa Sutter, Breakthrough’s founder and Executive Director, “is to bring all our staff and resources together so we can focus on one community in Chicago providing encouragement and support to community residents and to men and women in crisis. The site is an answer to our prayers.”

Work crew for Cleanstreet

When complete, the Breakthrough Ministry Center will provide interim housing for thirty men, hot meals and showers, as well as counseling and employment training through the Breakthrough Employment Services and Training (BEST) program. By offering this full spectrum of service in addition to beds, we will help these men who are temporarily in need get back up on their feet, helping to break the cycle of poverty. The center will be available 365 days a year and will offer daily food service.

Breakthrough needs to raise $5 million to support this expansion in East Garfield Park. God is miraculously providing through the help of our donors, the Greater Chicago Homebuilders’ Association, HomeAid, Breakthrough staff and board members, and most recently The Kresge Foundation. The Kresge Foundation has given us a challenge grant of $400,000 with a goal of raising the remaining $1 million for the renovation of our new building. We must raise $1 million by March 2007 in order to receive the grant.

We ask all of our supporters to help meet this challenge in order to change our community and give a helping hand to those in need. We invite you to share in this amazing task that God has set before us, by making a gift to Breakthrough. Your gift will change the lives of countless people throughout our community, our city, and beyond. To make a donation to help meet the Kresge Challenge, please click here.

For further information please call Nancy Hall, Director of Development, at 773.722.1144, extension 290.