Volunteer Coach Ed Campins with Breakthrough player, Michael.

Sports are a portal into Breakthrough Urban Ministries' Youth & Family Services Program and an important part of Breakthrough's "network" model. They attract a large and growing number of neighborhood kids, some of whom then become involved in academic programs and even Bible study. But the leagues have great potential to impact youth in their own right. Boys and girls observe positive, adult leadership and characteristics. Families partner with Breakthrough to give youth extra encouragement for making wise decisions.

Noel and the volunteer coaches seize the opportunity to be mentors. "Many youth in the program are 10-12 years old," says baseball and basketball coach, Ryan Westrom. "They are right on the cusp of an age where they choose to go one way or the other...either on a path with many positive choices or one that goes in a very different direction." He continues, "We are in a unique position to help influence their ideas of success and responsibility."

CLICK HERE to read more.
CLICK HERE to support the sports leagues with a financial gift to Breakthrough.  Please select "Youth & Family Services" from the drop-down menu.

Dave and Ann live in Lakeview, a Chicago neighborhood. They attend River City Community Church.

Where have you been working most recently?
We moved to Chicago from the Washington, DC area a year and a half ago so that Dave could begin seminary at North Park. Because we are balancing grad school and family life (we have two children), our vocational life has been quite random. Ann worked as a supervisor at Starbucks for a year. Dave worked at a non-profit law firm serving low-income elderly and disabled clients. We both have volunteered on and off with a friend on the South Side who runs a non-profit Day Care for teenage moms who want to finish high school.

What makes you excited about your new position?
In DC, we spent six years building a volunteer community that was committed to investing in junior and senior high school students. In that role we began to learn and grow in our understanding of what faith looks like in the urban environment, but we were always on the side of the group coming in from the outside. We look forward to being on the side that welcomes volunteers to explore and discover the many ways God is working in the city. We also look forward to serving together and involving our family in that which Breakthrough is committed to. As we considered taking the position, we were amazed at the spirit of humility and joy that pervaded every conversation - what a unique place!

What plans do you have for your new role?
We want to serve the staff by recruiting and connecting new volunteers to meaningful serving opportunities. We also look forward to developing relationships with the many current volunteers who all play such an essential role in the ministry of Breakthrough.

Thanks to Scott Ruth who has been an AWESOME Volunteer Coordinator over the past two years! He has successfully helped hundreds of folks get plugged into volunteering at Breakthrough Urban Ministries. We are excited to see Scott move into his new role as Administrative Coordinator and continue to be part of the Breakthrough team!

Executive Director, Arloa Sutter

I was sitting by a pond at the Morton Arboretum. It was an absolutely beautiful day. The sky was a deep blue with no clouds. A gentle breeze made it a perfect sunny day. The flowers and trees were in full bloom. Ducks and geese swam placidly on the water. I was in awe of the majesty of God's creation and filled with a sense of God's shalom and blessing. I watched as a young mother pushed a stroller with a young child toward me, another image of the blessing of children and motherhood. God is so good and lovely and in control of the world.

And then I saw her face, the horribly disfigured face of the child in the stroller. I caught my breath with shock. It was so not the way I had imagined, so ugly, so revolting. In the midst of what had been joyous communion with God, I screamed at him in my head. "God, how could you?! How could you create all of this beauty in nature so perfectly and then mess up with this young child's face!!" I protested angrily.

Immediately I heard the still small voice in my head and I knew it was God. "What makes you think I messed up? Don't you know this child is beautiful to me and I love her dearly just the way she is? Who are you to say she is revolting?"

Oh, the love of God! Love that sees beauty in the ashes, love that redeems, that heals, love that transcends my pettiness, love that embraces us in our brokenness, when our faces and our lives are twisted and marred. How dare I ever despise the little ones, the weak, the vulnerable, the lost, and the lonely? Jesus gave his life in excruciating pain for them, for me. "Lord, help me to see people through your eyes of love".

Monday, August 6 from 6-7 pm - Behind the Scenes Tour
3330 W. Carroll Ave., Chicago. Please join us for an exciting Behind The Scenes tour of life at Breakthrough!

• Meet Arloa and our staff
• Hear life transforming testimonies
• Take a walking tour of Breakthrough's Joshua Center
• Catch the vision of our future Breakthrough Campus

CLICK HERE for more information.
To reserve a spot, contact Minda Harts at 773.722.1144 x273 or yharts@breakthroughministries.com.

Friday, October 26, 6:30 pm - Annual Benefit
Hyatt O'Hare Don't miss this year's Annual Benefit with guest speaker, Dr. Tony Evans.
CLICK HERE for more information.