Faith Leaders

Strong partnerships with trusted community organizations - like Chicago's faith communities - allow the City to meet people where they are and connect them to COVID-19 vaccine resources. From the beginning, the support of faith leaders has ensured that all Chicagoans have access to lifesaving COVID-19 vaccines.


Chicago Day of Prayer

Saturday, November 5, 2022

No matter where you live, or how you worship – prayer is universal. 

Many faith communities across the city on Saturday, November 5 gathered to give their holiday season a BOOST in a shared moment of prayer for COVID-safe celebrations. COVID-19 is still here, and being up-to-date on vaccines offer the best protection from severe outcomes. This includes updated vaccines/bivalent boosters designed to protect against the Omicron variants currently circulating.

Last year, on November 6, nearly eight thousand Chicagoans across all denominations in all of Chicago’s 77 neighborhoods paused for a shared moment of prayer for COVID-safe holidays – in churches, on street corners, at local police stations alongside officers, and more. More than 150 places of worship took part in Day of Prayer activities, praying for healing and comfort for families who have suffered illness, loss, and pain over the past 20 months, and for safety in the City of Chicago.



Chicago Day of Prayer 2022



2022 Chicago Day of Prayer Faith Participants and Locations

Faith Leader Place of Worship Address Zip Phone Denomination
Pastor Reginal W. Sharpe, Jr. Fellowship Missionary Baptist Church 4543 S. Princeton Ave 60609 773-934-3232 Baptist
Rev. Dr. Rodney C. Walker St. Matthew United Methodist Church 1000 N. Orleans Street 60610 312-337-7111 Methodist
Rev. George Daniels First Baptist Congregational Church 1613 W. Washington Blvd. 60612 312-243-9789 Baptist
Rev. Dr. Eric D. Clopton, Sr. Cosmopolitan Community Church 5249 S. Wabash Ave. 60615 773-536-3610 Non-Denominational
Rev. Troy K. Venning Quinn Chapel AMC Church 2401 S. Wabash Ave. 60616 312-791-1846 Methodist
Sister Patricia Jackson Advocate Partners of Faith & Health Network 2320 E. 93rd Street 60617 773-967-5605 Faith Based
Pastor James Flint, Jr. Calvary Baptist Church 8247 S. Jeffery Blvd. 6061760617 773-374-3612 Baptist
Sister Danicia Jackson Power of Gratitude Ministries: Praying at Advocate Fath & Health Trinity Hospital 2320 E. 93rd Street 60617 773-967-2000 Non-Denominational
Sister Danicia Jackson Power of Gratitude Ministries 4021 W. 93rd Place, Oak Lawn 60618 773-383-2645 Non-Denominational
Ousmane Drame, Imam Masjid Al Farooq 8950 S. Stony Island Ave. 60617 773-359-4730 Muslim
Bishop Larry D. Trotter Sweet Holy Spirit Church 8621 S. South Chicago Ave. 60617 N/A Baptist
Rev. P. Devon Brown St. Mark United Methodist Church 8441 S. Saint Lawrence Ave. 60619 773-846-2992 Methodist
Bishop Horace Smith, M.D. and Pastor Yolanda Hunt Apostolic Faith Church/Praying at Rehoboth Apostolic Worship Church 9130 S. Vincennes 60620 773-239-3032 Apostolic
Pastor Gary and Michelle Longbey The Refuge Sanctuary 1505 W. 63rd St. 60620 708-925-6058 Non-Denominational
Rev. Dr. D. Darrell Griffin Oakdale Covenant Church 9440 S. Vincennes Ave 60620 773-779-9440 Evangelical
Bishop Timothy Pleasant, Sr. Anointed Vessel Ministries 1543 S. Pulaski Road 60623 773-656-5106 Baptist
Pastor Andre Fluker All Nations Church of God in Christ 1525 S. Pulaski Road 60623 773-512-9295 C.O.G.I.C.
Pastor Paco Amador New Life Community Church - Little Village 2657 S. Lawndale Ave. 60623 773-762-0270 Non-Denominational
Father Larry Dowling St. Agatha Catholic Church 3147 W. Douglas Blvd. 60623 773-522-3050 Catholic
Pastor Anthony Spencer One Church Chicago 4344 W. Madison Street 60624 773-651-0071 Non-Denominational
Pastor Michael Eaddy People's Church of the Harvest COGIC 3570 W. Fifth Ave. 60624 773-533-6877 C.O.G.I.C.
Pastor Jimmy Harris Christian Covenant MB Church 200 W. 115th Street 60628 773-218-6700 Baptist
Dr. John Fuder Chicagoland United in Prayer (20th District Police Station) 5400 N. Lincoln Ave. 60625 312-742-8714 Non-Denominational
Pastor Jorge Fuentes IGLESIA DE CRISTO ELIM 5232 N. Western Ave. 60625 847-414-0248 Non-Denominational
Pastor Jason LaLonde Park Community Church 6631 N. Bosworth Ave. 60626 N/A Non-Denomination
Pastor Eric Booker Greater Tabernacle Cathedral 11300 S. Dr Martin Luther King, Jr. Drive 60628 773-264-9000 C.O.G.I.C.
Pastor Jimmy Harris Christian Covenant MB Church 200 W. 115th Street 60628 n/a Baptist
Pastor James T. Meeks Salem Baptist Church of Chicago 752 E. 114th Street 60628 n/a Baptist
Pastor Leonardo Gilbert Sheldon Heights Church of Christ 11325 S. Halsted Street 60628 773-568-2929 Christian
Pastor Larry Linder Soul Reviving MB Church 9537 S. Perry Ave 60628 773-995-1087 Baptist
Pastor Jacki Belile Living Well Ministries/Eden UCC 5051 W. Gunnison Street 60630 773-283-5557 Protestant
Bishop Dwight Gunn Heritage International Christian Church 5312 W. North Ave. 60639 773-237-9600 Christian
Dr. Zenobia Sowell Bethel Mennonite Community Church 1434 S. Laflin St. 60644 312-421-3871 Christian
Pastor John T. Abercrombie Zoe Life Ministries International 5151 W. Madison St. 60644 773-854-1092 Non-Denominational
Rev. Phalese Binion Westside Ministers' Coalition 415 N. Laramie 60644 773-895-9420 Non-Denominational
Rev. Sarah B. Miller South Shore United Methodist Church 7350 S. Jeffrey Blvd. 60649 773-752-6233 Methodist
Father Robert Kelly, SVD Our Lady of Africa Parish-Tolton Site 4058 S. Michigan Ave. 60653 773-642-6532 Catholic
Rev. James R. Bryson, Jr. First Church of Deliverance 4315 S. Wabash Ave. 60653 773-373-7700 Pentecostal
Pastor Byron Whitehead Mount Carmel Bible Church 632 E. 42nd Street 60653 773-624-3690 Non-Denominational
Pastor Alka Lyall Broadway United Methodist Church 3338 N. Broadway St. 60657 773-348-2679 Methodist

Watch the Chicago Day of Prayer 2022


I’LL HOLD YOUR HAND 

Every day, faith communities across the city provide support and comfort to those who are fearful, anxious, and in need of additional guidance. Building upon this premise, the I’ll Hold Your Hand Vaccine Ambassador Program gives faith communities the opportunity to organize members to provide hands-on support – literally – and hold the hand of a person struggling to get vaccinated because of fear.

Faith Leaders Place of Worship Address Denomination
Apostle Darlyn C. Turner, Bishop Horace Smith Apostolic Faith Church 3823 S. Indiana Apostolic
Elder Loretta C. Turner Liberty Temple 2233 W. 79th St. Apostolic
Pastor Kenyatta Smith Another Chance Church 9550 S. Harvard Baptist
Pastor Roosevelt Watkins Bethlehem Star Church 9231 S. Cottage Baptist
Pastor David Sutton Bread of Life M.B. Church 1924 W. 63rd St. Baptist
Rev. Watson Jones III Compassion Baptist Church 2650 E. 95th St. Baptist
Rev. Reginald W. Sharpe Jr. Fellowship M.B. Church 4543 S. Princeton Baptist
Rev. Charles Rogers Greater Mt. Vernon Baptist Church 8700 S. Laflin Baptist
Bishop Tyrone Harrington Greater Morning View Baptist Church 2335 E. 100th St. Baptist
Pastor Donald Smith Holy Jerusalem M.B. Church 2335 E. 100th St. Baptist
Pastor Marcus T. Clemons Kingdom Baptist Church 301 N. Central Ave. Baptist
Pastor J Rayford Goodwin Mount Olive Baptist 6353 S. Marshfield Baptist
Pastor Johnny Miller Mt. Vernon Baptist Church 2622 W. Jackson Baptist
Rev. Marshall Hatch New Mt Pilgrim M.B. Church 4301 W. Washington Baptist
Pastor Paul Jakes New Tabernacle of Faith 531 N. Kedzie Ave. Baptist
Pastor Kevin McDonald Second Mt. Vernon Church 7922 S. Hoyne Ave Baptist
Pastor James T. Meeks Salem Baptist Church 752 E. 114th St. Baptist
Rev. Larry Linder Soul Reviving M.B. Church 9537 S. Prairie Baptist
Pastor Reshorna Fitzpatrick Stone Temple Church 3622 W. Douglas Baptist
Pastor David Ballard Sunrise M.B. Church 6159 S. Aberdeen Baptist
Pastor Larue Kidd True Light Baptist 7300 S. Maryland Baptist
Rev. Dr. L. Bernard Jakes West Point Baptist Church 3572 S. Cottage Grove Baptist
Sister Cyndy Olivares Iglesia Immaculada Church 2944 E. 88th St. Catholic
Father Bob Kelly Our Lady of Africa Parish 615 E. Oakwood Catholic
Rev. Nicholas Desmond Our Lady of Mercy Church 4432 N. Troy Catholic
Rev. David Simonetti St. Florian Church (Christ Our Light) 13145 S. Houston Catholic
Rev. Dr Darrell Griffin Oakdale Covenant Church 9440 S. Vincennes Christian
Bishop Dwight Gunn Heritage International Christian 5312 W. North Christian
Pastor Steve Epting Hope Community Church 5900 W. Iowa Christian
Elder Leonardo Gilbert Sheldon Heights Church of God 11325 S. Halsted Christian
Pastor Chris Harris Bright Star Church of God In Christ 735 E. 44th St. C.O.G.I.C.
Bishop David Whittley First Corinthian Temple 4520 W. Washington Blvd. C.O.G.I.C.
Pastor Eric Booker Greater Tabernacle Cathedral 11300 S. King Drive C.O.G.I.C.
Pastor Michael Eaddy People's Church of the Harvest 3570 W. 5th Ave. C.O.G.I.C.
Pastor Chris Harris St. James Ministries 11750 S. Lowe C.O.G.I.C.
Rev. Christopher E. Griffin St. Martin's Episcopal Church 5700 W. Midway Park Episcopal
Rev. Audrea Nanabray Faith United Methodist Church 335 W. 75th. St. Methodist
Rev. Dr. Janette C Wilson Maple Park United Methodist Church 11705 S. Elizabeth St. Methodist
Rev. P. Devon Brown St. Mark United Methodist Church 8441 S. St. Lawrence Methodist
Pastor Ray Berryhill Resurrected Life Church 4538 W. Fullerton Multi Cultural
Rev. Phalese Binion Westside Minister's Coalition P.O. Box 51547 Multi Cultural
Brother Greg Mitchell Masjid Al Farooq 8950 S. Stony Island Muslim
John (Doc) Fuder Chicagoland United in Prayer 222 S. Riverside Plaza Non-denominational
Apostle Angela Walker God's House of Devine Revelation 6801 S. Bell Non-denominational
Pastor John Hannah New Life Covenant Church 7621 S. Greenwood Non-denominational
Pastor Norman Tyson Westside Minister's Coalition - St. John's Willing Worker's Church 5820 W. Division St. Non-denominational
Pastor Julio Pena Good Shepard Presbyterian Church 5550 S. Merrimac Presbyterian
Pastor James Bryson First Church of Deliverance 4315 S. Wabash Spiritual

Any faith institution can take part in the I’ll Hold Your Hand initiative. Contact Minster Sandra Robinson Cunningham at srobinson@goldstarc.com to get resources and information, and be added to the list of participating places of worship.

Reach out to one of the participating places of worship listed above to have someone hold your hand.


I’ll Hold Your Hand is part of the Protect Chicago 77 initiative to ensure that 77 percent of all Chicago residents ages 12 and up have started their COVID-19 vaccination series by the end of the year.


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