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.
