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 4, 2023
No matter where you live, or how you worship – prayer is universal.
On Saturday, November 4, faith leaders across all denominations in all of Chicago’s neighborhoods will pause for a shared moment of prayer for a COVID-safe season of prayer and protection.
COVID-19 is still here, and being up-to-date on vaccines offer the best protection from severe outcomes. This includes the new updated COVID vaccine designed to protect against the COVID variants currently circulating.
Since 2021, over 14,000 Chicagoans across all denominations in all of Chicago’s 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 250 places of worship have participated in the Chicago Day of Prayer activities, praying for healing and comfort for families who have suffered illness, loss, and pain and for safety in the City of Chicago.
2023 Chicago Day of Prayer Faith Participants and Locations
| Faith Leader | Place of Worship | Address | Zip | Phone | Neighborhood |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| William Crowder | Park Manor Christian Church | 600 E. 73rd | 60619 | 773-483-2115 | Chatham |
| Shakespeare Osorio | Central Spanish Baptist Church | 4401 W. Irving Park Rd. Chicago IL 60641 | 60641 | 773-407-8812 | Irving Park |
| Darlene Thomas | New Life SDA Church | 5001 South Hermitage Avenue | 60609 | 773-434-8178 | New City |
| Evelyn Ross | New Evangelical Bible Church | 4636 W. Washington Blvd | 60644 | 773-379-0239 | Austin |
| Michele Kinnie | First Church of Deliverance | 4315 S. Wabash Ave. | 60653 | 773-373-7700 | Bronzeville |
| New Evangelical | New Evangelical Bible Church | 4636 W. Washington Blvd. | 60144 | 773-379-0239 | Austin |
| Wynetta Frazier | Life Center Church of God In Christ | 5500 S. Indiana Ave. | 60637 | 773-643-5866 | Washington Park |
| Bill Ellis | APC Morgan Park | 11401 S. Vincennes | 60643 | 773-881-6900 | Morgan Park |
| Jessica Scott | Chicago Police Department | 7808 S. Halsted | 60620 | 773-658-2608 | Auburn Gresham |
| Dr. Carol Collum | True Believers Community Connections | 459 W. 79th Street | 60620 | 773-966-5651 | Auburn Gresham |
| Bishop Simon Gordon | Triedstone Church of Chicago | 1415 West 104th Street | 60643 | 773-881-7710 | Morgan Park |
| Damian Epps | Mount Calvary Baptist Church | 1259 West 111th Street | 60643 | 773-239-4000 | Morgan Park |
| Michelle Longbey | The Refuge Sanctuary | 1458 W. 87th Street | 69620 | 708-925-6058 | Auburn Gresham |
| Lynn Munson | Triedstone Church of Chicago | 1415 West 104th Street | 60643 | 773-881-7710 | Morgan Park |
| Patricia Jackson | Advocate Gratitude Room | 2320 East 93rd St. | 60617 | 773-967-5605 | Pullman |
| David Whittlet | Corinthian Temple COGIC | 4520 W. Washington Blvd. | 60624 | 708-218-6259 | West Garfield Park |
| Pastor Andre Fluker | All Nations Church of God in Christ | 1525 S. Pulaski Rd. | 60409 | 773-512-9295 | North Lawndale |
| Dwight Gunn | Heritage Church | 5312 W. North Ave. | 60639 | 773-237-9600 | Austin |
| Fred Walker | Heritage International Christian Church | 5312 W. North Ave. | 60639 | 773-237-9600 | Austin |
| Ladell Johnson | Our Lady of Africa/ Tolton Site | 44 E. 41St Street | 60653 | 773-642-6532 | Grand Boulevard |
| Pastor D. Darrell Griffin | Oakdale Covenant Church | 9440 S. Vincennes Ave. | 60620 | 773-779-9440 | Auburn Gresham |
| Phalese Binion | Westside Ministries' Coalition | 415 N. Laramie Ave. | 60644 | 773-895-9420 | Austin |
| Rev. Emma Mosley | Westpoint Missionary Baptist Church | 3566 S. Cottage Grove Ave. | 60653 | 773-538-7590 | Near South Side |
| Pastor Larry Linder | Soul-Reviving Missionary Baptist Church | 9537 S. Perry Ave. | 60628 | 773-995-1087 | Near South Side |
| Pastor Damian Epps | Mount Calvary Baptist Church | 1259 W. 111th Street | 60643 | 773-239-4000 | Near South Side |
| Roberta Rogers | Park Community Church South Loop | 1550 S. State Street | 60605 | 312-361-0500 | Near South Side |
| Shawanda Leonard McCloud | Baptist Church Without Spot Or Wrinkle | 9322 S. Halsted St. | 60620 | 773-882-7479 | Washington Heights |
| Lajuan Whitfield | New Life Holiness Church | 5440 W. Gladys Ave. | 60644 | 773-683-5433 | Austin |
| James Sheldou | Living Sacrifice Ministries, Inc. | 11824 S. Western Ave. | 60406 | 708-250-4129 | Beverly |
| Dr. Verndale Sheldou | Living Sacrifice Ministries, Inc. | 11824 S. Western Ave. | 60406 | 708-250-4129 | Beverly |
| Pastor Gregory Austin | New Day Ministries International | 3801 W. 83rd Place | 60620 | 773-767-6329 | Near South Side |
| Pastor Derrick Fitzpatrick | Stone Temple Church | 3622 W. Douglas Ave. | 60623 | 773-762-0013 | Near South Side |
| Pastor Larry Dowly | Saint Agatha | 3147 W. Douglas Ave. | 60623 | 773-522-3050 | Near West Side |
| Pastor Dr. Anne McCall | First Immanuel Lutheran Church | 1124 S. Ashland Ave. | 60607 | 312-733-6886 | Near West Side |
| Pastor Dr. Charlie Dates | Salem Baptist Church | 753 E. 114th Street | 60628 |
Watch the 2022 Chicago Day of Prayer
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.
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.
| 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.
