Faith Partnerships
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.
Pastor Chris Harris speaks at the
Protect Chicago 77 Announcement
CHICAGO DAY OF PRAYER
November 6, 2021
No matter where you live, or how you worship – prayer is universal.
On Saturday, 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. Chicago Day of Prayer and Thanksgiving events recognized the importance of faith communities getting vaccinated to keep themselves and their communities safe from COVID-19. 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.
8,000 Chicagoans across all denominations
came together
prayed together
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 | Certificate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pastor David Ballard | Sunrise M.B. Church | 6159 S. Aberdeen | Baptist | Approved |
| Pastor Ray Berryhill | Resurrected Life Church | 4538 W. Fullerton | Multi Cultural | Approved |
| Phalese Binion | Westside Minister's Coalition | P.O. Box 51547 | Multi Cultural | Approved |
| Pastor Eric Booker | Greater Tabernacle Cathedral | 11300 S. King Drive | C.O.G.I.C | Approved |
| Pastor Bryson/Mister Robin Anderson | First Church of Deliverance | 4315 S. Wabash | Spiritual | Approved |
| Pastor Marcus T. Clemons | Kingdom Baptist Church | 301 N. Central Ave | Baptist | Approved |
| Rev. Nicholas Desmond | Ourlady of Mercy Church | 4432 N Troy | Catholic | Pending Approval |
| Pastor Michael Eaddy | People's Church of the Harvest | 3570 W. 5th Ave | C.O.G.I.C | Approved |
| Pastor Epting | Hope Community Church | 5900 West Iowa | Christian | Approved |
| Pastor Reshorma Fitzpatrick | Stone Temple Church | 3622 W. Douglas | Baptist | Approved |
| Doc Fuder (John Fuder) | Chicagoland Pray | 222 S. Riverside Plaza | Non-denominational | Pending Approval |
| Pastor Hannah/Clark | New Life Covenant Church | 7621 S. Greenwood | Non-denominational | Approved |
| Minister Lynda Gathings | Faith UMC | 335 W. 75th. St. | Methoduist | Approved |
| Elder Leonardo Gilbert / Teresa Gilbert | Sheldon Heights Church of God | 11325 S. Halsted | Christian | Approved |
| Pastor J Rayford Goodwin | Mount Olive Baptist | 6353 S. Marshfield | Baptist | Approved |
| Reverend Christopher E. Griffin | St. Martin's Episcopal Church | 5700 W. Midway Park | Episcopal | Pending Approval |
| Rev. Dr Darrell Griffin | Oakdale Covenant Church | 9440 S. Vincennes | Christian | Approved |
| Bishop Dwight Gunn | Heritage International Christian | 5312 W. North | Christian | Approved |
| Bishop Tyrone Harrington | Greater Morning View Baptist Church | 2335 E. 100th St | Baptist | Approved |
| Pastor Chris Harris | Bright Star Church of God In Christ | 735 E. 44th St. | C.O.G.I.C | Approved |
| Pastor Chris Harris | St. James Ministries | 11750 South Lowe | C.O.G.I.C | Approved |
| Rev. Marshall Hatch | New Mt Pilgrim MB Church | 4301 W. Washington | Baptist | Approved |
| Pastor Paul Jakes | New Tabernacle of Faith | 531 N. Kedzie Ave | Baptist | Approved |
| Sister Loretta Johnson | Second Mt Vernon Church | 7922 S. Hoyne Ave | Baptist | Approved |
| Rev. Watson Jones III | Compassion Baptist Church | 2650 E. 95th St. | Baptist | Pending |
| Father Bob Kelly/ Sister Ladell | Our Lady of Africa Parish | 615 E Oakwood | Catholic | Approved |
| Betti Lewis with Health Ministries | St. Mark UMC | 8441 S St. Lawrence | Methodist | Approved |
| Carolyn Linder | South Revival Missionary Baptist Church | 9537 S. Prairie | Baptist | Approved |
| Pastor Larue Kidd | True Light Baptist | 7300 S. Maryland | Baptist | Approved |
| Pastor James T. Meeks | Salem Baptist Church | 752 E. 114th St. | Baptist | Pending Approval |
| Pastor Johnny Miller | Mt. Vernon Baptiat Church | 2622 W. Jackson | Baptist | Approved |
| Brother Greg Mitchell | Masjid Al Farooq | 8950 S. Stony Island | Muslim | Pending Approval |
| Sister Cyndy Olivares | Iglesia Immaculada Church | 2944 E 88th St | Catholic | Approved |
| Pator Julio Pena / Sister Sandra Silva | Good Sheperd Presbyterian Church | 5550 S Merrimac | Presbyterian | Approved |
| Rev. Charles Rogers | Greater Mt Vernon Baptist Church | 8700 S. Laflin | Baptist | Approved |
| Sister Annie Russell | West Point Baptist Church | 3572 S. Cottage Grove | Baptist | Approved |
| Pastor Sharpe | Fellowship M.B. Church | 4543 S. Princeton | Baptist | Approved |
| Rev. David Simonetti | St. Floridin | 13145 S Houstoon | Catholic | Pending |
| Pastor Donald Smith | Holy Jerusalem M.B. Church | 2335 E. 100th St. | Baptist | Approved |
| Bishop H. Smith | Apostolic Faith | 3823 S. Indiana | PAW | Pending Approval |
| Pastor Kenyatta Smith | Another Chance Church | 9550 S. Harvard | Baptist | Approved |
| Pastor David Sutton | Bread Life ofMB Church | 1924 W. 63rd St. | Christian | Approved |
| Pastor Sean Kelly Tatum Sr. | Mason Temple COGIC | 6098 N 35th St. Milwaukee, WI | C.O.G.I.C | Approved |
| Apostle Darlyn C. Turner | Liberty Temple | 2233 W. 79th St. | Apostolic | Approved |
| Elder Loretta C. Turner | Liberty Temple | 2233W. 79th St. | Apostolic | Approved |
| Pastor Norman Tyson | Westside Minister's Coalition - St. John's Willing Worker's Church | 5820 W. Division St. | Non-denominational | Approved |
| Apostle Angela Walker | God's House of Devine Revelation | 6801 S. Bell | Non-denominational | Approved |
| Roosevelt Watkins | Bethlehem Star Church | 9231 S. Cottage | Baptist | Approved |
| Bishop David Whittley | First Corinthian Temple C.O.G.I.C | 4520 W. Washington Blvd | C.O.G.I.C | Approved |
| Sister Maria | Maple Park United Methodist Church | 11705 Elizabeth | Methodist | Approved |
Any faith institution can take part in the I’ll Hold Your Hand initiative. Here’s how:
- Step 1: 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.
- Step 2: Encourage members of your faith community to compete the City’s online Vaccine Ambassadors Course.
- Step 3: Connect your ambassadors to people in the community who need additional support, "hold their hands” and help them get vaccinated.
Anyone can become an ambassador, organized and deployed to vaccination events through participating places of worship (list coming soon).
The process is easy, and the benefits are rewarding:
- Step 1: Complete the City’s online Vaccine Ambassadors Course.
- Step 2: Print your certificate and take it to a participating place of worship.
- Step 3: Join their vaccination team and start providing additional moral support at various vaccination events.
List of participating places of worship is coming soon.
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.
