Chicago Church Pays Price for Stand Against Gangs

The church was vandalized in the early hours one week ago as five stained glass windows were broken in the sanctuary and nursery areas. Pastor Linnea Carnes estimated the damage at $3,000. Carnes believes gang members may have been responsible.

Immanuel Covenant had filed a police complaint recently against one local gang member. A year ago the church partnered with local police to install additional lighting in the church parking lot to discourage drug dealing that had occurred in the area.

"We told the police right off the bat that the incident (broken windows) was a result of the gangs," Carnes said. "But we don't have any hard evidence - police said we wouldn't get fingerprints off of the bricks and rocks."

Immanuel Covenant has a park-like area located between the church and Covenant Home of Chicago that had become a hangout for gang members and drug dealers, said Carnes, who has been the pastor for nearly three years. At the request of the congregation of 70, the Chicago Police Department monitored activities more closely.

The church has made efforts to protect neighborhood children and minister to them through a Young Life youth program that meets at the church, led by Anthony Silano. The program has run for a year and a half and has made a positive impact at Budlong Elementary School, located across the street from the church. Keeping the area kids safe has made it more urgent than ever that Immanuel Covenant take a stand, said Carnes, who asks for prayer regarding her physical safety and that of her congregation, as well as protection against more vandalism. "We want the neighborhood people on our side," Carnes said. "They don't want gangs and neither do we. Our church has become more of a neighborhood group and we've got to take a stand on this."

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