May 8, 2000

Opportunities available
for Chicago summer blitz
___By James Dotson
___North American Mission Board
___CHICAGO (BP)--Plenty of opportunities remain for involvement in Chicago's Strategic Focus Cities/Celebrate Jesus 2000 evangelism and church-starting effort.
___The event will be sponsored this summer by the Southern Baptist North American Mission Board and Chicago Baptists.
___One of the biggest opportunities for one-day involvement is through SearchLight, the July 8 evangelistic emphasis encompassing numerous activities throughout the area, noted volunteer coordinator Danny Hester.
___Thousands of volunteers are expected to participate.
___One of the greatest needs is for 300 volunteers to help with a week of evangelistic sports camps in Lake County Baptist Association. Camps are being sponsored in baseball, basketball, soccer and possibly football, Hester said.
___Also still needed are groups willing to help conduct Vacation Bible Schools or Backyard Bible Clubs in cooperation with local churches. Several inner-city churches plan three or four back-to-back Vacation Bible Schools to make a lasting impact on children--if enough volunteers can be enlisted to help, Hester said.
___Other opportunities include:
___ Block parties. Many mission groups doing sports clinics or Vacation Bible Schools also will be able to participate in block parties one night during their stay.
___ Drama, puppet, music or art presentations. Public performances and demonstrations are being used by some churches as a means of sharing the gospel.
___ Community surveys. With more than 80 new mission congregations currently being formed with the help of Strategic Focus Cities/Celebrate Jesus 2000, many church planters are requesting help surveying their communities to assess needs, locate prospects and share Christ.
___For information on these and other opportunities related to Celebrate Jesus 2000/ Strategic Focus Cities effort in Chicago, visit the www.chicago2000.net Internet site or call (800) 645-2412.

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