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And Jesus increased in wisdom and in stature and in favor with God and man Luke 2:52

We use this verse to guide our programming with youth, focusing on 5 core areas of development: physi-cal, mental, social, spiritual, and cultural. As an organization and team, we too should grow in favor withGod and man. When the neighborhood talks about Westlawn, we hope they say, Westlawns doinggood things! As we connect in the neighborhood, we have heard that phrase more and more often. Wefound community engagement to be a Spirit led focus of 2011 for WYN.Here is a look at some of thententional choices we made in order to have a deeper community presence:

Tutoring in Crown Elementary Crown is directly across from our youth center. From September to date our team hasogged 181 hours and 45 minutes of volunteer time in classrooms!

unior Leaders Job Program We brought this program back through the help of financial supporters. Providing jobopportunities for youth is important in our community.

Peace Events This summer we hosted a Peace Festival with music, and food in the hope of encouraging peace in our neighborhood. This Fall Our joint March & Peace Vigil (see other side) also had an important impact.

Thanksgiving Meal Our team member led the way for a WYN Thanksgiving Meal, open to anyone in the community.There was a great turnout and appreciation from the community!

We want folks to know of our love, but even more, of Gods transformational love in the world. As youeflect this Advent season, we encourage you to consider Jesus coming to this world. He came as a

helpless babe so that he could lead by example: growingn, wisdom and stature and in favor with God and man,

and leaving so that one day He can return as an all power-ful, peace bringing King.

The WYN Way: COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT December 2011

THE WYN

WALL

W E R E O N T H E W E B !WW W.WESTLAWNYOUTHNETWORK.OR G

Would you consider a gift of finances or other esources to WYN this Christmas?

Help us continue this good work in 2012! Mail: Westlawn Youth Network, P.O. Box 695 Bellwood, IL 60104

Online:http://www.westlawnyouthnetwork.org/ click give.

Program NotDiva Princesses is thrin its second year. Thehave developedDiva Pricess Leaders for the gwho show exceptionaleadership potential.

Junior High Club camback with a bang this with record numbers! cause it is such a criticage, weve collaboratewith other youth progto ensure there are pleof activities every daythis age group.

I Plan to Be a Man alsdivided into 2 segmenthis year. The leadersthe group are actively ticing the 7 ingredientmanhood.

Open Gym Verse of Week is New this yearkids start the time leara verse before free-tim

High School Bible StuThe highlight has beenprayer journals. Shariprayer requests & prayhas shown Gods pow

Kristen Teachingat Diva Princesses

Plan 2b a Man trip to

DIVA Lea

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Mailing:O. Box 695ellwood, IL 60104

outh Center:141 S. St. Louis Avehicago, IL 6062373-277-8734

-mail/Web:westlawnyouthnetwork@gmail.com

westlawnyouthnetwork.org

Contact Us

A Word from Derrick and Mark heck out our photoblog! pdated Weekly!The WYNdowttp://thewyndow.posterous.com

Christmas and year-end greetings from Chicago! We are so grateful for your partnership with us in building signposts of the Kingdom here inthe Lawndale neighborhood on the west side of this great city of Chicago! Through yourprayer and financial gifts, we are able to participate with God in His mission of redemptionhere in this place! Whether its Diva Princess or I Plan to Be a Man, Junior High Club, HighSchool Bible Study, tutoring in Crown Grammar School, or the many special events, we seeGods transforming power at work in us as well as in the young people who call thisneighborhood home. Thank you for working with us!

Hey, weve got some NEWS! We are finally on the Worldwide Web!! Come visit us atwww.westlawnyouthnetwork.org and send us your feedback. We like our new logo and welook forward to being able to share more and timely information on whats happening here

on the west side.Here in the city we are often most transformed by experiences that are the most difficult.This past October was one of those moments. In the course of just a couple of weeks wehad several violent and tragic events that took place between our neighborhood of Lawn-dale and the Hispanic neighborhood of Little Village just south of us. It seemed the law ofviolence and revenge had escalated to a point of no return..But God!

In response to these events, we reached out to our Hispanic brothers and sisters from thetwo churches we partner with in our Summer Day Camps. All 3 churches had connectionswith families affected by the recent violence. Leaders of these churches met at WestlawnGospel Chapel and prayed together for repentance, healing, and peace. We asked God toshow us how we could respond in a way that represented His Kingdom. We also met withthe local police commander and sergeant to address some issues including slow responsetime to neighborhoods like ours.

The culminating event was a combined march and prayer vigil on Sunday. Nueva Vida andLa Villita marched from their churches in Little Village to our church in Lawndale. Under thecross on our building, close to 200 of us sang, read scripture, prayed, and declared Godsalternative and upside down kingdom in the streets! It was a powerful demonstration ofGods people responding to the kingdom of this world with the king-dom of God. Heaven touched earth as Brown, Black and Whitebrothers and sisters held each other as we declared Gods glory andHis plan for the redemption of all creation!Thy kingdom come Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven!

Blessings as we celebrate Heaven touching Earth in the coming ofJesus the Messiah!

Derrick Rollerson & Mark SoderquistPresident Executive Director

March & Prayer Vigil3 Churches in front of Westl

Mark DGirls at JH Club

Open Gym VerseH Lesson

Plan 2b A Man

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