Faith Partnerships

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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

No matter where you live or how you worship, prayer is universal.

On Saturday, November 2, 2024, 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.

Watch the 2022 Day of Prayer:

2024 Chicago Day of Prayer Flyer

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