At Jesus People USA (JPUSA) we have many outreaches and work projects
that need the help of volunteers. On a mission trip to JPUSA, your group
might find themselves working with low-income senior citizens, assisting
homeless women and children, or serving in a feeding program. And
because we are an intentional Christian community, members of your group
have a unique opportunity to investigate what it means for Christians to
live in community. A missions trip to JPUSA can be an eye-opening,
vision-expanding experience for people of all ages that is sure to send
visitors back to their own homes and churches revitalized in their
faith.
Jesus People USA Ministries
(some of which your group may be involved with)
Cornerstone Community Outreach
is an emergency shelter for women with children. There you will have
opportunities to work with children in the daycare, serve meals to the
homeless, help out at an overnight warming center, give away food and
clothing, and more.
Friendly Towers
is JPUSA's housing program for low-income Seniors. With eighty to one-hundred
senior citizens living in our building, we can definitely use some fresh
energy to help meet their needs - from serving meals to house-keeping
to helping with activities.
Brothas and S.I.S.T.A.S.
United reaches out to the youth in our neighborhood by spending
time with them. We bring mentoring, tutoring, and activities to
provide an oasis to boys and girls that are at risk.
Leland House
is our second-stage housing for people moving out of shelters that
often needs the practical services of moving people in or out, or
preparing apartments for new tenants.
Finally, there's always plenty of ongoing projects and the daily work
of maintenance, cooking, etc. around the community house.
Volunteer work hours are usually from 9:00 am to 4:00 pm, with a lunch
break around noon. We typically begin our day with a time of worship
and devotional sharing by older church members. Work assignments will
be made daily by JPUSA's Group Coordinators according to the needs
of the moment.
Your evenings are yours to fill as you wish, yet you are welcome to
participate in any of the community's events. These often include
worship times, Bible studies, movie nights, and discussion sessions
led by older members of the community. If you're interested in
having your group participate in some of these activities, discuss
it with a group coordinator. They will also be glad to assist you
in navigating the sights of Chicago. We are experienced in helping
groups find group-friendly activities in the city.
Accommodations and Fees:
Visiting groups stay in one of two community-owned dorms. One is the
first floor of an apartment building located directly behind our main
building. There is bunk space for 27 in four separate rooms, with
three bathrooms containing showers. There is a living room as well.
We also have a second rooftop dorm with two bedrooms, one bathroom,
and a large living room which is available for groups up to 11
people. Visits are by reservation only, on a first-come-first-served
basis. We begin booking our dorms for the each new year starting the
first Monday in October.
A Fee of $20 per person per night is required for room and board. A
non-refundable deposit, which is subtracted from your overall expense,
is required eight weeks prior to your reserved dates to maintain your
reservation. If you're interested in scheduling a visit for your group,
we encourage you to contact us as soon as possible, since we have
limited openings and the Summer and Spring Break weeks tend to fill up
fast.
Deposits
are as follows:
February
to April (Spring Break): $200.
From June through August (Summer): $300.
Deposits for the rest of the year are $100 dollars per group.
Who can come? We welcome groups of all different ages. Adult,
college-aged, high-school, and junior high groups are welcome; as are
mixed-age groups. However, younger groups will require more adult
chaperones. A one-to-three ratio is recommended for junior-high groups,
and a four or five-to-one ratio working well for high-schoolers. Small
children are welcome to come with their parents. However, we dont
provide child care, and all children will need adult supervision.
What's Next? If you're interested in bringing your group to JPUSA,
call to check on dorm space availability first. Call (773) 303-4064
to leave a message, or (773) 418-2650 (Scott's cell) or (773) 491-8197 (Brach's cell).
After we agree on acceptable dates, you can go to our contact page for
an application form
that can be printed out and mailed to our Group Coordinators Office.
Please fill out the form and send it back along with your deposit as
soon as possible, so we can lock in your dates. We should receive your
deposit at least eight weeks prior to your scheduled arrival. Without
it, we may not be able to hold your dates due to the current demand.
Always feel free to contact us with any questions or concerns. It is
our desire to make your trip a good one for you and your group.
Visiting Group Coordinators:
Scott Ingerson (or) Brach Siemens
920 W. Wilson
Chicago, IL 60640
