New Life Banquet

Kids, Teenagers, Adults, Volunteers, Teachers had a great time celeberating what God is doing in Humboldt Park!

Beautiful BLING middle schoolers awaiting the debut of a new BLING video!

Another BLING middle schooler and Ms. Nikki.

Budding Artists displaying their work at the banquet!

Thiefs, Murderers, and Prostitutes...

God called Paul--a man who had been directly involved in the killings of people.

God called Levi--the tax collector who had been stealing from people.

God called the woman at the well--who had a "reputation" throughout her village.

***

On Monday when the apprentices were walking to my house, we watched a guy who played in open gym get booked outside of my house. We talked about the event of a undercover cops posing as women who prostitute on North Ave. to catch solicitors.

On Tuesday as I was walking Andre home, we saw three other young men on his block being booked probably for possession.

On Wednesday, our box with $140.00 worth of supplies was stolen out of Beth's, our director's, car. 

Friday...there were helicopters hovering over Humboldt Park. 

Yesterday, a man was shot in front of Esme's house around 4 am. 

So, when two apprentices and I got together yesterday, there was a lot they had to talk about. A lot of emotions about the violence, a lot of questions about what to do.

***

I posed a question to them: "Did you know that God cares for the victim of violent crime, as well as the people who commit the crime?" 

I told them that I have started praying for the hearts of the perpetrator just as much as the one who has been hurt. 

"That's different," commented the visiting sister of one of the apprentices.

"God can change any heart..." Then, I told them about Paul, Levi, and Yesenia (the dance teacher who is always there when we come in on Saturdays.

"I guess God can do anything he wants to," commented one apprentice.

***
The world sees people as what they do--they become labeled and stereotyped, sometimes for their who lives.
Murderer
Thief
Prostitute
Drug Dealer
Gangbanger

But, as one ministry said: "Labels are for cans, not people." God can change and transform the heart--which is a miracle in itself. For whoever who accepts Him, Christ's righteousness is seen instead of our own bad deeds--that in itself is something to praise Him about. 

Another God Story

Glass on North Ave. & Springfield

Yesterday night, Esme said: "Ms. Nikki, I was catching the bus on North and Springfield in the morning and there was a ton of glass from the bus stop. I was going to call you or collect it, but we didn't have our phone and I couldn't collect it, because I was going to school."

Little did Esme know, one of the New Life Staff, Marena had called us when she was taking her daughter to school. My roomie who was going to go on a run, but she ended up collecting a ton of it (I had a meeting and was running out the door). The glass was extremely heavy, but Lisa ran into a man whose family we were working with--he helped her carry it! How about three cheers for COMMUNITY EFFORT!

God has taught us so much about community here in the neighborhood! He has shown me the reality: many people (often unlikely characters) play a role in His Story. The amazing GOD STORY of renewal and redemption. Sometimes, a "God thing" seems impossible. You don't know how you're going to manage to do it, but you go to that place He has shown you out of pure obedience and faith that He will work it out.

The story of collecting this glass may seem a little small compared to how God works out big plans, but not really. God used five different people that day--and all of them contributed in some way to helping God work out His will through the apprentice program. Many of the characters He used may not have known that they were contributing to the lives of 3 neighborhood teens who are learning about the love of Jesus and seeking to know truth in this crazy world.

BLING Apprentices Excited to Sponsor Compassion Child

Yesterday night at BLING apprentice program, we talked about the importance to "pour" your life into the lives of others. We watched a video from Compassion International called "One Act". Helen, Yaneth, and Esme all decided that they wanted to give a portion of  their apprentice stipend to sponsor child.

Yaneth said, "I'm a selfish person sometimes. When I do get something, I want to use it for something I need. This good, because I can help someone else--even if it's just a little bit."

"This is a good idea," Helen said as she cut more purple wire. 

"We want to make a difference," Esmeralda said as she continued to wrap Urban Hope.

My heart overflowed!

-Nikki, BLING Facilitator

"One Act"

http://vimeo.com/10353578#

New Life

I went to an art event at the Moody Church a week ago. A group of women who had experienced a multitude of abuses stood before us delivering poetry, singing songs, and painting canvases to display the healing power of God in the darkest of times.

Underneath this canvas pictured above is a dark picture of a mask with words like "horror," "sadness," "anger," "silence," etc. The artist used that first painting with its colors, forms and shapes to produce this work of hope.

That night, I cried. Cried about many things... but a particular stream of tears was produced when I thought that one day, some of the kids I work with would experience God and all His healing power. That one day, they would be the ones up on the stage, with  mic, with a paintbrush, with a healed heart...

Out of the darkness--the soil--of sin and oppression, God sovereignly can use it to produce new life. What a beautiful picture of God's grace, ability, and power.

Nikki, BLING Facilitator

In My Own Words: A Day in the Apprentice Program

         We came in and we talked about people skills (soft skills); we talk about the skills we have. And, the skills we need to work on to become better at.
          We talked about Miss Nikki at the conference and how it went, how much money we made, and making our [production] goals.Then we took some things up to the Bling room and tried to figure and organize things & where do we want things to go and what color it should be. 
          Then we took a break now we choose a topic now we have to write about. Then some kids came in and Miss Nikki explain to them what BLING is and how they could start making their own jewelry. 
                                                                                                                                                                      Helen, age 16

What I Witnessed, a Journal Entry

So, my last week prayer request was for  the violence in our street to stop. 

So what happened to me last week was I was going to this new ice cream shop. They barely opened, so me and my cousin and brothers were walking like at 10.30 at night and all the sudden what we saw was some gangbangers beating on a teenager. 

What I experienced was bad. I felt like they were treating and beating on the guy like if he was a dog or garbage. I realize that that some people don’t realize what’s happening in our environment outside. I never realized myself until I saw it. It was some kind of bad experienced i will never forget. Someone needs to step up and be brave.

*** 

We were writing this, then Yaneth says, "Nobody stands up to them, because they are scared."

"I would," said Helen.

 "You would? But, then they would take a gun to prove themselves that they are tough." 
                     
                                                                                                                               Esme, 15

BLING Girls Visit!

Camera-shy. This is definitely a phrase to describe these two BLING girls. These two girls were pillars last year in BLING. Now, freshman attending two different schools, this pair of best friends continue to bring laughs and theatrics back into New Life Centers. Trying to work BLING into their schedules, they came by for a visit and to catch up!

BLING Shop and Workshop!

Old Floor

Typical wall in this room--heavily damaged.

Falling Cieling.

Cracked Tiles.

Chunked-out walls.

Once an outdated, falling apart room BECOMES a safe, beautiful space for BLING. 

It is so exciting that BLING will now have our own space. 

This is my prayer:

God,

Thank you for this space. Thank you that this old room has become a new space for youth to display creativity, learn about you, and acquire new skills. Thank you for pulling people together from the church, centers, and my students to care about this place and pour hours into it! Thank you that you are a God who provides amazing gifts like this. I am overwhelmed by your graciousness, and pray that we would be good stewards of it.

Thank you Lord!

Photo Book

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Earthy Earrings for a Great Teacher!

Ms. Ito rocks these earrings! Made by Lilia, a woman who comes to BLING Thursday mornings, these earrings were picked out as a gift for this beloved teacher! These hoops reminded us of Ms. Ito's personality!

BLING Now on Etsy

Our most popular BLING items are now available for purchase on Etsy. Just clicked here  or the tool bar to the left and see for yourself. 

Urban Hope Video

Ms. Lulu volunteered her time and her gifts to bless BLING with a video about Urban Hope. We are so thankful and blessed for her gift to us. The girls loved being a part of the process and were amazed at the final product. They love it!

Check it out here. 

Wedding Season is Here!

BLING loves to design for weddings! Here are some of last year's creations! Jolly, a seven year old, is currently designing bracelets for four flower girls...pictures to come!

Swarovski Pearls were used for Bridesmaid necklaces for a wedding! 

Swarovski Pearls and freshwater pearls in three layers matched with earrings were worn in a wedding!

New Life Bracelets

New Life Bracelets? Could this future project change lives?

I see these same two boys riding around the neighborhood. I've known them since I first moved to the neighborhood three years ago. They were both in sixth grade. Since then, they have become deeply gang involved, but they still are sweet boys that I remember.

They recently endured a loss as one of their friends lost his life. They both were filled with rage and anger--making decisions that risked their own lives. A friend of theirs said..."these are dark times...these are dark lives around here."

As I was sitting down to prepare a BLING lesson, I thought of how God wants to bring them "new life" and hope-filled lives through the good news of Jesus Christ. I was thinking of a new project. It has a plant that symbolizes new life, and I was thinking to myself: What if through making these New Life bracelets, I could employ these teens? And, what if this employment could expose them to the life and love of Jesus, as well as provide them with an alternative way of making money...what if?

This daydream, became a prayer, this prayer is becoming a vision for these kids...

Things I know now that I didn't before

What I did this semester that I didn’t do last semester, was go deeper in jewelry. I think I learned how to make jewelry I never knew how to make. We talked more about God.  I also learned how to create a resume. I found that the resume was very easy and people didn’t think I had it in me; but I proved them wrong.

-Helen, 16
BLING Apprentice

Latest Project: Do Justice, Love Mercy, Walk Humbly

Last Wednesday, the girls and I went over some project ideas. Micah 6:8 may be familiar to many; however, it is not one that is known to my girls. I used this as an opportunity to share with my girls how to follow God and how to love people. It was an interesting one, and one girl said: "This is very different from the world we live in." 

We are working with a couple from Chicago who work with wood and acrylic. Here is our latest project.The girls made decisions about style, color, choice,etc. The following is a sample of what is to come. The girls thought that black, dark brown, purple, royal blue, pink, and red. Each phrase will be a separate bracelet.


What do you think?

What I like about the teachers at the church

By Pika

I like that Kelly help you with you homework and she is good at that and she is nice. I like that ms.nikki  she help you with bling and homework  and  she is good with that.ms.lisa is so good with bakeing  and doing jobs . mr.jb he is so good at teaching basketball.

Latest Creations!

Beauty from shells and recycled beads!

Girls used these beautiful beads to learn basic earring skills.

We love color! Bold and beautiful! A 14 year old, her nine year old sister, and 11 year old brother made these memory wire bracelets--it was a family affair!

Stars with an edge! A fourth-grader made these earrings!

Double stranded bracelets made by a very special woman who then proceeded to teach eight other women who then taught their girls.

Cross Bookmarks! One BLING girl loved making these! And, used her income of $160.00 from these bookmarks to support her Compassion girl, as well as buy Christmas presents for her family. She also went to Aquire the Fire with money she earned! "Being able to make these are an answer to prayers!"