Walk Across the Street – Uniting Black & White Christians in gospel reconciliation

Our Story

Chicago's West Side

A divided city can be restored.

Oak Park

69% White / 22% Black

Austin

84% Black / 4% White

On the west side of Chicago, two historic neighborhoods sit side by side. They are divided by the city limit of Chicago. The Austin neighborhood dates to 1870 with an early “L” train transforming it to vibrant 1920s community, while adjacent Oak Park was made famous by American architect Frank Lloyd Wright. But today, under the difficult race history of the city, Austin is known as a black neighborhood, Oak Park is known as white, and dividing Austin Blvd. marks an invisible line between.

Data Visualization - White and African American Populations

Yet the church of Jesus Christ is on both sides of the line.

Pastor Michael Wright & Pastor William Beasley

An Unlikely Partnership

On a Sunday Afternoon, William felt an unexpected urge from God to stand up in the middle of his lunch and go see what was happening across his street.

Find out what happened next:

The Walk Across the Street Story

Testimonials

Our Experiences

Diana Mertens

Our services may look different, but we all worship the same Lord

Jono Eshleman

My faith expression looks very different than what I experienced today at [church]. But however different, I do realize that style is not substance. The reality is that I am connected to my brothers and sisters by an unbreakable bond of love for Christ. This bond is stronger than any ties I have to a style of worship, preaching, or fellowship.

John Traynor

After this Sunday, I really truly felt like Walk Across the Street is breaking down the walls of racism. And it’s happening so quickly too; as if we pull one brick out of the wall and a thousand come crumbling down.

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Our Values

We want to be the answer to Jesus’ prayer.

“I in them and you in me, that they may become completely one, so that the world may know that you have sent me and have loved them even as you have loved me.”

JOHN 17:23

Value 1

God is already working in every neighborhood.

Value 2

Cultural and racial barriers are real.

Value 3

Reconciliation is needed for the sake of the Gospel.

Value 4

Worship together first.

Value 5

Our identity in Christ unites us.

Join the Movement

Every Christian Can Do This

Attend a Launch Session

Talk frankly about cultural differences. See through the eyes of other Christians.

Walk Across the Street: worship with a different family.

We guide you where to go and how to do it.

Build a relationship not a program.

Don’t add ministry tasks to your life. Use ordinary life to build extraordinary change.

In Partnership With

Start the Process

Bring Walk Across the Street to Your Church

Invite Michael Wright to speak

Your church can invite Michael Wright to speak on the relationship between the black and white church in Chicago.

Invite the Walk Across the Street Choir

Your church can request the Walk Across the Street choir, or individuals can volunteer to join the choir.

To get in touch, send us a note using the form below.

Give

Grow a Movement

You can help.

Walk Across the Street is the response to a moment. Christians more than ever are seeing the need for gospel reconciliation. Many will walk across the street with us. Yet resources are needed. We can’t do this without you. Be part of the movement.

Three options to give:

Pastor Wright

Recurring support for the special ministry of Pastor Wright

Coordinator Betsy Gleinser

Recurring support for the ministry of coordinator Betsy Gleinser

Walk Across the Street Fund

Special Gifts for Walk Across the Street Gospel Choir led by Bro. Larry Landfair and Walk Across the Street ministries across the city of Chicago

Upcoming Events

There are no upcoming events at this time.

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