Building Hope on the South Side of Chicago

A few weeks back, a young man I’ll call James approached me, saying, “You know, pastor, I’ve never built anything before.” I was taken aback. “I’m serious,” he insisted. “Everyone’s just glued to their phones or TVs, or they’re just hanging out.”

Despite his lack of experience, he picked up a hammer and rejoined a group working on a shed at my church in South Chicago. It’s a modest shed, but it needs a sturdy floor for heavy equipment and a roof strong enough to bear the weight of snow in winter.

James’ admission was surprising to me, considering I’ve always had a passion for building. Growing up in a small town in Tennessee, we were constantly constructing something. I remember learning to swing a hammer and how I had to practice to get it right. If we weren’t building, we were fixing things—whether it was farm equipment or leaky toilets.

Building has always been in my DNA. In Chicago, many preachers focus on politics and its influence. While I do engage in politics for my church, I find much more fulfillment in the act of building. I believe, genuinely, that there’s no greater power than creating opportunities for people, especially those who feel lost. There’s something profound about providing physical spaces that help nurture and develop talent.

That belief drives me to invest a significant amount of time into a 100,000 square-foot leadership and economics center that’s currently under construction. This center aims to offer various skill-building services, with a strong emphasis on trading.

For as long as I can remember, we’ve held trade classes at my church. We didn’t plan meticulously; we simply set up tools and let the sawdust fly. We even took on abandoned homes as projects to teach local youth the skills needed for construction. Many have pursued careers in this field.

“Our children come from humble beginnings—it’s not their fault—but we want to give them every advantage possible. Communities focused on building are far more beneficial than those that depend on others.”

One young father, coming from a challenging background, stood out to me. I could see the despair in his eyes; it was easy to imagine him falling into a life of crime. Instead, he decided to join my trade class, and now he’s a skilled forklift driver—one of the best I’ve ever seen. Watching him work is like witnessing a ballet.

James shares a similar background, shaped by broken families and schools, influenced by a system that often overlooks the importance of building. Seeing him construct this structure, working alongside others, feels like he’s unveiling his own potential and dignity.

As the day drew to a close, I checked in on James and asked how he felt. “I’m tired, pastor,” he replied with a proud smile. There’s something gratifying about hard work that leads to that kind of smile.

We live in a confusing world today. Yet, I truly believe that people recognize the importance of efforts that lead to tangible outcomes. Recently, I saw that President Trump had posted about possibly redirecting a $3 billion grant from Harvard to trade schools. I think that’s a fantastic idea. It highlights how vital those educational opportunities are.

Transaction is central to what we’re building, and we’re evolving with technology—like incorporating AI into our processes. Children from humble beginnings deserve all the chances in the world. Builder communities are much more advantageous than dependent ones.

As I walked with James to the front of the church, I floated a question: “Did you know Jesus was a carpenter?” He smiled, and the following Sunday was the first time I saw him in church.