In November 2011, I was preparing to do the funeral of Carlton Archer, a 15-year-old young man who had been shot to death. That was my 10th teenage funeral that year. I had to convince his parents, who were members of my church, to have the funeral here, even though they were afraid that the neighborhood gangs, seeing the young people from different neighborhoods, would show up and start trouble. My thinking: not at this church! Something happened that day that changed my life forever. Down the street, gang members began shooting at the young people entering the church. With over 1000 people in the sanctuary, I was in utter disbelief at what was happening. The war was on my front porch. That ancient enemy called violence was now invading what was perceived as a safe zone, the Church. #RooftopRevelations captures my faith journey to save a community with the highest murder rate in the city of Chicago. Relive my 94-day vigil in a tent on the roof of an abandoned motel to bring awareness to the senseless murders! Witness, first hand, key moments captured in a photo journalistic pictorial that highlights the cost of sacrifice as I cry out to God for answers and He gives me #RooftopRevelations.
In November 2011, I was preparing to do the funeral of Carlton Archer, a 15-year-old young man who had been shot to death. That was my 10th teenage funeral that year. I had to convince his parents, who were members of my church, to have the funeral here, even though they were afraid that the neighborhood gangs, seeing the young people from different neighborhoods, would show up and start trouble. My thinking: not at this church! Something happened that day that changed my life forever. Down the street, gang members began shooting at the young people entering the church. With over 1000 people in the sanctuary, I was in utter disbelief at what was happening. The war was on my front porch. That ancient enemy called violence was now invading what was perceived as a safe zone, the Church. #RooftopRevelations captures my faith journey to save a community with the highest murder rate in the city of Chicago. Relive my 94-day vigil in a tent on the roof of an abandoned motel to bring awareness to the senseless murders! Witness, first hand, key moments captured in a photo journalistic pictorial that highlights the cost of sacrifice as I cry out to God for answers and He gives me #RooftopRevelations.