Kinise Jordan

CHICAGO – Sean Williams was born and raised in the South Shore neighborhood of Chicago. As a young adult he decided a life of crime, gangs and drugs was no longer how he wanted to spend the rest of his life.

 “If I didn’t go to the Navy, I would probably be dead right now” he bluntly tells me as we spend a Sunday afternoon watching the kids in his “Youth Program” play at the indoor amusement park, Odyssey Fun World.

Pastor Williams current mission is working to save kids from the same dreadful lifestyle he was able to escape from. As Christ Bible Church of Chicago’s Youth Pastor, he oversees programs such as “Bibles & Basketball”, the “Youth Job Program”, and Sunday school field trips; these are only a few of the programs offered by the church and overseen by Pastor Williams.

Deshawn Lucas and Derius Coleman are a part of the many positive role models from the neighborhood that Pastor Williams has recruited to volunteer at the church’s Youth Program.

The men attend “Bibles and Basketball” every Friday evening to play ball and talk with the kids. Deshawn stated, “I want to show them other routes to take that don’t have to include gangs and going to jail” as he fumbled with his very active six-month-old son.

Sean’s passion for helping the youth started years before he began his position as a Youth Pastor.

Suanchirae Williams, Pastor Williams wife, shares the same passion of helping the youth with her husband. In the past, the two have hosted breakfast at their home every Saturday morning for the youth in their neighborhood. The event acted as a safe haven for more than 20 kids.

Pastor Williams does not plan on limiting his helping hand to only the youth in the South Shore community. He proudly revealed to me his vast plans to clean up the neighborhood when he runs for Alderman of the 7^th ward in the year 2021.