Love Fox Valley

God is at work in
the Valley!

Here's some of what the body of Christ is doing through Love Fox Valley:
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Motorcycle Sunday

April 25, 2010 was the 10th annual Motorcycle Sunday, held at Phillips Park in Aurora IL. This is an event made possible by volunteers from dozens of local churches.

Even with a less than perfect forecast, over three hundred bikers were in attendance, about 500 guests total. The day is designed as a mainstream motorcycle rally, with a festival stage, rock and blues bands, motorcycle shops and merchandise and food vendors.

The centerpiece of the day is the bike blessing, where guests are invited to go to their bike, where they are joined by friends of Motorcycle Sunday. Pastor Randy Schoof leads a prayer from the stage, thanking God for His blessings, asking for His protection, and inviting His presence to be knowing in each person's life. It's amazing to see bikers be visibly moved, as they are led in an expression of faith in Jesus – many of them for the first time in their lives.

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National Day of Prayer
prayer walk across Aurora IL

Thursday May 6th was the fifth annual prayer walk across Aurora, where believers from many local churches walked together to pray for Aurora, which is the second largest city in Illinois. Starting at 9:30am at the western border of Aurora IL, prayer walkers gathered. The prayer journey would end at 6pm at Rt. 59, on the east border of Aurora.

There were twelve stops along the way, each one being a place of prayer for a particular life focus such as schools, sanctity of human life, government, racial reconciliation, unity in the body of Christ, etc. First Presbyterian Church provided a lunch for the prayer walkers, where they were joined by the mayor and staff, the county sheriff, and other community leaders for another session of prayer for the city.

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5th Sunday Celebration

For over ten years, every time there are five Sundays in a month, Christ-followers from many local Aurora IL churches have joined together for a time of worship, baptisms, and communion. May 30 6pm was the latest 5th Sunday Celebration, hosted this time by 1st Christian Church on the west side of town.

Worship music was led by a group for the Vineyard Church. There were ten baptisms, including a member of a local hard-core motorcycle club. Through ongoing relationships that began with Motorcycle Sunday years ago, some members of this club have become believers. It was great to see the entire membership of the club in attendance at the 5th Sunday, cheering on their friend who is publicly confessing Christ. The gospel is transforming lives, as God's people pray, care, and share Christ in relevant ways!

The evening ended with communion together, with a powerful devotional led by one of the host church's leaders. There's a growing sense of love between people from different local churches, as we spend time together, doing the most important things that believers do. God is good!