Pastor Corey Brooks is known as the “rooftop pastor” after he spent almost a year living on the roof of shipping containers to raise money for Project H.O.O.D.
Pastor Brooks spent 345 nights on that roof and raised $30 million – all of which will go to build that new community center. The ministry’s goal is to build the 89,000-square-foot center debt free and has approximately $5 million more to raise. The nonprofit ministry serves the residents of Woodlawn and Englewood and aims to end poverty and violence by transforming lives.
“We’re dealing with some very serious issues in the city of Chicago. We’re dealing with violence that is really rampant,” said Pastor Brooks. “We want to ensure everyone is empowered to change and we’re going to give them the tools necessary to transform their lives. We’re building this center so we can supply them with the tools, like counseling. We also have a construction trade school. Our goal is to get people out of gangs and to have them stop picking up guns and have them picking up hammers.”
Pastor Brooks explained that the neighborhood he serves is comprised of 80 percent single-parent households and as a result has contributed to a cycle of crime and poverty. Through his time on the roof from 2021 to 2022, he said he was blessed to be able to share inspiration, faith and bring awareness to his community.
“Our children, especially young boys, are growing up without fathers. And as a result, they are growing up hostile, they are growing up angry, they aren’t being affirmed and they feel like they aren’t accepted,” he told The Washington Times Billy Hallowell in a recent interview. “As a consequence, they are getting involved in a lot of activities. We have to deal with these family issues and family problems. If we don’t turn the tide, especially in the black community as it is related to the family, we’re going to go down a cycle of poverty, a cycle of crime, and a cycle of brokenness.”
Watch the rest of the interview with Pastor Brooks above. And be sure to visit Higher Ground on The Washington Times for daily faith and culture news: https://www.washingtontimes.com/specials/higher-ground/
Click HERE for more about Billy Hallowell.
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