$17.95
This is the story of Reverend Roosevelt Matthews and his beloved wife, Mary, whose work saved many in one of the poorest and most dangerous neighborhoods on Chicago's West Side. But as Roosevelt empha...
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$17.95
This is the story of Reverend Roosevelt Matthews and his beloved wife, Mary, whose work saved many in one of the poorest and most dangerous neighborhoods on Chicago's West Side. But as Roosevelt empha...
Read More
But God, when Roosevelt went to buy a defunct factory as a place to put his youth center's outdoor basketball court, the owner looked him in the face and said, "I'd rather burn the factory down than sell it to an N-word". A few months later, Dr. King was assassinated and in the resulting riots the factory was burned to the ground. The factory then became property of the City of Chicago and sold to Roosevelt for a much lower price.
But God, teaching Interracial friendship by living in each other's homes, Roosevelt established the Friendship Outreach program between white churches and Albany Baptist Church in 1972. White children came to live with Black families on Chicago's West Side and vice versa. In 2018, one of the original exchange students from Minnesota returned to Albany Church with her own children, continuing this wonderful long-term friendship.
But God, Mary got the smooth transition she prayed for after being diagnosed with ovarian cancer. She never suffered from the ravages of the disease. Looking as beautiful as ever, she played piano in church just three days before she passed from her beloved Roosevelt's loving arms to God's kingdom.
But God, as Roosevelt said, "The Lord directed such fine people to help us along the way". One was "Mother" Vera Stephens, who taught Roosevelt and Mary child evangelism. Vera later felt the call to go to Liberia, where she established the Bethesda Christian Mission School that is still inspiring the lives of many children today. In 2011, "Mother" Stephens was posthumously honored for her work by both the president and vice president of Liberia.
But God, while Mary and Roosevelt were not able to have biological children, many former pupils, attributing much of their success to "Mom" and "Dad," still call, send letters, and emails. Several have become Bible teachers and ministers themselves while others include a college president and a corporate executive.