Signs of the Times #28: Practicing Presence in Neglected Neighborhoods ft. Jonathan “Pastah J” Brooks

Where am I supposed to be and where will I be most transformed? Jonathan “Pastah J” Brooks challenges us with this question in today’s episode. Jonathan currently serves as Senior Pastor at Canaan Community Church in the West Englewood neighborhood of Chicago, IL and as an educator, speaker, writer, artist, and community activist. As a firm believer in investing in your local community, Jonathan has a deep desire to impress this virtue on the students and young people in his congregation, classroom, and community. His ministry focuses on youth development, holistic health, college scholarships, art and music training as well as restorative justice practices and care for the incarcerated and their families. We discuss his recent book, “Church Forsaken: Practicing Presence in Neglected Neighborhoods,” and he even shares a sample of his hip-hop with us.