CBS special features ministries at Chicago’s Fourth Church

by Alexa Smith

LOUISVILLE — A television special focusing on faith-based help for underprivileged children will highlight ministry under way at Fourth Presbyterian Church in Chicago, one of the denomination’s flagship churches.

      “Help Them Learn, Help Them Grow: A Faith Response to Children Left Behind” will be aired on Sunday, June 27, on CBS. Broadcast times are 8-8:30 a.m., Eastern Standard Time, and 5-5:30 a.m., Pacific Time.

      Singling out Chicago, the program uses footage from a Roman Catholic middle school on Chicago’s South Side, a Muslim Community Center School and Fourth Church. The program examines the challenges of getting an education in the city’s inner-city public schools.

      Almost 500 kids from public housing projects participate in programming at Fourth Church — from tutoring and hot meals to summer school and job training. There are also some scholarships provided to attend local Roman Catholic schools.

      During the segment, Presbyterians Stefani Turken and Sue Mosely visit the homes of the children they tutor. There is also footage of a rehearsal of “The Wiz That Wuz,” a student musical produced in partnership with the church and four public schools, as part of the church’s arts program.