Pastor Corey Brooks who has been on a mission to raise $35 million to build a transformational community center in the heart of Chicago, refused to give up on what he believes God laid on his heart; so, he remained on a roof, living in a tent and raised money throughout the experience.

Brooks told the Edifi With Billy Hallowell Podcast, “There are times when you just want to give up and throw in the towel, but when you are convinced that God is giving you a vision to do something, you gotta be convinced that He’ll also give you the provisions.”

Brooks runs Project H.O.O.D., an organization seeking to empower and equip individuals and families. 

The preacher described the area where he wants to build a center as “one of the most violent blocks in all of the country,” and said he and his organization set out to do something about it. Brooks’ central goal is to turn the Block, known as O Block, into “Opportunity Block,” and he hopes to accomplish this through the massive community center.

He said, “It becomes imperative that we have churches and organizations like ours to intervene, to make sure that these neighborhoods do not continue down a vicious cycle of violence.” 

Brooks said he’s filled with joy over the massive reaction and support for the center from all over America adding, “I’m very grateful. I’m very appreciative for what God has done. I’m glad that God placed me in this neighborhood that I’m in.”