DEVON AVENUE (2. WEST RIDGE)

LOCATION:  Devon Avenue (6400 N) from Western (2400W) to California (2800 W)

HISTORY:  Devon Avenue has undergone a variety of changes in its 140 year history. First built in the 1850s as Church Road, it was renamed by English settlers for their native county of Devonshire.  Later, Devon became the main shopping area for Chicago's Jewish community.  During the 1970's and early 1980's, Asian Indians emigrated to the United States in large numbers as a result in changes in immigration law.  The largest concentration of Asian Indians in Chicago was in the West Ridge neighborhood, where an ethnic shopping center (known as "Ghandi Marg,") grew up along Devon Ave. Almost every Indian and Pakistani in the United States has heard of Devon Avenue.   A visual kaleidoscope of sari shops, vegetarian and non-vegetarian restaurants, video rental stores and import groceries are located in this once all-Jewish neighborhood.  As Indians grew more affluent, many moved away from Devon Ave. and into the suburbs.  Currently, the newer immigrants who do not own cars tend to stay in West Ridge where ethnic stores are easily accessible.  In the past few years, a steadily growing Arabic and Assyrian community has settled along Devon. Ave., (now also known as Mohammed Ali Jinnah Way and Golda Meier Blvd.) once again changing the ethnic mix of this area.

PRAYERWALKING SITES:
" Beginning at Western and Devon, walk West along the Devon Avenue corridor, taking in the sights, smells and sounds, noticing the shifting of cultures, often within the same block.
" Stop in to visit at the South Asian Fellowship Center (Christian outreach ministry) at 6346 N. Talman and learn about the work they are doing with Hindus an Muslims in the community.

For Experienced Intercessors
- IQRA - International Education Foundation Devon & Campbell
- Book Center - Islamic Studies             (2751 W. Devon)
- Gamial Masgit      Muslim- Mosque Devon & Campbell
- Bharat Seva Ashram Hindu Temple Granville & California (6200N & 2800W)
- Guru Dwara Sahib       Seikh Temple Devon & Claremont   (2300W)
- Gayitri Temple             Hindu Temple Devon & Hoyne  (2100W)

PRAYER POINTS:
" Give thanksgiving and intercession for ministries like the Southeast Asian Fellowship Center and Agape International as they seek to penetrate this area with the gospel.
" Ask God to raise up more laborers who are equipped and willing to meet the needs of this diverse community in this difficult, labor-intensive harvest field.
" Pray that God would break through all thoughts raised up in people's minds against the knowledge of Him (religious deception), and that these would be replaced with a knowledge of the true and living God.
" Ask God to raise up new believers in this community who would have the boldness to share the gospel with others in their community and homeland.


For further research information:  Rogers Park/West Ridge Historical Society
      6424 N. Western
      Chicago, IL 773-764-4078
      rphistory@aol.com 

Also visit:  www.devonavenue.com  for more listings of  Islamic, Hindu and Sikh  Centers of Worship in Chicagoland