WATERLOO - If it takes a village to raise a child, then perhaps it takes all churches working together to nourish the spirit of a community.

Chassidi Ferguson, founder and president of SHOUT! Ministries, is passionate about taking the Gospel to the streets. Ferguson organized the ministry in 2006 to act as an instrument of justice, a uniter of Christians and a proponent of peace.

"The purpose is not only to share Christ but to unite the Body of Christ," Ferguson said.

Since its inception, SHOUT! Ministries has focused on hosting events and doing outreach evangelism. The ministry also exists to support area churches and their ministries.

"A lot of what we do appeals to youth and young adults, but it really is a community ministry," Ferguson said.

For her day job, Ferguson, 26, works as an account executive for the Courier's Image Magazine. She developed a passion for urban ministry while studying marketing and public relations at Columbia College in Chicago. At the time, she attended an Assemblies of God church, and during one service her pastor referenced an Old Testament passage.

As her pastor told the story of Joshua and the Israelites marching around the city of Jericho, Ferguson drew parallels to her home community of Waterloo. In the Bible story, the walls of Jericho come tumbling down. But Ferguson wondered what would happen if churches united to take down the invisible barriers of denomination, culture, fear and tradition.

"By coming together, we can have much more of an impact. …" Ferguson said. "You get a lot more done."

Back home in Waterloo, Ferguson spread the word about her vision. Much of her support comes from young adults like 27-year-old Derek Sallis, a Waterloo native and graduate student at the University of Northern Iowa. Sallis is vice president of SHOUT! Ministries.

To some extent, breaking down barriers means upsetting stereotypes about church, Christ and Christianity. For Ferguson and Sallis, church isn't about a building, and it isn't about talk. They see church as something to live, something to do and something to be.

"It does no good for us to say, 'Hey, Jesus is great' and people feel good about Him, but we are not disciples," Ferguson said.

As a lay leader in a local parish, Ferguson loves attending church. But she thinks some outside the fold are intimidated by the perception that Christians have to wear suits, sing traditional music and act "stuffy." And because Christianity is an important part of African-American culture, Ferguson said, for some church becomes familiar and just something to do.

"People are looking for change," Sallis said. "People are looking for community."

To reach out to its neighbors, SHOUT! Ministries has organized prayer walks and peace walks in Waterloo neighborhoods. The ministry organized a Hoopin' For Jesus basketball tournament in Sullivan Park, and an Evening of Emancipation, a fundraiser for prison ministries devoted to the performing arts.

Many activities are geared toward young people living on Waterloo's east side, Ferguson said. She next hopes to organize a big Gospel music event.

SHOUT! Ministries donates 20 percent of funds raised at its events to a specific ministry. For example, proceeds of a poetry and arts event in December raised funds for the local prison ministry Koininia Ministries of Waterloo.

"A lot of churches have awesome ministries that people don't know about," Ferguson said.

The Rev. Helen Seenster of Koininia Ministries sees SHOUT! as a bold, proactive group willing to go out into the community and cross cultural lines.

"I believe in the vision they stand for which is unifying ministries and trying to do some community things," Seenster said.

Judy Marshall, a pastor at Harvest Vineyard Church, identifies with Ferguson's desire for unity among the churches. She thinks many in the church, particularly those ministering in the downtown and in Waterloo's rougher neighborhoods, want to take a stand against injustice and work to end violence.

"That has been our cry," Marshall said.

"We all have that heart," she added. "It took someone to gather us together."

Ferguson's vision for SHOUT! Ministries extends beyond Waterloo. She is working to gain nonprofit status for the ministry and eventually hopes to see SHOUT! Ministries take off on a national scale.

"We've a lot of work to do," Ferguson said.

For information, go online at www.ShoutMinistries.org.

Contact Karen Heinselman at (319) 291-1581 or karen.heinselman@wcfcourier.com.