An Urban Pilgrimage in Chicago in September 2025
ASHEVILLE, N.C. — Rev. Vicki Garlock, Ph.D., an interfaith educator, earned a GUINNESS WORLD RECORDS™ title for the most places of worship visited in one month. The record was 111, but Vicki crushed it, visiting 185 places of worship around downtown Chicago during the month of September.
From mosques to monasteries, cathedrals to neighborhood temples, Garlock’s 30-day pilgrimage was more than a race against time; it was a way to lift up the positive impact that religious communities offer.
“People often see religion as divisive, but places of worship provide a glimpse into how religion can be a positive force in our world today. In all these various sacred spaces, communities come together to figure out how humans might live in harmony with the Divine, the Earth, and one another. My GUINNESS WORLD RECORDS™ title was about honoring both the places and the people across religious traditions.”
An Interfaith Roadmap Through the Heart of Chicago
Dr. Garlock’s urban pilgrimage included places from a variety of religious traditions (e.g., Hindu, Buddhist, Sikh, Jewish, Christian, Muslim) and dozens of different denominations/faith movements (e.g., Orthodox, 7th Day Adventist, Zen Buddhism, Christian Science, Conservative Judaism, Brahma Kumaris, Kadampa Buddhism).
Each visit followed strict GUINNESS WORLD RECORDS™ guidelines, including photo/video documentation and witness verification. The guidelines also prohibited using a personal vehicle, so Vicki’s adventure included over 65 bus rides, over 65 “L” rides, and over 350,000 steps (about 5-6 miles a day of walking).
While not required by Guinness, she also attended over 20 worship services during her time off. They included worship services in both the Orthodox Jewish and Christian traditions, Buddhist meditation sessions, Islamic prayers, and a kirtan.
Her record-breaking month was chronicled with daily social media content on Instagram, Facebook, and LinkedIn under her organization, World Religions 4 Kids, a platform that offers educational tools, children’s books, and curricular materials for teaching global religious literacy in inclusive and age-appropriate ways.
A Story that’s Sacred and Shareable
Possible media angles include:
- The joys of achieving a GUINNESS WORLD RECORDS™ title by meeting people where they are and lifting up their hard work
- The religious diversity of Chicago (and the U.S. more broadly)
- The incredible resilience and creativity of places of worship and faith communities
- The importance of recognizing and appreciating “lived religion” as it shows up in the day-to-day practices of everyday people
- The extensive ways that places of worship engage in outreach, serving as good neighbors in their communities
- The often-untold narrative of face-to-face encounters with “the other”…an important counter-narrative to our divisive rhetoric (especially as ICE raids were happening around the city while I was there)
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About World Religions 4 Kids
World Religions 4 Kids helps parents, teachers, and communities talk to kids about world religions in respectful, age-appropriate ways. Founded by educator and author Rev. Vicki Garlock, Ph.D., WR4K promotes spiritual literacy as a tool for empathy, inclusion, and global understanding.
Social Media
Instagram & Facebook: @worldreligions4kids
X: @WorldRel4Kids
Hashtag: #amazingsacredspacerace
Contact:
Vicki Garlock
World Religions 4 Kids
[email protected]
Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed in this article are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of RNS or Religion News Foundation.
