Streetwalking with Jesus: Reaching Out in Justice and Mercy [Paperback]

John Green (Author), Francis Cardinal George (Foreword), Dawn Herzog Jewell (Collaborator)

Book Description

Publication Date: March 30, 2011

For over two decades John Green's vocation has been ministering to inner city men on the margins of society in downtown Chicago.

Green didn't set out to be another Dorothy Day or Mother Teresa, and would be quick to tell you he hasn t become one. A product of middle class, church-going comfort and values, he heeded God's challenge to found Emmaus Ministries, which serves some of the modern-day lepers that are in our midst. Struck by the words of Micah 6:8 and the act of a homeless man who gruesomely ended his life in Green's presence, Green vowed to constantly ask himself: How can I live justly? To whom do I show mercy? How may I walk humbly with God?

Deacon Green's lessons learned regarding these hard questions are set against stories of men who struggle to escape poverty, addiction, and sexual sin while encountering Christ in the process. But this book is much more than the account of how one ministry combats a social problem to which most of us wish to remain blind. It is about finding joy in service to others and experiencing love in reaching out to the suffering, all under the shelter of God's unconquerable, abiding love.

Yes, Streetwalking with Jesus will sober you, but with links to evocative songs, a scripture selection to reflect upon, discussion questions, and a prayer at the end of every chapter, you ll come away challenged and inspired to live a deeper, more missional life.

Product Details

• Paperback: 200 pages
• Publisher: Our Sunday Visitor (March 30, 2011)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1592769306
• ISBN-13: 978-1592769308
• Product Dimensions: 8.1 x 5.3 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 8 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (21 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #787,645 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Emmaus Ministries was first conceptualized by John Green while he was working as a full-time volunteer with the Covenant House Faith Community in New York City in 1986. During his two years there, he developed an interest in ministering to young people on the streets, particularly the young adult men involved in prostitution. John further developed his interests and gifts in street ministry during the summer of 1989, when he spent time working with homeless and runaway youth on the streets of Guatemala City and Mexico City.

John continued working among young homeless adults when he returned to the Chicago area in the fall of 1989 to complete his BA in Christian Education at Wheaton College. Each week John would travel from the western suburbs of Chicago into the city to spend a night or two on the streets reaching out to young homeless men. As he had in New York, Guatemala, and Mexico, John built relationships with these men, most of whom were involved in prostitution.

While working with these men (known on the streets as "hustlers"), John developed a clear understanding of the particular needs of Chicago's young adult homeless population. Through conversations with hustlers and social service providers, John saw the severe need for long term support for this particular population of the homeless; thus Emmaus Ministries was born. John immediately began to pursue funding, administrative consultation and support for this vision, and in November of 1990 Emmaus Ministries was officially incorporated as a nonprofit ministry.

John completed an MA in Educational Ministries from Wheaton College Graduate School in 1992, and in 1998 he earned a Certificate in Non-Profit Business Administration from the University of Illinois at Chicago. John was selected as one of "Tomorrow's Leaders Today" by the Public Allies organization in 1994 and was ordained to the Permanent Diaconate in the Catholic Church in May of 2002. In May of 2004, the Diaconate Community of the Archdiocese of Chicago presented "The Shared Ministry Award" to John and Carolyn Green "for witness of diaconate ministry following from a partnership of love and service to others." In the fall of 2004, John was awarded the "Local Hero Award" from the Bank of America, which included a $5,000 donation to the work of Emmaus. In 2006, Francis Cardinal George, O.M.I., Archbishop of Chicago, nominated and sponsored John in the 2007 Fellows Class of Leadership Greater Chicago. Also in 2007, the Association of Chicago Priests recognized the work of Emmaus by presenting John the "Coordinating Board Award" at their annual dinner.

Besides Carolyn's primary work of being a full-time mom to four children, she is an accomplished singer/songwriter with five independent releases. She and her music partner Mike Choby perform under the name GreenChoby (www.greenchoby.com) throughout the Midwest and their music often reflects the stories and lives of the men Emmaus serves.

The Green's work has been featured in radio and TV on EWTN's Life on The Rock Show, the 700 Club, Moody Radio's Midday Connection, Focus On The Family, Relevant Radio, Catholic Answers Live!, PAX TV's Primary Focus Show, and Decision Radio Today.

The work of Emmaus has also been featured in various magazines and newspapers including: Today's Christian, The Chicago Tribune, Citizen Magazine, Religion Journal Online, The Texas Catholic Herald, Moody Student Magazine, New Covenant Magazine, The Covenant Companion, This Rock, Taylor University Magazine, The Christian Reader, Envoy Magazine, Wheaton Alumni Magazine, The Catholic New World, RE-Generation Quarterly, Christianity Today, Power For Living, Streetwise Newspaper, Cornerstone Magazine, The Rockford Observer, Superior Catholic Herald, Dupage News Press, Aurora Beacon News, and Akron Beacon Journal.

John and his wife Carolyn have three sons, Jonathan Paul (9), Daniel Logan (7), Peter Garrett (5) and a baby daughter, Claire Joelle (3). The Green Family currently lives in Silver Lake Ohio where they attend Holy Family Parish in Stow.

Recently, the Green's decided to remain in Ohio permanently. This has led to John resigning his employment with Emmaus Ministries and he now serves in a voluntary capacity as "Counsel to the Board."

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

9 of 9 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Powerful Message of the Gospel in Action March 30, 2011

By Grad Student VINE™ VOICE

Format:Paperback|Amazon Vine™ Review (What's this?)

Some books we read for entertainment, some books we read for education, and some books we read to transform or convert ourselves. Streetwalking with Jesus by John Green is a book that shows us a side to life that most of us would like to avoid. John Green gives us a very vivid idea of what is like to be an outcast in society. His work reminded me of the Parable of the Rich Man in Luke's Gospel 16: 19-31. After reading the parable we are faced with the question as to who is the Lazarus in our own lives. Who is it that we pass by every day and do not notice?

After reading Green's book you will be forced to see "street people" in a different manner. We should not write off anyone. Even if we are not successful in getting people to change we still need to show them that we care and respect their humanity.

I have been a businessman most of my life. Several years ago I came to the realization that we should freely give of the gifts we all receive. There really is not that much that separates any of us from the most unfortunate. If not for certain circumstances in our lives we could be living the life so scorned by many. By working with the outcasts we learn to be givers rather than takers.

In each chapter of the book, John Green tells the story of one of the men he has encountered in his ministry. These are hard stories to hear and they open our hearts when we hear them. I was particularly moved by the story of Steve (pages 174-179) and his funeral. Often each of each see only a small part of a person and on occasions such as funerals we can begin to see the entire impact a person may have had on his community. When I read about the female Chicago police officer singing at the funeral and how everyone was weeping I joined them in both tears of joy and sadness. John Green's ministry brings us to that point. We are overcome with the sadness that these men live in but we are also lifted up by the love of Christ that can be shown by the entire community.

The author also points us to a web site each chapter that plays music composed by his wife. This music expresses the joy that the ministry sees in helping others.

I highly recommend this book.

10 of 11 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Not for the faint of heart! March 22, 2011

By LMS VINE™ VOICE

Format:Paperback|Amazon Vine™ Review (What's this?)

First off, this book is not for the faint-hearted. In fact, if this book were a movie, it would definitely be rated R. This book is NOT about how Mr. Green started his ministry. Instead, it tells stories of real people. It is so easy for us as a society (and unfortunately, also as Christians) to dismiss and judge men (and women) who are involved with prostitution. I don't think anyone wakes up one day and says to themselves "I think I'll become a prostitute today." It is easy to say that they made their choices, so let them live with the consequences. Most of the men who prostitute themselves have a history of addiction, abuse, and a severely dysfunctional family life.

In Matthew 25, Jesus talks about reaching out to those who are hungry, thirsty, naked, a stranger, sick or in prison. He said that anytime we serve any of "the least of these" we are serving Him. Jesus did not avoid people like these men. Instead, he sought them out. He was regularly criticized for spending time with "sinners". He regularly hung out with prostitutes. He didn't shy away from them or making them feel like they weren't worth His time. Instead, He went out of His way to show them love and compassion. How can we, who claim to be His followers, do any less? The stories in this book are heartbreaking. It is much to easy to forget that there are real human beings behind labels like homosexual, prostitute, addict, homeless. Once you know someone's story, it is far more difficult to casually dismiss that person.

This book will challenge you to think about Jesus, the poor, and yourself, in a completely new way. John doesn't sugar coat the truth. The stories in this book are tragic and ugly. But ultimately, this is a book of hope. The world may value "results", but God values our obedience. We need to be more concerned about that, and leave the results to God. It's one thing to claim to be a follower of Christ, it's another to actually live it out. Often, serving the Lord and others means getting dirty and stepping outside your comfort zone. John had done that. The type of love John has for these men is supernatural. He is able to look past the dirt, and disease, and sin, to see a desperate human being in desperate need of a Savior.

In my opinion, one of the stories that touched me most in this book was that of a man named Joseph. John and his wife Carolyn hosted a dinner for the men at their house. One of their guests was a 28 year old man named Joseph. As they sat down to eat, Joseph whispered "I've never done this before." John panicked for a moment, thinking that Joseph was interested in sex. He didn't quite know how to respond, so he asked Joseph what he meant. Jospeh responded that he had never sat down at a table for a family dinner. John admits he was shocked by this. So was I. How easy is it for us to take things like sitting down to dinner with friends or family for granted.

This book will expand your vision, your heart, and your thinking. If you let it. If however, you prefer to stay in the Christian bubble and "safe" in your Christianity, then don't read this book. However, if you want to be challenged, encouraged, convicted, and changed, then read this book. After reading this book, you will never see the poor or the Savior in the same way ever again.

Another excellent book that deals with similar issues is "Escaping the Devil's Bedroom" by Dawn Herzog Jewell (who also co-wrote Streetwalking with Jesus. I highly recommend both of these books.

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Touched by This Book April 27, 2011

By Mark L. Myers

Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase

John Green has a way of sharing about the plight of the lost souls of the urban jungle, that sheds light on the reasons for their plight, the challenge of dealing with their myriad of issues and struggles, and demonstrating tough love to hurting people, as Jesus did. When I think how Jesus was constantly healing bodies and souls and then telling those very people to "Take up your mat and walk," or "Go and show yourself to the Priest," to "Go and bring your husband," or to "Go into all the world and preach the gospel," I realize that we have a God who demands that we put legs to our faith. We are quickened from the dead by the all powerful Word of the Ressurected One, and we are made alive in order to "act justly, to love mercy and to walk humbly with our God."

In reading this book, I felt like I was reading stories similar to those found in Scripture. After all, the Bible doesn't sugar coat people, or their sin or their many failures. But, the Word also applauds faith, something John Green possesse a lot of, and something the homeless in Chicago possess as well.

It's easy to quickly judge the male prostitutes for their illicit activity, that causes so much harm to themselves and to others, until you realize that these are guys without any of the normal "saftey nets" that rescue the rest of us when we fall. Most of the characters in the book either have no family, or their fathers sexually abused them. These kids have no money, no education (many cannot even read or write), no home, no self-worth, and no support system. They turn to the streets for their support.

At first, these prostitutes get a charge out of living the independent life of a prostitute, but there is pleasure in sin only for a season. They realize soon enough, that the master becomes the slave, to the sins and addictions and the whims of the next "trick." John Green and his ministry, Emmaus represent a lighthouse in this stormy world of prostitution, a place and a people who love these men, faithfully and unconditionally. John admits his errors and is not afraid to say what he's learned from the clients he serves. He's a true Servant, a demonstration of person who "got it," who took in the immensity of the grace he received in Christ and let it run out of him onto the streets of Chicago.