Blog - Page 68 of 318 - John H Armstrong

The Life and Mission of Pauline Jaricot

By John Armstrong|2021-07-02T06:15:55-05:00February 1st, 2013|Categories: Church History, Evangelism, Missional Church, Personal, Roman Catholicism, The Church|

Pauline-Marie Jaricot (1799 – 1862) was a French Catholic laywoman who founded the Society of the Propagation of the Faith. The Society was founded in Lyon, France, in 1822, as a result of the distress of Catholic mission in both the East and the West. Today the SPF is a highly esteemed mission movement in the Roman Catholic Church. The story of how this happened moves me to see again the power of mission to move the hearts of God’s people into deeper and deeper love for Jesus our Lord.

I knew absolutely nothing about Pauline Jaricot (the last name is pronounced Jericho) until last Saturday, January 26th. I learned about Pauline through my friend, Sister Madge Karecki. Madge, who directs the office of mission for the archdiocese of Chicago, invited me to a special day of celebration for Pauline’s life. This event, held on the south side of Chicago at the Cardinal Meyer Center, included the presentation of the first ever “Pauline Jaricot Award.” The award given to a Polish priest who is serving […]

Missional-Ecumenism in Milwaukee (4)

By John Armstrong|2021-07-02T06:15:55-05:00January 31st, 2013|Categories: Evangelism, Gospel/Good News, Missional Church, Missional-Ecumenism, Prayer, The Church, The Future, Unity of the Church|

One of the most pressing questions in my life is really not complicated. In a certain way my pressing question is two questions: (1) Why do those who embrace the need for mission not realize that God’s way to reach the world is by bringing Christians together in deep oneness and unity so that the world can see the Father’s love? (2) Why do those who love unity, and work in the area of what has been called ecumenism, not see that all the work for ecumenism in the world will prove fruitless if this effort is not closely linked with mission, compassion, justice and mercy? We must not divide what God has joined together. Consider again the words of our Lord who prayed for us all, nearly twenty centuries ago, by saying:

20 “I ask not only on behalf of these, but also on behalf of those who will believe in me through their word, 21 that they may all be one. As you, Father, are in me and I am in you, may they […]

Missional-Ecumenism in Milwaukee (3)

By John Armstrong|2021-07-02T06:15:55-05:00January 30th, 2013|Categories: ACT 3, Culture, Education, Gospel/Good News, Missional Church, Missional-Ecumenism, The Church, The Future, Unity of the Church|

When I visited City on a Hill, the urban Milwaukee mission center that I wrote about yesterday, I sensed the presence of God in this place instantly. The people were warm, caring and joyful. The place was clean and the work of serving God’s people was going on all around me. The whole place spoke of the love of Jesus, thus of the works of mercy and reconciliation.

The lunch meeting I attended began with prayer and some simple introductions, led by the director of BASICS, Mark Mallwitz. BASICS has served in four Milwaukee Public Schools with four primary areas of focus: (1) Prayer – praying for the schools, prayer walking in the schools and praying for the staff. (2) Care, or acts of compassion and kindness. (3) Share – to share the good news of Jesus Christ with students and faculty/staff. (4) Prepare – by helping those interested in preparing themselves for life.

Mark Mallwitz has embraced my son, and the ministry of Crossroads Kids Club, as a partner, not as a Chicago ministry seeking […]

Missional-Ecumenism in Milwaukee (2)

By John Armstrong|2021-07-02T06:15:55-05:00January 29th, 2013|Categories: Missional-Ecumenism, The Church, The Future, Unity of the Church|

Yesterday I wrote about my experience with various Christian leaders working for Christ and his kingdom in the urban schools of Milwaukee. The day that this group came together was meant to be a “to get to know one another” as ministry volunteers and educators and administrators who work inside the Milwaukee Public Schools. These were busy people, who carved out the heart of a busy day in their work week, to share, listen and pray. This in itself is remarkable. I felt, as soon as I walked into the room we occupied at the City on a Hill Ministry Center that God’s Spirit was going to be working in the room this day. I was not disappointed at all. City on a Hill is a catalyst working to transform the lives of youth and families in Milwaukee’s central city neighborhoods, and to overcome poverty and injustice, through a collaborative and Christ-centered model of service.

In 2009 the U. S. Census Bureau pegged Milwaukee as the fourth-poorest city in the nation. Homelessness is rampant and […]

Missional-Ecumenism in Milwaukee (1)

By John Armstrong|2021-07-02T06:15:55-05:00January 28th, 2013|Categories: ACT 3, Gospel/Good News, Kingdom of God, Missional Church, Missional-Ecumenism, The Church, Unity of the Church|

On Thursday of last week I traveled 90 miles north to visit with Christian leaders in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. I made the journey at the invitation of my son, Matthew Armstrong, the founder and director of Crossroads Kids Club. Crossroads is a ministry that partners with local churches to begin and develop after-school children’s Bible clubs in public elementary schools. These church-based clubs intentionally share the gospel with kids in the public sphere. (It still amazes me the number of Christians who think that this cannot be legally done in public schools but what amazes me even more is the disinterest churches have in doing it even when they realize that they can.) Matt has begun two Crossroads Clubs in urban Milwaukee. Through the development of his ministry in Milwaukee he has been able to forge a friendship with leaders of several similar missions.

In Milwaukee I saw and heard the story of missional-ecumenism in one of America’s more challenging “rust-belt” urban centers. There are about 175 schools in the Milwaukee Public School system, a […]

The Week of Prayer for Christian Unity (5)

By John Armstrong|2021-07-02T06:15:55-05:00January 25th, 2013|Categories: ACT 3, Missional-Ecumenism, Personal, Prayer, The Church, The Future, Unity of the Church|

I end, today, a series of five posts on the history and development of the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity. I do so with an earnest and heartfelt invitation to you to join us in prayer for the work of the ACT3 Network. I humbly, yet boldly, ask you to help us advance the work of unity as widely as possible. We do this mission with very little money. We could do more if the Lord provided it and we can do it even more efficiently and simply with more help, both from people who help us as partners and through financial sacrifices for our work.

Chiara Lubich, the founder of the Focolare Movement which I’ve mentioned several times this week, has inspired me in numerous ways over the last twelve months. I expect that she will continue to inspire me as an agent for unity throughout this new year. As I work on a book that I am writing on Christian love I find myself drawing heavily from Chiara’s life and witness. She was […]

The Week of Prayer for Christian Unity (4)

By John Armstrong|2021-07-02T06:15:55-05:00January 24th, 2013|Categories: Biblical Theology, Missional-Ecumenism, Prayer, The Church, Unity of the Church|

The representative worshipper that we’ve seen in Micah 6, the person I wrote about yesterday, is actually trying to buy God off, even as cheaply as possible. What an effrontery to such a mighty and gracious God. We see this when we come to Micah 6:8:

He has told you, O mortal, what is good;
and what does the Lord require of you
but to do justice, and to love kindness,
and to walk humbly with your God?

Up to now Micah has accused Israel’s leaders but now he accuses the people themselves. “He has told you.” Micah reports the stipulations in order to reopen the door of hope, to bring them back. There are three central elements to his appeal.

The prophets had referred to the covenant’s stipulations/requirements with a shorthand word that is the word “good.” Then these three central elements explain the core of what good means. The God of the covenant is a faithful God of love. Before such love Israel is not free to grab what she can out of life and then be indifferent to others.

“Justice” refers here to delivering the weak and wronged by […]

The Week of Prayer for Christian Unity (3)

By John Armstrong|2021-07-02T06:15:55-05:00January 23rd, 2013|Categories: Biblical Theology, Missional-Ecumenism, Personal, Prayer, The Church, Unity of the Church|

Last Saturday evening I preached at the Focolare Movement’s gathering in Hyde Park (Chicago) from the theme text for this Week of Prayer for Christian Unity, Micah 6:6-8. This gathering was held in the gorgeous main sanctuary of the KAM Isaiah Israel synagogue, right across the street from the home of our president, Barack Obama. (He is hardly ever home in Chicago since the White House is his present “main” address but the Secret Service were in clear evidence, protecting the Obama’s home.)

Each year a different Christian culture is chosen by the Pontifical Council for Promoting Christian Unity for this week. This year, the Student Christian Movement of India was invited to fulfill this purpose of choosing the text. The students in India chose this text because they believe the search for Christian unity must be associated with the dismantling of caste systems and allowing the contribution to unity by the poorest of the poor. Having made two long mission trips to India I was delighted to preach from the text knowing how it […]

The Week of Prayer for Christian Unity (2)

By John Armstrong|2021-07-02T06:15:55-05:00January 22nd, 2013|Categories: ACT 3, Missional-Ecumenism, Prayer, Roman Catholicism, The Church, The Future, Unity of the Church|

At his traditional Sunday message in Vatican Square Pope Benedict XVI gave a short address about the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity. Once again the Vatican has underscored her commitment to the doctrinal reforms of Vatican II and to the hard work of praying and working for unity among all Christians.

Here is the major part of what the Pope spoke on January 2o:

Dear brothers and sisters!

Today the liturgy proposes the Gospel passage about the wedding at Cana, an episode narrated by John, an eye witness of the event. This episode is part of this Sunday that immediately follows the Christmas season because, together with the visit of the Magi from the east and with Jesus’ baptism, it forms the trilogy of the epiphany, that is, of the manifestation of Christ. The manifestation at the wedding at Cana is, in fact, “the first of the signs” (John 2:11), that is, the first miracle performed by Jesus, with which he publicly manifested his glory, awakening the faith of his disciples. Let us […]

The Week of Prayer for Christian Unity (1)

By John Armstrong|2021-07-02T06:15:56-05:00January 21st, 2013|Categories: ACT 3, Missional-Ecumenism, Prayer, Unity of the Church|

In 1740 a Pentecostal movement, that predates modern American Pentecostalism, arose in Scotland. There were several clear links to America. This message of revival, however, was unique from other Protestant movements of the Holy Spirit. In this season of spiritual renewal prayers were raised for, and with, the various churches for Christian unity. I am not entirely sure about this but this element was not common in previous movements within Protestantism. Similar stirrings had happened before but no discernible connection between revival and Christian unity seems to have developed until the 1820s. In the year 1820 James Haldane Stewart published a work titled: Hints for the General Union of Christians for the Outpouring of the Spirit. Now revival was clearly being associated with “the general union” of all Christians. This was still, however, a Protestant phenomenon. In 1840 God moved Rev. Ignatius Spencer, a Catholic convert, to suggest a “Union of Prayer for Unity.” In 1867 the First Lambeth Conference of Anglican Bishops emphasized prayer for unity in the Preamble to its Resolutions.

The first major […]