Seeing His Potential:

Pauls
life
10
years
later
by Katie Yee
Three years ago when I was moving into Emmaus building to start my
internship, I met Paul in the parking lot.
He was loading tools into his truck after
doing some landscaping around the
building. With a friendly smile and a firm
handshake he introduced himself and
told me he used to be a part of the
ministry.
Though Paul
still comes by
the ministry, its
no longer as one
of the guys.
Actually, only a
few of us who
work here now
knew Paul when
he first came to
Emmaus.
...I know him as a cheerful man who
helps John take care of the building and
always makes sure we have flowers
blooming around the building come
summertime.
...I know the Paul who is learning to read
and trying to get his criminal record
expunged.
...I know him as a devoted church
member who is working on
10 years sober.
...I know the Paul who has been totally
reworked by Christ.
If I had been here when Paul first came
to Emmaus, though, I would have known
a totally different man...
Paul grew up in a storm of instability.
His mom passed away when he was a
toddler, and he was pushed from home
to home as relatives struggled to take care
of him. He often switched schools and
had no one to help him get adjusted to
a new classroom.

He never learned what most of us learn

in schooland instead learned to survive
on his own by selling drugs and mixing
with the wrong crowd. That eventually
led to a life on the streetsdrugging,
prostituting,
and doing his
best to stay alive.
By the time
Emmaus first
met Paul, he was
a rough man
with a lot of
baggage. But
he warmed
surprisingly
quickly to a
Christian
community that cared about him. He
was tired of being influenced by negative
people and was open to a positive force
in his life.
In 1997, he went into treatment, and after
that, he moved in with John and Carolyn
for a year and a half. And Paul has stayed
clean since.
Paul realizes that a lot of people at
Emmaus took a risk and invested a lot
in him because they saw a worth and
potential in him that he had never seen
for himself. Paul attributes his success
and sobriety first to Gods mercy and
strength and second to his own
willingness to surrender everything. He
knows if he would have held back any
area of his life from Gods transforming
power, it would have eventually led him
back to the streets. That is what Paul
wants to see the other guys at Emmaus
do: surrender everything to God. Paul
knows thats the only way to freedom.
continued on top of page 3

Supporting Each Other:

The Joy of Urban Ministry
Dear Friend,
When I speak about Emmaus mission and say that it is a hard work, I get some
sympathetic looks and nods. But when I also say it is a work filled with joy, the
looks become curious and the nods stop. But there is an immense joy in knowing
somebody like Paul (see the cover story). There is the joy of seeing the faces of our
guys light up when the Church Ladies show up (see page 4). There is a joy in
hearing from people whose hearts have been impacted by going on an Immersion
Night (see page 2). It is also a joy to know that I dont do this work alone. God has
called some tremendous people to the work of Emmausour staff, volunteers, and
supporters. Fr. Henri Nouwen once wrote:

John Green, founder and Executive

Director of Emmaus, is an ordained
permanent deacon in the Roman
Catholic Archdiocese of Chicago. He and
his wife attend St. Thomas of Canterbury
parish in the Uptown neighborhood.

I have found ... how hard it is to be truly faithful to Jesus when I am alone. I need
my brothers and sisters to pray with me, to speak with me about the spiritual task
at hand, and to challenge me to stay pure in mind, heart, and body. But far more
importantly, it is Jesus who heals, not I; Jesus who is Lord, not I. This is very clearly
made visible when we proclaim the redeeming power of God together. Indeed,
whenever we minister together, it is easier for people to recognize that we do not
come in our own name, but in the name of the Lord Jesus who sent us.
Thank you for ministering with us in the name of Jesus. I doubt this work will
ever get easy. But knowing we do not do this work alonethat fills it with joy.
In His Grip,

Emmaus is A Place...

John Green

...for community.
To get off the streets, guys need to have somewhere
to go. Emmaus is a refuge for them, and they come
here knowing that theyll be accepted.

...to change from street identity

to Gods identity.
True and lasting life change doesnt happen overnight.
Your commitment to Robert and other guys who come in
to Emmaus is changing livesone step away from the
street at a time.

Emmaus ministries

continued from front page

Sometimes as were walking alongside

our guys, it feels more like were going in
a circle than a path thats actually leading
somewhere. It can be so hard for them to
break free from the chains that hold them
to the streets. But if we ever find ourselves
feeling discouraged, God brings someone
like Paul to our minds as a reminder that
an incredible transformation is possible
through His power.

{
Katie Yee brings her mild North Dakotan
accent and servants heart to her job as the
Ministry Center Coordinator. Katie joined
our Kaio Community in 2003 for a year of
full-time voluntary service before coming
on staff in 2004. She and her husband,
Ben, attend Lakeview Church of Christ in
the Uptown neighborhood, and theyre
expecting their first child this spring.

Educating the Body of Christ:

Immersion
Nights
by KT McClure
Too many Christians shy away from wrestling with life's messiest issues.
Yet its within the mess and dark places that we find glimpses of the most
tangible grace. And we see, Jesus...and we know that He is deeper than the
deepest suffering and brokenness.
Emmaus is committed to raising up a generation of believers known for their
compassion and authenticity. One way we do this is through Immersion Nights.
The purpose is to immerse a group of Christians into a neighborhood where
all sorts of people in the night community congregate. They are charged with
four goals: take on the attitude of learner, build a relationship, meet a physical
need, and make five observations.
Afterwards, the group returns to Emmaus for a time of reflection. Immersion
Nights put a face and a story behind often faceless, nameless individuals,
including addicts, the homeless, and prostitutes.
I often see lives changed from this one evening. I hear comments like:
As long as I live, Ill remember that face.
I felt many of my prejudices broken down and destroyed.

Those comments continually solidify my commitment. And thanks to your

commitment to Emmaus, we can continue to educate the Body, praying that
God will use them as instruments of His grace and redemption in their own
spheres of influence.

KT is Emmaus' dread-locked wonder and is obsessed with all things

Latin America. While KT is an active member of Uptown Baptist Church,
she "owns" her Assemblies of God roots.

To get more info on how you can participate in an Immersion Night,

please email KT at KT@streets.org.

...for transformation.
Behind Bobbys head is a painting of the Prodigal Son. And as you can tell from
the title of our newsletter, the Prodigal Son story conveys much of the essence
of Emmaus ministry. Were all on a journey back to the Fathers house.
Realizing that and working through it in communitythat helps our guys get
off the streets for good.
Thank you for walking beside guys like Bobby, who here is listening intently
during a small group at the Ministry Center.

Photos are Michael Hudson.

distant country

Mom-ing Hustlers:
The Church Ladies
Urban ministry is not
just for dread-locked
twenty-somethings
but for grandmothers
and church
secretaries, too!

check out Emmaus, and

Jeri Oleksy and Jean
she suggested cooking
Ann Wieczorek are
as a way to help. I
the typical church
thought, I can do
ladies whose
that! I can also talk!
generous hearts and
tireless work are the
So Jean Ann grabbed
backbone of churches
her friend Jeri and
across the nation. On
came to an Emmaus
Sunday, they can be
volunteer training.
found making coffee
Jeri: We were very
for Fellowship Hour.
intimidated by the
During the week, they
thought of interacting
can be found leading
Jean Ann (left) and Jeri dont look like
with these men. We
various womens
your typical urban ministry workers.
thought, What could
ministries. Every day, Jeri
we
offer?
What
surprised
us is how fast our
can be found at the church office
fears were dispelled. Volunteering at Emmaus
where shes the secretary.
is one of the most important things I do all
And oh yes, once a month they can be
month. I say, Im going to see my boys!
found at Emmaus cooking dinner for
Where else can you cook dinner and they clap
male prostitutes.
for you?! I serve them dinner and ask them
Our guys call Jean Ann and Jeri the Church
about their day. They trust us more
Ladies, and they ask about them a lot. When
and more.
are those Church Ladies coming back?
You forget theyre prostitutes. I care about
Since starting at Emmaus, Jeri and Jean Ann
them. Its painful to think of them sleeping on
have learned to cook (and perfect) a variety of
the streets. It has made me aware of people
cultural dishes such as collard greens that our
that are often faceless to those in the Church. I
guys enjoy. (Especially as our men dont
also love that the ministry is ecumenical...the
hesitate to offer numerous and often elaborate
body of Christ working together.
cooking tips!)
Jean Ann: I have two sons, and there but for
Recently, one of our staff members sat down
the grace of God they have gone. [Jean Ann
with Jeri and Jean Ann. Through their words,
chokes up a little] My sons could have been
its easy to hear their passion for Emmaus
these men if circumstances had been different.
the kind of passion we value in all our
Things could have gone differently for them.
volunteers and supporters.
Jeri: Ive learned that people are people.
I encourage these men. Its a mom kind of
The story of how they became the
thing. And boy, do they respond to it!

Church Ladies to our guys...

921 West Wilson Avenue

Chicago, IL 60640-9819
773.334.6063
Emmaus@streets.org

Jean Ann: I was at this womens retreat. This

speaker really affected me. She talked about
people who really need help outside of the
Church. A friend of KTs [staff member KT
McClure] who was at the retreat suggested I

Jean Ann: Everyone needs mom-ing.

Jean Ann and Jeri are proof that Emmaus
volunteers dont fit a mold. God will use
your special talentswhether its
cooking, cleaning, listening, encouraging,
whateverto help you fit in here.
And then as the Body of Christ, we
will serve and love.