This is the logo for one of the open mic’s John attends. John wants to welcome any Chicago visitors to “The Catch,” and thank them for welcoming him into their community.
John Shirk is a missionary to Chicago … sort of. His actual job title is “ambassador.” Missionary is a complicated word that alienates some people. As an ambassador John represents Jesus in an unusual context: Chicago’s artistic subculture. Over the years, he has spent more time in bars than in churches, because bars are often where artists gather at open mics and poetry slams to build community and share their art. Art reveals the soul of the artist, so it’s a great place for a Christian not to be a missionary, but a person, a fellow poet joining the discussion — willing to bare his own soul in the process of understanding others, and joining in, as just another poet, albeit, a sacrificial one.
John has written a book on his experiences so far. It’s a revealing read, more about how the people he’s trying to reach have influenced him than how he has influenced them. The following is an excerpt from that book. We will be sharing more of John’s writing with you in the coming weeks along with some writing from his daughter, a millennial with a wonderful gift of expression.
John Fischer The Catch 