Matt Armstrong Online: Random Reflections on Riches

Matt's Musings

Matt Armstrong

Matt Armstrong is the executive director of Crossroads Kids Club and the founding pastor of New Hope Community in Streamwood, Illinois. Matt is married to Adriana, and together they have two children, Graciela and Abigail. He and his family have lived in Streamwood since 2004. Both Matt and Adriana are extremely involved in the community. Adriana serves as a park district commissioner, and Matt is the president of the Kiwanis Club.

Matt graduated from Wheaton College in 1995 with a B.A. in elementary education. He became a bilingual (Spanish) teacher in Melrose Park and then in Bensenville, teaching grades K, 1, 6, and 7. In 1998, Matt left teaching to become the director or Crossroads. Crossroads is a ministry that serves children through after school clubs and summer camps as well as by providing students various service opportunities and special events. Crossroads is a neighborhood ministry that is focused on the children of Streamwood and Hanover Park.

It was through the work with Crossroads that Matt and Adriana developed a vision for a new neighborhood church. In 2002, Matt was ordained to the ministry by Souled Out in Mount Prospect. In 2007, Matt received an M.A. in Christian Formation and Ministry from Wheaton Graduate School.

When not engaged in ministry, Matt enjoys spending time with his family (biking, going to a park or a museum or just hanging out), jogging, and reading.

People who know Matt describe him as a catalyst or an activator because he is always starting something new. “One of my favorite quotes," says Matt, "is from the famous missionary William Carey who said that we should, 'Expect great things from God; attempt great things for God.' That is how I want to live my life. I want to be someone who is not afraid to take bold risks for God because our God is big, and I have seen him do awesome things in my life and in the lives of others. Serving him is the adventure of a lifetime. I am passionate about our New Hope and Corssroads because we want to help people join in on the great adventure of living boldly for God and to guide them toward experiencing the new hope that God offers us through his Son, Jesus."

Random Reflections on Riches

Today when I went to pick up the mail, some colorful stamps on the outside of a large brown envelope caught my

eye. The envelope was from Uganda. I opened it up to find letters, drawings, and photos from some orphans at the "Joy of [a] Child" Home in Mbarara, Uganda. Recently, people at New Hope put together some money to send to Uganda to purchase some basic items for these children. We provided things like toothbrushes and towels, a dining room table and chairs, and a water tank. Various individuals in the congregation "purchased" 16 different items. As I read the thank you letters from the children there, I was deeply moved. After reading one letter in particular (image below), I was reminded of Jesus' words in Luke 16:9. He said, "I tell you, use worldly wealth to gain friends for yourselves, so that when it is gone, you will be welcomed into eternal dwellings" (TNIV).

The letter, addressed to my father and mother-in-law who purchased a table and chairs, said this: "Greetings from Ssemanda Moses. How are you over there? I write this thank you letter to you for the purchased gifts (dining table) where [we] will be meeting for our games and devotion[s]. And every meeting we will be praying for you. I am drawing a picture of all of us praying for you. [I] hope you will like it. God bless you. Your friend, Ssemanda Moses."

The fact of the matter is that if you are a U.S. American like me, you are rich. The trouble is that our culture tells us that we need more and more, and so "rich" always seems just a little out of reach. Nonetheless, we are in point of fact very rich. (If you don't believe me, go to www.globalrichlist.com, enter your income and see in what percentile of the world's wealthiest people you are.) When the Bible speaks of rich people, it is speaking to us.

My friend who has been to Uganda told me that these very orphans have often been so hungry that they have snuck out of the house to rummage through trash just to find something to put in their stomachs. By contrast, I just returned from the grocery store with seven bags full of food (so much, in fact, that some of it is still on our kitchen table because our cabinets are so full of food that I don't even know where to put it all!). In an age of globalization, we have no excuse for turning our eyes from the poor and the oppressed, the orphans and the widows.

I don't want to give out of guilt or obligation but out of joy. When I got these letters today, collecting and organizing this gift proved to be such a tremendous joy. And as I think about these orphans sitting around a new table praying for my in-laws, I can't help but think that they (and the other donors) made such a wise investment. They used their worldly wealth to gain friends--friends who will welcome them in the kingdom. Someday our money will be meaningless, but the connection that was formed through this gift will last on into the age to come. We may never meet Ssemanda Moses or the other orphans in this life, but we will have them as friends in the kingdom of God. I thank God that we are wealthy Americans because we have the amazing privilege of using that wealth to share the love of God with people near and far. May God help us to be wise managers of his money.