In the past few months I have visited 28 cities, speaking at more than 40 different events, not only connected to the release of my book Christ in Crisis: Why We Need to Reclaim Jesus, but as a way of ministering to the Sojourners community around the country.

At Sojourners we have had a long relationship with the word “community.” It can mean many things, but it’s a phrase we cling to as part of our calling. A theme that we hear from so many people is that Sojourners helps them feel connected to a community of people of faith who care about social justice. As one attendee at a talk I gave in St. Louis said to me, “Sometimes I feel so alone in my concerns about how Christianity is being used and abused. Even in my own church, there are those who don’t understand my point of view. Sojourners helps me feel a sense of community. I came here feeling weighed down and discouraged, but am leaving with a renewed sense of hope and purpose.”

Our dedication as Christians is to never lose hope, even in the face of adversity. We are instructed over and over in the scriptures to be persistent and not to let fear control us.

In a reflection on John 17:13-23, I once wrote this, which is relevant today —

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