Recent Seminary graduate Brandon Shaw muses about how the Gospel story is one of social justice and evangelism. Let’s call him “Tommy.” Tommy and I sat in proximity to each other in Dr. Dan Treier’s undergraduate, systematic theology course at Wheaton College (Ill.) during the fall of 2006. Tommy was arguably the course’s most…
Rachel Held Evans and Grace
My wife, Erin, and I first became aware of Rachel Held Evans when we were serving in Florida. As we were working with youth from a number of churches, one of the teenagers asked us to read something called A Year of Biblical Womanhood. It struck us as an odd request – odd enough that…
The Power of Empty Hands
The temptation is strong and will grow as your mission trip departure date approaches. The mere thought of traveling to and working in Third World communities is enough to get our anxiety working overtime: Will I be safe? Can I drink the water? Will I be able to handle the poverty? What will it be…