Some moments are significant, but are only known as such much later. The decision to move from the US to South Africa with our young boys was a defining moment for my wife, Leslie, and me. Nothing was as expected. The wheels fell off the ministry we had joined and within a few months we were in a crisis. The only thing we knew for sure was that it wasn't time to leave. 

Have you ever been in over your head? What happens next is often a moment that redefines your life going forward. We arrived in South Africa in 2003 with a plan and a purpose. Instead, God recalibrated our expectations and quickly showed me that my theology was too shallow and didn't have the framework needed to process what I was experiencing.  

That crisis started my journey toward grappling with poverty and justice from a wholly theological perspective. Poverty is invasive and is a trap. And God cares for those in poverty and expects those who love Him to do the same.

The Gospel as Social Revolution is the result of research that is both academic and intensely practical. The academic parts are a deep dive into Scripture as a framework encouraging response. History and the social sciences are also explored. It also details a project that engaged unemployment as a church-based response to poverty. I hope it serves as a helpful model for other activities that engage need as an outpouring of love.

I will post other projects in this site that explore similar themes. Let me know what you think.