Dave Gibbons shares about his recently released book, “The Shape of my Eyes,” on why he wrote his story, on why all of our histories matter, and why they deserve to be told.

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"It’s easier to get a gun in America than it is to get rid of a gun.  

Even gun buybacks and incentivized gun surrender events can be problematic, because law enforcement agencies have a record of putting the guns right back on the market. Just as it is unthinkable for police to sell back heroin from a drug bust, we have to insist that law enforcement agencies stop selling weapons.  It is a violation of their pledge to serve and protect. We’ve all heard of the black market, but it has become clear that there is an entire underground “blue market” of cops selling guns. 

In a bombshell report, a recent study revealed that more than 52,000 guns used in crimes over a sixteen-year period can be tracked back to police.  At least 145 law enforcement agencies have sold firearms, which have later been used in thousands of shootings all over the country." - Shane Claiborne, Buying Guns on the Blue Market

READ MORE: https://redletterchristians.org/2024/07/19/buying-guns-on-the-blue-market/

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Join us as we dive into the critical response led by Mayor Rokhsana Fiaz and local activist Sally Mann in Newham, a diverse London borough facing challenges from recent riots and threats of white supremacist activity. Mayor Fiaz, a powerful advocate for equality and inclusivity, along with Sally Mann, a prominent community leader, work tirelessly to promote unity and security in Newham. This episode uncovers their strategic initiatives and collaborative approaches to maintain peace, empower marginalized voices, and resist hate-driven agendas.

Explore the powerful resilience of Newham’s leaders as they implement anti-racism measures and amplify community-led responses to uphold justice and safety. Learn more about Mayor Fiaz's work on the [official Newham website](https://www.newham.gov.uk/), and follow local initiatives through resources like [Newham London’s Community Safety](https://www.newham.gov.uk/community-safety) and updates on [Newham’s anti-racism efforts](https://www.newham.gov.uk/community-parks-leisure/anti-racism/).

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https://redletterchristians.org/2024/11/20/tony-campolo-sociologist-and-famed-red-letter-christian-has-died/

We are deeply saddened to share that co-founder of Red Letter Christians, Tony Campolo, has passed away on November 19, 2024. Tony was a highly impactful spiritual figure and Shane reflects on his connection to Tony and the work they've done. God bless.

Tony's Book: https://www.amazon.com/Red-Letter-Christians-Citizens-Politics/dp/0830745297

We are excited to have October's featured guest Eliza Griswold talking about her latest book, "Circle of Hope: A Reckoning of Love, Power and Justice in an American Church" with Shane Claiborne and Katie Jo Brotherton. About the Book: "Circle of Hope" is an intimate portrait of a church, its radical mission, and its riveting crisis. “The revolution I wanted to be part of was in the church.” Americans have been leaving their churches. Some drift away. Some stay home. And some have been searching for—and finding—more authentic ways to find and follow Jesus. This is the story of one such “radical outpost of Jesus followers” dedicated to service, the Sermon on the Mount, and working toward justice for all in this life, not just salvation for some in the next. Part of a little-known yet influential movement at the edge of American evangelicalism, Philadelphia’s Circle of Hope grew for forty years, planted four congregations, and then found itself in crisis. The story that follows is an American allegory full of questions with urgent relevance for so many of us, not just the faithful: How do we commit to one another and our better selves in a fracturing world? Where does power live? Can it be shared? How do we make “the least of these” welcome? Building on years of deep reporting, the Pulitzer Prize winner Eliza Griswold has crafted an intimate, immersive, tenderhearted portrait of a community, as well as a riveting chronicle of its transformation, bearing witness to the ways a deeply committed membership and their team of devoted pastors are striving toward change that might help their church survive. Through generational rifts, an increasingly politicized religious landscape, a pandemic that prevented gathering to worship, and a rise in foundation-shaking activism, Circle of Hope tells a propulsive, layered story of what we do to stay true to our beliefs. It is a soaring, searing examination of what it means for us to love, to grow, and to disagree. About the Author: Eliza Griswold is the author of six books of poetry and nonfiction, all published by Farrar, Straus and Giroux. Her book Amity and Prosperity: One Family and the Fracturing of America was awarded the 2019 Pulitzer Prize in General Nonfiction. She writes for The New Yorker, is the Ferris Professor and Director of the Program in Journalism at Princeton University, and lives in New Jersey with her husband and son.

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Rev. Amy Cantrell is a passionate advocate based in BeLoved Asheville, an intentional community focused on providing care and support for those facing homelessness, poverty, and systemic racism. At BeLoved, a diverse, intersectional community, members from all walks of life work together to create sustainable solutions to social injustices through shared love and mutual support. For more about BeLoved’s mission and impact, visit [BeLoved Asheville’s official website](https://www.belovedasheville.com/).

Ponkho Bermejo, a dedicated indigenous and Latinx community organizer, serves as a Co-Director at BeLoved Asheville and is renowned for his innovative approaches to advocacy. He leads efforts to foster cultural pride and connection to heritage by empowering community members, especially youth, to embrace and celebrate their roots. His passion for photography, art, and music fuels his work in promoting racial equity and social justice. Recognized by the Asheville Area Arts Council and CoThinkk, Ponkho’s commitment to equity has earned him awards, including the title of Peacemaker of the Year in Western North Carolina. For more on Ponkho’s initiatives and contributions, you can explore resources like the [Asheville Area Arts Council](https://ashevillearts.com/) and [CoThinkk](https://www.cothinkk.org/).

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Shane Claiborne speaks about placing our hope not in a person, politician or political party but to place our hope in Christ alone. Our hope lies not in the donkey of the Democrats or the elephant of the GOP - it lays firmly instead on the lamb, on Jesus.

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Learn more about David Gushee: https://www.davidpgushee.com/ 

Get his book: https://www.davidpgushee.com/book/the-moral-teachings-of-jesus/ 

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More information on RLC Revivals: https://redletterchristians.org/red-letter-revivals-2024/

Buy The Ballot and the Bible by Kaitlyn Schiess

From RLC's Book Club on August 27, 2024 - We are excited to have our dear friend Kaitlyn Schiess as the featured book club author for the month of August where we will be spotlighting her book, "The Ballot and the Bible." The book asks: How do Bible passages written thousands of years ago apply to politics today? What can we learn from America's history of using the Bible in politics? How can we converse with people whose views differ from our own? In "The Ballot and the Bible" Kaitlyn Schiess explores these questions and more. She unpacks examples of how Americans have connected the Bible to politics in the past, highlighting times it was applied well and times it was egregiously misused. Schiess combines American political history and biblical interpretation to help readers faithfully read Scripture, talk with others about it, and apply it to contemporary political issues--and to their lives. Rather than prescribing what readers should think about specific hot-button issues, Schiess outlines core biblical themes around power, allegiance, national identity, and more. Readers will be encouraged to pursue a biblical basis for their political engagement with compassion and confidence. Kaitlyn Schiess of course needs no introduction. She is an author, speaker, and perpetual theology student. She is the author of The Ballot and the Bible (Brazos, 2023) and The Liturgy of Politics (IVP, 2020), and her writing has appeared in Christianity Today, The New York Times, Christ and Pop Culture, RELEVANT, and Sojourner. She is a co-host and Senior Editor of the Holy Post podcast, and the host of Curiously, Kaitlyn. She has a ThM in systematic theology from Dallas Theological Seminary and is currently a doctoral student in theology at Duke Divinity School.

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