When We Stand - by Terence Lester (Paperback)

About the Book

Activist Terence Lester knows it's hard to change the world. But mobilizing and using our gifts in collaboration with others empowers us to do more than we ever could on our own. Offering practical ways for us to get involved as groups, families, churches, and communities, Lester shows how the body of Christ can transform society when we stand together.

Book Synopsis

It's easy to feel overwhelmed by all of the injustices that we see in the world. We don't know what to do and might think that we don't have anything to offer. But by using our gifts in collaboration with others, we can do more together than we ever could on our own.

Activist Terence Lester knows it's hard to change the world. But mobilizing and acting together empowers us to do what we can't do as isolated individuals. Lester looks at the obstacles that prevent us from getting involved, and he offers practical ways that we can accomplish things together as groups, families, churches, and communities. He helps us find our place in the larger picture, discerning the unique ways we can contribute and make a difference. By connecting with our neighbors and discovering our own paths of service, we can drastically change how we follow Christ and see God moving in the world.

Togetherness and community give visible testimony of the power of the gospel. In this broken world, the body of Christ can transform society--when we stand together.

Review Quotes

"When We Stand is a poetic expression grounded in a faith-based perspective addressing a multitude of social injustices and worldly misfortunes. Terence's vision of interconnection and call for action is simply remarkable."

"When We Stand is a unique call and challenge for Christians living in the internet age. The antidote to compassion fatigue, being overwhelmed, or loneliness, as Lester beautifully illustrates, is not more stuff on your to-do list but deeper practice of proximity, vulnerability, and consistency. This book is a vital word for all of us. I hope it is as life giving for you as it was for me."

"When We Stand is both an intimate and intentional work, infused with personal reflection as well as community recruitment to action. It teaches us that with the advent of the cellphone, we have all been exposed to injustice (both concerning race and resources) and therefore have been called to action. This provocative piece by my friend and colleague Terence Lester is both a motivational journal of his personal call to action and events that he could not ignore, and a model journey into a collective call that we can share. Now is the time to act, and When We Stand is the pathway to action."

"'People are homeless by choice.' That's what I used to tell myself. Not that they wanted it, but their personal choices resulted in it. So it ultimately was their fault and their responsibility alone. But Terence Lester knows better. He has experienced homelessness and now he's helping the rest of us draw near to those we might otherwise fear, scapegoat, and want to blame. If you care about justice and the transformation of your own biases at the intersection of personal dignity and structural change, Terence Lester is a leader to follow."

"Terence Lester is without question one of the voices I respect most on biblical justice. When We Stand is a book that Christians and churches alike should be reading right now. Through powerful story that is rooted in Scripture, Lester challenges us to become proximate to the injustices of this world, because it's only when we've encountered these pains close and upfront that we will begin to understand, care, and seek to do something about it. This is the simple first step we all must take. Lester's life and ministry are a testament to this, and I can't think of a better person to serve as a guide to one of the most important conversations of our age."

"Terence Lester writes with vulnerability, grace, and truth about the endless possibilities for good in the world when we seek justice in community. You will be changed by reading the Bible through his eyes. You will be inspired by his story, as he has been transformed through his friendships with those most of us overlook. Lester's book is deeply relevant, practical, and theological--a rare combination! He believes deeply in the God who lives in community as Father, Son, and Spirit and calls us to do the same as we live out our calling to seek justice. If reading the news, scrolling through social media, or watching current events unfold on television leaves you despairing and feeling helpless, When We Stand is the book for you. It's a must-read, offering a tangible and compelling way forward for everyone who wants to follow in the steps of our God of justice."

"Through vulnerability, conviction, and empathy, Terence Lester clearly lights a path to what togetherness can look like on this never-ending journey to justice. When We Stand invites us to see ourselves the way God does: as a unified body, with each person having a specific and valuable role to play in the larger story. A breath of fresh air and a needed push in the right direction, this book will leave readers encouraged and equipped for hard, holy work."

"Using faith as both his fuel and fire, Terence Lester solidifies his place and voice as a national leader in homeless advocacy and human rights in his new book When We Stand. He brings a clear message of faith and purpose--cutting through the clutter of news cycles and social media noise--and reminds us that humanity, and the love we have for it, is the only way to truly seek justice and obtain it together."

About the Author

Terence Lester is the founder of Love Beyond Walls, a nonprofit organization focused on poverty awareness and community mobilization. His campaign #LoveSinksIn, which provides handwashing stations for the poor, has been featured on Good Morning America and CNN and in Essence and Reader's Digest, and he was named by Coca-Cola as one of their History Shakers. Terence is the author of I See You, and he and his family live in Atlanta.