Tony Campolo

Follow the faith journey of Tony Campolo, one of the most influential figures in modern evangelical Christianity Millions of Christians know Tony Campolo as a popular speaker, bestselling author, parachurch leader, pastor, and counselor to a US president. But few know his personal faith journey--how throughout his life, existential encounters and unexplored ideas compelled him to continually reexamine and reform his theology. As a child, Campolo saw how his parents and the various churches he attended embraced different approaches to faith. Growing up, he wrestled with questions about racism, worldliness, and faith and science. He would go on to write and speak about war and peace, feminism, capitalism, religion and politics, nationalism, homosexuality, and the religious right. Pilgrim: A Theological Memoir traces the evolution of Campolo's theology as he matured as a believer, scholar, and evangelical leader who continually sought to engage thoughtfully with the sociocultural challenges of his time and to encourage fellow believers to do the same.

On the surface the Christmas story has all the trappings of a fairy tale: An innocent young girl, a miracle child, an evil king, slain children, mysterious and wise visitors who journey hundreds of miles across a foreboding desert, a star that behaves erratically like no other star before or since, the appearance of angels and a couple so poor they must lodge in a stable. This is how God visited earth and herein is the indisputable evidence. At the age of five Rev. Gordon A. Jones was led to Christ by a neighbor woman who also discipled him. At that early age he said he wanted to be a minister. Subsequently he studied at the Philadelphia Bible Institute, graduated from Houghton College and Pittsburgh Seminary, interned in psychology at Presbyterian Hospital, Philadelphia and earned a Ph.D. (cum laude) in hermeneutics at the California Graduate School of Theology. His doctoral dissertation, "Hermeneutics For the Laity", is a study in the art and science of biblical interpretation. Dr. Jones and his wife Katharine have been married 63 years, served in inner city ministries and as missionaries in Hawaii and China where they both taught at Sias University, Zhengzhou. For two years he was editor of "The Crusader" a magazine for Christian youth and the radio evangelist on the weekly "Your Mission" broadcasts. Katharine also served as director of a refugee ministry in Santa Ana, CA and their son, Gordon Jr. and wife, Elizabeth ministered in Africa for nine years. Together they currently head "Friends of Refugees" a Christian outreach in Portland, Oregon. Gordon and Katharine's two grandsons are also in ministry.

Acclaimed evangelical speaker and writer Tony Campolo teams up with spiritual director and teacher Mary Albert Darling to reveal some gems from the liturgical Christian tradition to Protestants who may be ready for a refreshing change. While steeped in their own evangelical tradition, the authors are not afraid to venture back into Christian history and reclaim practices that have long been considered exclusively Catholic--including Centering Prayer, along with works by Ignatius Loyola and Catherine of Siena--as excellent spiritual tools to help evangelicals grow in faith and love for the poor. A vital theme in Campolo and Darling's work is that spirituality is not solely an individualistic practice but must lead Christians to love and help the oppressed. True Christian mysticism, they posit, is not an either/or proposition. That's because the nexus between evangelism and justice is to be found in Christian mysticism.

Autor cristiano, best seller, activista y erudito Tony Campolo y su hijo Bart, un reconocido humanista, debaten sus diferencias espirituales y exploran las semejanzas entre la fe, las creencias y la esperanza que comparten.En una cena de acción de gracias, Bart Campolo, de 50 años de edad, le anunció a su padre, el pastor evangélico Tony Campolo, que después de una vida inmerso en la fe cristiana, ya no creía en Dios. La revelación sacudió la dinámica familiar de los Campolo y obligó a padre e hijo a reconsiderar sus propios recorridos en la fe.En este libro los Campolos reflexionan sobre sus odiseas espirituales personales y cómo evolucionaron cuando sus caminos se divergieron. Tony, renombrado maestro y pastor cristiano, relata su experiencia, desde la primer aflicción al descubrir el cambio en la fe de Bart, a la sanidad subsiguiente que encontró en su propio autoanálisis, hasta aceptar el punto de vista de su hijo.Bart, un autor humanista y capellán de la Universidad del Sur de California, habla de su caminar espiritual desde el cristianismo progresivo al humanismo, revelando cómo afectó su perspectiva y transformó la relación con su padre. Una barrera dolorosa entre un padre y su hijo que pudo haberlos dividido irremediablemente se convirtió en una oportunidad que ofreció a cada uno una perspectiva no solo de lo que los separa, sino de lo que es aún más importante, lo que los une.

Bestselling Christian author, activist, and scholar Tony Campolo and his son Bart, an avowed Humanist, debate their spiritual differences and explore similarities involving faith, belief, and hope that they share.Over a Thanksgiving dinner, fifty-year-old Bart Campolo announced to his Evangelical pastor father, Tony Campolo, that after a lifetime immersed in the Christian faith, he no longer believed in God. The revelation shook the Campolo family dynamic and forced father and son to each reconsider his own personal journey of faith--dual spiritual investigations into theology, faith, and Humanism that eventually led Bart and Tony back to one another. In Why I Left, Why I Stayed, the Campolos reflect on their individual spiritual odysseys and how they evolved when their paths diverged. Tony, a renowned Christian teacher and pastor, recounts his experience, from the initial heartbreak of discovering Bart's change in faith, to the subsequent healing he found in his own self-examination, to his embracing of his son's point of view. Bart, an author and Humanist chaplain at the University of Southern California, considers his faith journey from Progressive Christianity to Humanism, revealing how it affected his outlook and transformed his relationship with his father. As Why I Left, Why I Stayed makes clear, a painful schism between father and son that could have divided them irreparably became instead an opening that offered each an invaluable look not only at what separated them, but more importantly, what they shared.

We can make Jesus look very small if we are not careful. Your Jesus Is Too Small explores how a trivialized Jesus contributes to a collapsed Christian moral character. The 2016 election exposed the truth that for many Christians character does not count, or is a very low priority. Eighty-one percent of white evangelicals voted for President Trump, not known as a man of high moral character. This collapse of character is especially troubling since Christians claim to seek after the mind and character of Jesus Christ. What's more, the ingrained and unrelenting cultural values--combined with our inescapable self-centered pursuits--bombard us every moment and blight our character. After noting how we belittle Jesus, this book explores ways we can exalt him, allowing his character traits to inform and then transform our hearts and minds. A credible Jesus also means that more tongues will confess him and more knees bow before him and that more people will desire his compassionate character. Then we will be morally equipped to address the great crises of our day: persistent poverty, the marginalizing of out-groups, raging violence, and our planet's lingering woes. ""In this book, Doug Miller does the work of a prophet who comes with a sledgehammer to smash the false idols that we have constructed in place of the biblical Jesus. With the insights of an academic, but in the language of a typical layperson, he deconstructs the American Jesus in order to clear the way for us to encounter the true historical Jesus as revealed in Scripture."" --Tony Campolo, from the foreword ""I have just two words in response to this insightful book that alerts us to both the false gods of our culture and the actual Jesus of Scripture: 'Ouch' and 'Thanks.' This is a wonderful mirror for those brave enough to look into it."" --Joel C. Hunter, Senior Pastor of Northland, A Church Distributed ""In this much-needed, well-written, highly-readable, important new book, Doug Miller seeks to free us from the false pictures and incorrect understandings of Jesus created through our self-serving personal, social, and political beliefs. Instead he challenges each of us to develop a character based on the real Jesus and his teachings. He calls us to make the true gospel of Jesus come alive in our hearts and minds in order to make a powerful, positive difference in today's troubled world."" --William C. Nelsen, Pastor, Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, Interim President, Episcopal Divinity School, Cambridge, Massachusetts ""Doug Miller exposes the false Christianities for what they are: deeply distorted versions of the original message that have been exploited to justify injustice, to suppress the suppressed, and to strengthen the strong. A timely and important work."" --Jarmo Tarkki, California Lutheran University Douglas J. Miller was Professor of Christian Social Ethics at Eastern Baptist Seminary (now Palmer Seminary). He also pastored the First Baptist Church of Santa Barbara, California. He has written Jesus Goes to Washington (Wipf & Stock, 2013) and contributed to the Evangelical Dictionary of Theology (2001). His work also appears in Christianity Today and the American Baptist Journal.

We can make Jesus look very small if we are not careful. Your Jesus Is Too Small explores how a trivialized Jesus contributes to a collapsed Christian moral character. The 2016 election exposed the truth that for many Christians character does not count, or is a very low priority. Eighty-one percent of white evangelicals voted for President Trump, not known as a man of high moral character. This collapse of character is especially troubling since Christians claim to seek after the mind and character of Jesus Christ. What's more, the ingrained and unrelenting cultural values--combined with our inescapable self-centered pursuits--bombard us every moment and blight our character. After noting how we belittle Jesus, this book explores ways we can exalt him, allowing his character traits to inform and then transform our hearts and minds. A credible Jesus also means that more tongues will confess him and more knees bow before him and that more people will desire his compassionate character. Then we will be morally equipped to address the great crises of our day: persistent poverty, the marginalizing of out-groups, raging violence, and our planet's lingering woes. ""In this book, Doug Miller does the work of a prophet who comes with a sledgehammer to smash the false idols that we have constructed in place of the biblical Jesus. With the insights of an academic, but in the language of a typical layperson, he deconstructs the American Jesus in order to clear the way for us to encounter the true historical Jesus as revealed in Scripture."" --Tony Campolo, from the foreword ""I have just two words in response to this insightful book that alerts us to both the false gods of our culture and the actual Jesus of Scripture: 'Ouch' and 'Thanks.' This is a wonderful mirror for those brave enough to look into it."" --Joel C. Hunter, Senior Pastor of Northland, A Church Distributed ""In this much-needed, well-written, highly-readable, important new book, Doug Miller seeks to free us from the false pictures and incorrect understandings of Jesus created through our self-serving personal, social, and political beliefs. Instead he challenges each of us to develop a character based on the real Jesus and his teachings. He calls us to make the true gospel of Jesus come alive in our hearts and minds in order to make a powerful, positive difference in today's troubled world."" --William C. Nelsen, Pastor, Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, Interim President, Episcopal Divinity School, Cambridge, Massachusetts ""Doug Miller exposes the false Christianities for what they are: deeply distorted versions of the original message that have been exploited to justify injustice, to suppress the suppressed, and to strengthen the strong. A timely and important work."" --Jarmo Tarkki, California Lutheran University Douglas J. Miller was Professor of Christian Social Ethics at Eastern Baptist Seminary (now Palmer Seminary). He also pastored the First Baptist Church of Santa Barbara, California. He has written Jesus Goes to Washington (Wipf & Stock, 2013) and contributed to the Evangelical Dictionary of Theology (2001). His work also appears in Christianity Today and the American Baptist Journal.

Para todos los cristianos que se hallan en conflicto entre las palabras de Jesús y la realidad de sus propias vidas, y para todos los no cristianos que sienten que muy ocasionalmente se ven los mandamientos de Jesús reflejados en las elecciones que hacen sus seguidores, La revolución de las letras rojas constituirá una guía para un nuevo tipo de cristiandad, conscientemente centrado en las palabras de Jesús que aparecen en las «letras rojas» de la Biblia. Estructurado como un diálogo cautivante entre Shane Caiborne (un evangélico joven y progresista) y Tony Campolo (pastor experimentado y profesor de sociología), La revolución de las letras rojas constituye un manifiesto que cambiará la vida tanto de los escépticos como de los cristianos. Es un llamado a un estilo de vida que tiene en cuenta antes que nada, y por encima de todo, el mensaje explícito y liberador de Jesús referido como el amor sacrificial. Shane y Tony con total franqueza relacionan las palabras de Jesús con cuestiones contemporáneas como la violencia, la comunidad, el islam, el infierno, la sexualidad, la desobediencia civil y otros veinte tópicos más que resultan cruciales para las personas de fe que tienen conciencia hoy. Los diálogos resultantes revelan una sorprendente verdad: que los cristianos que se dejan guiar de manera inequívoca por las palabras de Jesús, con frecuencia llegan a conclusiones completamente opuestas a las de aquellos que forman la corriente principal del cristianismo evangélico. Si el Jesús que te habla a través de los evangelios no concuerda con la cultura cristiana que conoces, si alguna vez has deseado ponerte de pie y decir: «Te amo, Jesús, pero yo no soy así»,La revolución de las letras rojas te mostrará que no estás solo, y que puedes ser un cristiano de las «letras rojas» todo el tiempo. «Este libro, escrito por un cristiano de edad madura y otro joven, nos ayudará a definir la manera en que los cristianos podríamos cambiar el mundo si tomáramos literalmente y con seriedad las palabras de Jesús “escritas en rojo”». —Presidente Jimmy Carter «En La revolución de las letras rojas, a la verdad sin concesiones de las enseñanzas de Jesús le aportan su voz dos líderes cristianos de los tiempos modernos, que van más allá de predicar esas buenas nuevas. Ellos viven lo que predican y abren camino». —Arzobispo Desmond Tutu «Comencé a leer este libro y no pude parar... Gracias, Tony y Shane. Gracias por este libro. Que este movimiento se extienda por todo el mundo». —Albuna Elias Chacour, Obispo de la Iglesia Católica Melquita de Galilea «La revolución de las letras rojas es un coloquio con un sabor profético que hace que se eleve la adrenalina». —Eugene H. Peterson, autor de la Biblia The Message «No puedo enfatizar por demás ni exagerar en cuanto a la riqueza de este libro». —Phyllis Tickle, autora deEmergence Christianity «En este libro, valiente y bien escrito, tenemos un retorno al mensaje central del evangelio por parte de dos cristianos que primero intentaron vivirlo ellos mismos, y recién entonces hablaron». —Fr. Richard Rohr, O.F.M., Centro para la Acción y Contemplación «Shane Claiborne y Tony Campolo son dos de las voces proféticas más significativas del mundo cristiano».—Rabino Michael Lerner, editor de la revista Tikkun Magazine(tikkun.org) «Si alguna vez has anhelado escuchar a hurtadillas una conversación entre dos de los cristianos más interesantes e inspiradores del mundo, solo tienes que ir a la página uno». —Brian C. Mclaren, autor y orador (brianmclaren.net)

In RED LETTER CHRISTIANITY Shane Claiborne and Tony Campolo explore what it means to take seriously the words of Jesus. Both authors are known for their commitment to the lifestyle requisites of the Gospels, and their belief that real Christianity must inform the way we live... every day of our lives. RED LETTER CHRISTIANITY deals with the crucial questions facing followers of Jesus today, including global poverty and injustice, the growth of the church, issues of sexuality, the environment... and many more. Readers are invited to sit around the table with Shane and Tony as they discuss these issues together.

In today's political environment, who speaks for whom is not always clear. Over the past couple of decades, evangelical Christians have tended to be associated with the religious right and the most conservative positions of the Republican Party. Rebelling against this designation are those who prefer to be called Red Letter Christians, desiring to live out Jesus's words in the New Testament. Believing that Jesus is neither a Republican nor a Democrat, Red Letter Christians want to jumpstart a religious movement that will transcend partisan politics and concentrate on issues such as fighting poverty, caring for the environment, advancing peace, promoting strong families, and supporting a consistent ethic of life, all viewed as critical moral and biblical values. Into this arena of thought steps Tony Campolo, the powerful evangelist known for his passionate and prophetic sharing of the radical message of Jesus. In this book, Campolo examines many of the hot-button issues facing evangelicals from the perspective of Jesus's red-letter words in the Bible. No matter where you fall on the political spectrum, Campolo will make you think, pray, and act.

For all the Christians facing conflict between Jesus’ words and their own lives, for all the non-Christians who feel they rarely see Jesus’ commands reflected in the choices of his followers, Red Letter Revolution is a blueprint for a new kind of Christianity, one consciously centered on the words of Jesus, the Bible’s “red letters.”Framed as a captivating dialogue between Shane Claiborne, a progressive young evangelical, and Tony Campolo, a seasoned pastor and professor of sociology, Red Letter Revolution is a life-altering manifesto for skeptics and Christians alike. It is a call to a lifestyle that considers first and foremost Jesus’ explicit, liberating message of sacrificial love.Shane and Tony candidly bring the words of Jesus to bear on contemporary issues of violence, community, Islam, hell, sexuality, civil disobedience, and twenty other critical topics for people of faith and conscience today. The resulting conversations reveal the striking truth that Christians guided unequivocally by the words of Jesus will frequently reach conclusions utterly contrary to those of mainstream evangelical Christianity.If the Jesus who speaks to you through the Gospels is at odds with the Christian culture you know, if you have ever wanted to stand up and say, “I love Jesus, but that’s not me,” Red Letter Revolution will prove that you are not alone—you may have been a Red Letter Christian all along.Endorsements:“This book, by a young and an elderly Christian, will help you decide how we Christians could change the world if we took the ‘red letter’ words of Jesus literally and seriously.” —President Jimmy Carter“In Red Letter Revolution the uncompromised truth of Jesus' teachings are given voice by two modern-day Christian leaders who do more than preach this Good News. They walk the talk and lead the way.” —Archbishop Desmond Tutu“I started reading this book and couldn't stop. . . . Thank you, Tony and Shane. Thank you for this book. May the movement spread around the world.” —Abuna Elias Chacour,?Melkite Catholic Archbishop of Galilee“Red Letter Revolution is an adrenaline-producing conversation with prophetic bite.” —Eugene H. Peterson, author of The Message Bible“I cannot over-emphasize or exaggerate the richness of this book.” —Phyllis Tickle, author of Emergence Christianity“In this courageous and well crafted book, we have a return to the core message of the Gospel from two Christians who first tried to live it themselves—and only then spoke." —Fr. Richard Rohr, O.F.M., Center for Action and Contemplation“Shane Claiborne and Tony Campolo are two of the most significant prophetic voices in the Christian world.” —Rabbi Michael Lerner, editor of Tikkun Magazine (tikkun.org)“This is a must-read book for anyone who is seeking to take Jesus’ call on their lives seriously.” —Jim Wallis, founder and editor of Sojourners magazine“If you ever wished you could eavesdrop on a conversation with two of the world's most interesting and inspiring Christians, just turn to page one.” —Brian D. McLaren, author/speaker (brianmclaren.net)

Best-selling authors Shane Claiborne and Tony Campolo talk candidly about the life and teaching of Jesus and the wisdom he offers our fractured world.For all the Christians facing conflict between Jesus' words and their own lives; for all the non-Christians who feel they rarely see Jesus' commands reflected in the choices of his followers; Red Letter Revolution is a blueprint for a new kind of Christianity, one consciously centered on the words of Jesus, the Bible's "red letters."Framed as a captivating dialogue between Shane Claiborne, a progressive young evangelical, and Tony Campolo, a seasoned pastor and professor of sociology, Red Letter Revolution is a life-altering manifesto for any Christian. It is a call to a lifestyle that considers first and foremost Jesus' explicit, liberating message of sacrificial love.Shane and Tony candidly bring the words of Jesus to bear directly on contemporary issues of liturgy, community, Islam, hell, homosexuality, civil disobedience, and twenty other critical topics for modern believers. The resulting conversations reveal the striking truth that Christians guided unequivocally by the words of Jesus will frequently reach conclusions utterly contrary to those of mainstream evangelical Christianity.If the Jesus who speaks to you through the gospels is at odds with the Christian culture you know, if you have ever wanted to stand up and say "I love Jesus, but that's not me," Red Letter Revolution will prove that you are not alone--you may have been a Red Letter Christian all along.

What if there were two men named Jesus in the city of Nazareth? One was Jesus Barabbas, son of Abbas. One was Jesus Barjoseph, son of Joseph. One man was famous for his hatred and destruction. One was famous for his love and compassion. They lived, played, studied, and worked side by side, with one crucial difference: only one of them offered the way to salvation and eternal life. In Which Jesus, Campolo follows the divergent paths of the two until they converge at the feet of Pilate. Comparing the lives of two distinctly different men, a portrait emerges of One who had power over life and death versus one who would live by the sword and die by the sword. As Campolo draws the compelling distinction between true power and love and ill-gotten power and hate, Christians see that they have the ability today to do even greater works for the Kingdom than they ever believed possible. It's a simple question of choosing which Jesus to serve.

Midwest Publishing Association Crystal Book Award honorable mention Margot Starbuck is back with as much passion and energy as ever. In thirty brief chapters, she invites you to choose the adventure that fits who you are in authentically loving those around you. Yes, she knows: just the thought of adding something more to your life sounds exhausting. But here's the fantastic truth she's discovered in her own journey: "We don't have to add lots more overwhelming activity to what we've already got going. The regular stuff of our lives—the commute to work and the potlucks and home improvement projects and errands and play dates—are the exact places in which we express and experience God's love for a world in need." With a list of resources, a study guide and a six-week "Adventure Challenge," as well as plenty of stories and hilarity from Margot's own life, Small Things with Great Love will open your eyes to the people around you and the huge impact you can have on them through small acts of love. "Small things happen when I learn the name of my daughter's school bus driver," Margot writes. "Small things happen when I listen to the dreams of a woman who lives in a group home on my block. Small things happen when I risk crossing a language barrier even though I look really stupid doing it." And small things add up to big adventures and surprises, for you and others. The biggest surprise of all might be how powerfully God can use you, right in the midst of your walking-the-dog, paying-the-bills, doing-laundry life, when you're living out his love. Do the first small thing by opening these pages—and let the adventure begin!

Bestselling author and modern-day prophet Tony Campolo believes that one of the best ways to tell the grand story of the gospel is to tell stories of everyday life where God is at work...just as Jesus did during his earthly ministry. This collection of stories from Tony's lifelong friendships and international travels allow readers to "overhear" the gospel at work around the world. Set around Romans 8, the stories center on eight gospel themes: freedom of condemnation, new life in Christ, intimacy with God, the call to rescue creation, living with hope, praying in the Spirit, God's plans for us, and the assurance we need. Whether humorous or poignant, each one is an unforgettable echo of God at work around us and within us.

A hands-on resource for all Christians who want to communicate with more passion and power. Tony Campolo and Mary Albert Darling have teamed up to explore the dynamic connection that occurs when spirituality/spiritual practices are combined with effective communication practices. Churches and other religious organizations depend on the ability of their leaders and members to communicate (speak, teach, and preach) within their congregations and beyond. This important, practical guide will reveal Campolo's preaching secrets and Darling's wise counsel as a professor of communication.* Includes interviews with prominent Christian leaders and thinkers* Written by two experts on the topic of communication and spirituality* Tony Campolo is one of America's most remarkable and beloved Christian communicators* This is a key resource written for any Christian who would like to become a more skilled and spiritually mature communicator.