Jeff Hampton jumped at the opportunity to write a weekly church blog post, offering up his thoughts on matters of faith.
Ten years later, he’s still at it – exploring what he believes and considering whether or not he practices what he preaches.
At his wife LeAnn’s suggestion, Hampton collected these blog posts into a book, which is now available as Together: Thoughts and Stories about Living in Community from Nurturing Faith Books, the publishing imprint of Good Faith Media.
Most of the writings, his wife observed, were about community – not “community” as defined by the census bureau and the chamber of commerce, but rather all the different types of community in which we live.
That includes family, friends, neighbors, churches, workplaces, towns, states, countries, races and humankind. At different times we all live and interact in these communities – usually in several simultaneously.
Hampton is currently a freelance writer, who has authored seven books and written on topics ranging from business and finance to history and faith during his career in journalism and communications.
In Together, he explores how we all fit into and contribute (or not) to the communities to which we belong.
George A. Mason, pastor of Wilshire Baptist Church in Dallas, Texas, described the book as “postcards from the pew” that provide “snapshots of the Spirit’s presence in, around, and through a church.”
“He spins honest tales of real life in common language” which has an “‘everyman’ quality and reliability” to it, said Mark Wingfield, executive editor of Baptist News Global.
Tasha Gibson, community engagement specialist on the education reporting team at WFYI Public Media, observed that reading the book “feels like you are sitting close to a friend, looking through a photo album and hearing all about the special people who have shaped a life.”
Together: Thoughts and Stories about Living in Community is available in paperback for $18 (with free shipping) from Good Faith Media’s bookstore. An e-book will be available on Amazon (Kindle) and Barnes and Noble (Nook) within a few weeks.
Reflection and resources at the intersection of faith and culture through an inclusive Christian lens.
