hello and welcome
I hope this space provides relief and resources that give birth to care and community – and also joy.
The best hospitality makes you feel known by how the details have been designed by the one welcoming you, because they know what you need right now – and when we feel seen and known, we know we are loved. More on love again in a minute.
I am writing here in this space because of overwhelming need; these past few years I have been walking alongside more and more people who are
weary at the frayed edges of their inherited Christian faith
angry at the discrimination within faith-based institutions
discouraged with feelings of being “church homeless”
grieving at the sour fruit of parents’ faith
frustrated at the way God is portrayed in sermons
bewildered by how churches don’t look like Jesus
despairing at the selfishness of elders who won’t change
feeling disoriented without resources for reading Scripture with new eyes
feeling betrayed by their pastor’s lack of deep resources
sickened at the abuse or manipulation of power in church
hurt by church leaders denying or ignoring the pain they’re causing
Some are walking away. Some are staying and working for change from the inside. Some are finding welcome on a different branch of the family tree. Some are slowly piecing together new communities. Some are doing a little bit of everything.
All are wrestling with weighty, robust questions.
Many feel isolated since it often seems unsafe to name their questions out loud, and many feel unsure where to find good resources. Good resources do exist – but outside the curated echo chambers of those who are called leaders in their communities. Few are receiving the care and resources they need. I want to design this space where you can feel welcomed as you sort through what you’re carrying with you and engage wider resources.
Back to love. My hypothesis is that love motivates us to do the deep learning required for paradigm shifts. I want to point the way to loving God again – but not that God… so learning to love this God, maybe again, but maybe for the first time?
If you’re willing to trust this invitation, here you will find weekly reflections and resources for leaving hardsoil faith. If you’re interested, you’ll also find resources here for learning to cultivate healthier communities with Jesus.
The name of this space is Go Out In Joy, which is taken from a reference to Isaiah 55.12 in the Bible (you can read the pinned post here). When read in context, that passage articulates part of Israel’s story of potential hope after loss. It paints a startling picture that faith sometimes requires leaving where you’re stuck. Even if leaving seems impossible, it may be the path to joy. Maybe the invitation to leave the wrong story is where we find God.
Faithfulness to Jesus requires leaving the wrong story, even sometimes years or decades after thinking you had it all figured out. It is always hard, but alongside disorientation and reorientation, there is increasing joy.
Go out in joy! And be led back in peace!
…and invite others along…
My name is Rachel, and I want people to feel safe enough to ask giant questions that too many churches are ignoring. Go Out In Joy is my Substack newsletter providing conversations of changing faith for those needing resources as they leave too-small stories.
I am a learner, a researcher, a listener and a teacher. I am an adjunct professor, a church planter, and a spiritual director. I speak multiple languages, drink too much coffee, and I buy too many books. I have three daughters, two masters degrees, and one husband who tells dad jokes.
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