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We Were Spiritual Refugees: A Story to Help You Believe in Church
Church reimagined for a new day Katie Hays, planter-pastor of Galileo Church, shares the story of departing from the traditional church for the frontier of the spiritual-but-not-religious and building community with Jesus-loving (or at least Jesus-curious) outsiders. Now well-established, Galileo Church “seeks and shelters spiritual refugees” in the suburbs of Fort Worth, Texas—especially young adults, LGBTQ+ people, and all the people who love them. Told in funny, poignant, and short vignettes, Galileo's story is not one of how to be cool for Christ. Like its founder, Galileo is deeply uncool and deeply devout, and always straining ahead to see what God will do next. Hays says curiosity is her greatest virtue, and she recounts how her curiosity led her to share the good news with people who are half her age and intensely skeptical. If you are all-in with Jesus but have trust issues with church, We Were Spiritual Refugees will give you hope for finding a community-of-belonging to call home.
321 pages, Kindle Edition
Published February 18, 2020
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126 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 21 of 21 reviews
August 15, 2020
An honest, beautiful, raw, challenging gift to churches who wonder what it means to love Jesus as authentically as possible in a Spiritual-but-not-Religious world. This story gives as it promises- it helps you believe in church. Notice, there’s not an “again” in there. This doesn’t ask you to seek redemption among the bones of modern progressive mainline church work but instead says, “what if we dropped all the baggage of the institution, used the resources we could to buy a ticket out of that town, and set off on a new journey?” I’m amazed by the perspective of this book, the gift of Katie Hays’ wisdom and the thorough going devotion Galileo folk have to faithful witness. This is a great book for church groups to read together, and for anyone who feels like church is a load of crap (but who holds hope that Jesus and the Bible still mean something). It’s also helpful for pastors in a variety of ways, not the least of which is a thoroughgoing investigation of how much we truly trust laity.
February 1, 2020
This is Galileo's origin story and it is everything. Maybe it is unfair for me to write a review of a book about a church I love so much, obviously I enjoyed these stories. I was there for these baptisms and parties and the restructuring of g-groups and just the life we intentionally live together. Because Jesus. You should probably read the book, and visit us in person or via our Inside Out live stream. Connect with Galileo church on all the socials, see for yourself what we're doing in our little corner of the world. Where we're working really hard at doing justice, kindness, beauty (for our God who is beautiful), no bullshit, and love.
Here is what I know, as I was reading these stories I was drawn back to those early days when Galileo wasn't yet what it is, but was still in a lot of ways exactly what it is, and I remembered why. Why I'm here, why I've stuck around, why we do what we do. It's good, important, holy work. and it's still working, thanks be to God.
Here is what I know, as I was reading these stories I was drawn back to those early days when Galileo wasn't yet what it is, but was still in a lot of ways exactly what it is, and I remembered why. Why I'm here, why I've stuck around, why we do what we do. It's good, important, holy work. and it's still working, thanks be to God.
January 30, 2020
Knowing Katie Hays personally, I was delighted to find her new book on a Bibliography for an Evangelism Worship that our Region is hosting. She is a dynamic preacher, and refers to herself as "Lead Evangelist" for Galileo Church. I read the print version, but it is also available via Kindle----From the Publisher: In "We Were Spiritual Refugees", Katie Hays, planter-pastor of Galileo Church, shares the story of departing the traditional church (on good terms, though!) for the frontier of the spiritual-but-not-religious and building community with Jesus-loving (or at least Jesus-curious) outsiders. Now well-established, Galileo Church “seeks and shelters spiritual refugees” in the suburbs of Fort Worth, Texas--Told in funny, poignant, and short vignettes, Galileo's story is not one of how to be cool for Christ. Like its founder, Galileo is deeply uncool and deeply devout, and always straining ahead to see what God will do next. Hays says curiosity is her greatest virtue, and she recounts learning how to share the good news with people who are half her age and intensely skeptical. Galileo both is and is not like the churches you have known. Every day of its existence has been an experiment in practical theology rehabilitated for a new context. It’s surprisingly orthodox but with peculiarities about life together that go beyond questions of style and aesthetic—peculiarities that are best communicated through story. And Katie has stories to tell. So if you are all-in with Jesus but have trust issues with church, We Were Spiritual Refugees will give you hope for finding a community-of-belonging to call home
March 30, 2020
As we continue to venture into through the 21st century it's clear that if the church is to continue connecting with incoming generations it will need to evolve. That doesn't mean it casts off everything from the past, but it will change. It's inevitable. It's always been this way. But what forms will it take as we move forward? That is to be seen. Context matters. The needs of some will be different from others, and this is especially true for those who are spiritual refugees.
Katie Hays is a Disciples of Christ pastor (my denomination). Before becoming a Disciples pastor, she was a pastor in the Church of Christ branch of the movement of which the Disciples are part. That branch is traditionally more conservative than the Disciples, which is why she was an outlier as a woman pastor in that community. It's also why she eventually became a Disciple. I met Katie nearly a decade back when she served as preacher at a ministry conference at a nearby Church of Christ university. This was before she took on her current position as a church planter, but I can say that I was thoroughly impressed with her as a preacher. Well, time has passed, and in 2013 she planted a most unusual congregation.
This book, We Were Spiritual Refugees tells the story of Hays's journey as a planter of a congregation that has made spiritual refugees its focus. This is a church that seeks to connect with those persons who have been hurt by the church, people who come out of what she calls a fundagelical. It was while serving as pastor of a congregation that is probably very similar to mine, what she calls Now Church, that she began to dream of what she calls a Next Church, a real church, but one that has a missional vision to connect with people who have felt pushed outside the church. The communities that she had in mind would be millennials, the spiritual but not religious group, and most especially people within the LGBTQ community. It is the LGBTQ community that is a special focus of the congregation.
This is the story of a congregation's birth in a weekly gathering of people interested in faith, but not the traditional church. They met in pubs, drank beer, and talked theology. Ultimately this led to the idea of planting a different kind of church. That was in 2013 (now seven years back). This new fledgling community took the name Galileo, after the famed astronomer who was declared a heretic by the church, signaling that this is a church that values science.
Eventually, after Hays was first approached by the denomination to plant a more traditional congregation, which she turned down, she brought her vision to her regional leadership and received backing, though only for two years. She and her husband took the risk of launching this new venture that met in a variety of sites over the years, ebbing and flowing with the times. The book is a good reminder that church planting is difficult, demanding, and if successful rewarding. I should note that my denomination doesn't provide a lot of resources for church planters, so they have to be entrepreneurs, and most fail. Hays' congregation has had its ups and downs, but it seems to be succeeding (so far). But, money is still a challenge.
I won't tell the whole story in this review. You'll have to read it for yourself. I will say this, I admire Hays's determination and commitment to this project that has been hard on her family. She has a skill set that I don't, but even so, it hasn't been easy.
A word of warning. First, if you're a traditional pastor (pastor of what she calls a Now church), you may get your feelings hurt. She doesn't pull punches with what she says about the church, and how it has treated spiritual refugees. Of course, some of this has to do with how colleagues have treated her (even progressive pastors). We can be protective of our territories and not enjoy being challenged. But, the challenges are important. A second piece here is "language." I will confess that I was raised not to "cuss," and you will see the "F-Word" often in the book. Apparently, this church plant freed her from some of the inbuilt inhibitions. But in that context, it has made the experience real for people who have been marginalized.
This is a very non-traditional church, but it's church, real church. They may not own a building, but they have structure, meet together, have worship. This includes preaching --- after all Hays is a preacher (a very good preacher in fact). They study the Bible -- Hays might not be conservative in her theology, but she was raised in a context that takes the Bible very seriously and often very literally. So this is a bible reading, bible studying congregation. It's not a nondenominational church. It belongs to a mainline denomination, and they have been a force in our denomination. It's a socially active congregation, especially related to LGBTQ justice issues. At the same time, it's not a perfect congregation. They've made their share of mistakes. They've lost people. They've gained people.
I don't know if this is "the" future of the church, but it definitely is one direction that the church will be taking. I might not quite fit the congregation's target demographic, but I'm grateful for Katie Hays's sense of call and that persons who have not found a home in the church are finding a home.
Katie Hays is a Disciples of Christ pastor (my denomination). Before becoming a Disciples pastor, she was a pastor in the Church of Christ branch of the movement of which the Disciples are part. That branch is traditionally more conservative than the Disciples, which is why she was an outlier as a woman pastor in that community. It's also why she eventually became a Disciple. I met Katie nearly a decade back when she served as preacher at a ministry conference at a nearby Church of Christ university. This was before she took on her current position as a church planter, but I can say that I was thoroughly impressed with her as a preacher. Well, time has passed, and in 2013 she planted a most unusual congregation.
This book, We Were Spiritual Refugees tells the story of Hays's journey as a planter of a congregation that has made spiritual refugees its focus. This is a church that seeks to connect with those persons who have been hurt by the church, people who come out of what she calls a fundagelical. It was while serving as pastor of a congregation that is probably very similar to mine, what she calls Now Church, that she began to dream of what she calls a Next Church, a real church, but one that has a missional vision to connect with people who have felt pushed outside the church. The communities that she had in mind would be millennials, the spiritual but not religious group, and most especially people within the LGBTQ community. It is the LGBTQ community that is a special focus of the congregation.
This is the story of a congregation's birth in a weekly gathering of people interested in faith, but not the traditional church. They met in pubs, drank beer, and talked theology. Ultimately this led to the idea of planting a different kind of church. That was in 2013 (now seven years back). This new fledgling community took the name Galileo, after the famed astronomer who was declared a heretic by the church, signaling that this is a church that values science.
Eventually, after Hays was first approached by the denomination to plant a more traditional congregation, which she turned down, she brought her vision to her regional leadership and received backing, though only for two years. She and her husband took the risk of launching this new venture that met in a variety of sites over the years, ebbing and flowing with the times. The book is a good reminder that church planting is difficult, demanding, and if successful rewarding. I should note that my denomination doesn't provide a lot of resources for church planters, so they have to be entrepreneurs, and most fail. Hays' congregation has had its ups and downs, but it seems to be succeeding (so far). But, money is still a challenge.
I won't tell the whole story in this review. You'll have to read it for yourself. I will say this, I admire Hays's determination and commitment to this project that has been hard on her family. She has a skill set that I don't, but even so, it hasn't been easy.
A word of warning. First, if you're a traditional pastor (pastor of what she calls a Now church), you may get your feelings hurt. She doesn't pull punches with what she says about the church, and how it has treated spiritual refugees. Of course, some of this has to do with how colleagues have treated her (even progressive pastors). We can be protective of our territories and not enjoy being challenged. But, the challenges are important. A second piece here is "language." I will confess that I was raised not to "cuss," and you will see the "F-Word" often in the book. Apparently, this church plant freed her from some of the inbuilt inhibitions. But in that context, it has made the experience real for people who have been marginalized.
This is a very non-traditional church, but it's church, real church. They may not own a building, but they have structure, meet together, have worship. This includes preaching --- after all Hays is a preacher (a very good preacher in fact). They study the Bible -- Hays might not be conservative in her theology, but she was raised in a context that takes the Bible very seriously and often very literally. So this is a bible reading, bible studying congregation. It's not a nondenominational church. It belongs to a mainline denomination, and they have been a force in our denomination. It's a socially active congregation, especially related to LGBTQ justice issues. At the same time, it's not a perfect congregation. They've made their share of mistakes. They've lost people. They've gained people.
I don't know if this is "the" future of the church, but it definitely is one direction that the church will be taking. I might not quite fit the congregation's target demographic, but I'm grateful for Katie Hays's sense of call and that persons who have not found a home in the church are finding a home.
December 15, 2019
I had the chance to read an advanced copy of We Were Spiritual Refugees and it was equal parts entertaining and informative. Often books about church and new church starts are so narrative based there’s no practical wisdom to be gleaned or so prescriptive that it come across preachy out of touch with the variety of contexts in which leaders are forming spiritual communities—We Were Spiritual Refugees falls into neither of these traps. Instead Hays offers a personal narrative of her own transformation from traditional church pastor to church planter for people for whom church has become boring, irrelevant and painful, for LGBTQ+ folks who love God but were told by their previous churches that they were not loved. Interspersed through out the personal narrative are actual policies and documents her church uses to guide how they live into community. As a pastor who has done small groups and consulted on small groups for years Hays 4 page explanation on how they do small groups is worth the price of the book for its clarity and the pulling together of best practices.
We Were Spiritual Refugees is a account of what the church might look like in the future—relationship (rather than institution) centered, no bullshit, embracing of all God’s beloved children. Several times I caught myself thinking “I would LOVE to be a part of this church.” In other words it gave me hope.
We Were Spiritual Refugees is a account of what the church might look like in the future—relationship (rather than institution) centered, no bullshit, embracing of all God’s beloved children. Several times I caught myself thinking “I would LOVE to be a part of this church.” In other words it gave me hope.
May 19, 2020
So smart. So cleverly written. So enjoyable! I never thought a book by Eerdmans (or any religious, primarily academic publisher) would be a page turner.
It is, cliched and subtitled as the case may be, a story which will help you believe in church. Because that’s what Galileo Church is—just a church... but one that has remembered Gospel urgency and the overwhelming love of God which calls all people in.
It is, cliched and subtitled as the case may be, a story which will help you believe in church. Because that’s what Galileo Church is—just a church... but one that has remembered Gospel urgency and the overwhelming love of God which calls all people in.
February 3, 2020
This is an amazing book about an amazing church doing their best to follow Jesus. To want what God wants. It's not an instruction manual on how to attract those sweet sweet young millennials to church or Top 10 Tricks to Starting Your Own Church Plant (number 6 will shock you!). It's simply the story of how Galileo Church came into existence and changed the lives of many spiritual refugees.
The book covers the first 5 years of Galileo's life. Practical stuff such as what is our vision? When and where do we meet? How do we pay people correctly without enraging the IRS? How do we attract people? How do we make people feel safe in this space? How do we make a big gay float for the Pride Parade? Along with many personal stories on how this church changed people's lives and reminded them that God's love is real, for you, and worth it. Tears may be shed. Katie also doesn't shy away from the hard stuff, either. The STRUGGLE to create a church (which involves a lot of effort from everyone, not just Katie), the toll that took on her family, the evictions that resulted from sharing God's table with everyone, the people that Galileo couldn't reach, etc. More tears may be shed.
I'm sure this is a must-read for anyone in a church leadership position. For those who are not (like me), this is still a very entertaining read. Katie has such an engaging voice that it's never boring. It might even make you believe in church again.
The book covers the first 5 years of Galileo's life. Practical stuff such as what is our vision? When and where do we meet? How do we pay people correctly without enraging the IRS? How do we attract people? How do we make people feel safe in this space? How do we make a big gay float for the Pride Parade? Along with many personal stories on how this church changed people's lives and reminded them that God's love is real, for you, and worth it. Tears may be shed. Katie also doesn't shy away from the hard stuff, either. The STRUGGLE to create a church (which involves a lot of effort from everyone, not just Katie), the toll that took on her family, the evictions that resulted from sharing God's table with everyone, the people that Galileo couldn't reach, etc. More tears may be shed.
I'm sure this is a must-read for anyone in a church leadership position. For those who are not (like me), this is still a very entertaining read. Katie has such an engaging voice that it's never boring. It might even make you believe in church again.
February 4, 2020
Katie Hays's memoir of the founding and first five years of Galileo Church manages to blend actual church policy with touching, sometimes funny, sometimes heartrending anecdotes to weave a powerful narrative. The story of Galileo Church is one of pioneering the "next church" we need for younger generations of believers, and it's the story of people who didn't quite fit anywhere else coming together to build a beautiful, bullshit-free space of belonging wherever two or more are gathered together. You will learn, you will laugh, and you will cry, but above all you will walk away from this book with a hope that church isn't dying, just being reincarnated.
August 22, 2020
When I picked up Spiritual Refugees I expected to read about the formation of a church that welcomed people who had left traditional churches for whatever reason. And I did learn lots, especially about what “works” for millennials and the wonderful feeling of belonging when an LGBTQ+ person finds a church “home.” I didn’t expect that it would make me think so much about the overall nature of “church” no matter where it’s located or who is sitting in the pew, chair or bar stool. Told with clarity, vulnerability, and just the right touch of humor, it’s a read that will stay with me.
November 9, 2020
Powerful
This book is powerful and a testament to what God does through our human lives. The ups and downs, the beautiful and the ugly. It’s a story, to me, about the hope there is in the world. The hope that, God hasn’t given up on us and the God’s love is truly for everyone. Definitely a book I recommend to anyone who can use the encouragement and reminder that God is here, God is now, God loves you, and you are perfect the way you are right now, right here, in this world God loves.
This book is powerful and a testament to what God does through our human lives. The ups and downs, the beautiful and the ugly. It’s a story, to me, about the hope there is in the world. The hope that, God hasn’t given up on us and the God’s love is truly for everyone. Definitely a book I recommend to anyone who can use the encouragement and reminder that God is here, God is now, God loves you, and you are perfect the way you are right now, right here, in this world God loves.
March 23, 2021
In her own words, Hays recounts the work of her church planting with Galileo Church. I love the church's podcast of sermons, and her voice really comes through in the writing. The genuine connection and Love is inspiring to me. Agree or disagree, the book really helps you clarify your thinking around what church is, can, or should be, in both the Church and church senses. I haven't been so inspired by a book since Francis Chan's Crazy Love.
November 7, 2023
I don’t find that a whole lot of church books tell the whole truth, but this one does. Katie’s writing is smart and engaging. She tells the story of a faithful church who takes their commitments to faith, community, and scripture seriously. Lessons from this story can be applied in other contexts, too, with some effort and thoughtful planning. Highly recommend this book for those who want to dabble in the church of the future.
did-not-finish
December 22, 2020I love the writing in this book -- it is Katie Hays at her wry, poetic best. I love this church. I am actually in this book!
Having started this right after it came out (before the pandemic), I think it's time to admit this isn't getting finished anytime soon. It really isn't you, it's me. One day I will finish it. Right now, I can't.
Having started this right after it came out (before the pandemic), I think it's time to admit this isn't getting finished anytime soon. It really isn't you, it's me. One day I will finish it. Right now, I can't.
November 7, 2021
I enjoyed the story of Galileo’s journey. It’s interesting in our modern day to connect with key points in a story like this instantly (i.e. watching the wheat field video after reading about it.) Also Hays’ take on now church vs next church was different for me and something to think about.
May 3, 2024
Abundant Love
Galileo reaches out to people hurt by churches. Galileo enriches the lives of its people. It pursues justice and healing. Galileo works to find solutions to problems. Galileo is a courageous church. I have rarely read a book more inspiring. And it made me smile.
Galileo reaches out to people hurt by churches. Galileo enriches the lives of its people. It pursues justice and healing. Galileo works to find solutions to problems. Galileo is a courageous church. I have rarely read a book more inspiring. And it made me smile.
June 14, 2020
Hella writer! So thankful for her no bs stance.
July 11, 2021
Innovative ideas for church structures from which established, traditional churches could benefit.
October 23, 2021
So intriguing. My favorite chapters were at the end, describing difficulties.
June 29, 2023
I am the “Stacy” in the book who does not like to attend church so I feel I have enough street cred to write a legit review on this book. Anyone who knows Katie can hear her reading the book in their head as she writes with the same cadence with which she speaks. The book is an honest look at the triumphs and failures of our little congregation that meets (some of us) in a big red barn. Galileo even shows love to members (like me) who want to be involved from afar. This book is a non-churchy, modern day love letter to a God, the God, everyone’s God, who loves us all and wants us to flood everyone, regardless of sexual orientation, gender, religion, color with that love. If you’re feeling like one of the broken stalks of wheat left behind by the proverbial combine of the traditional church, have a read and see that you are so very loved. Thanks be to God.
June 9, 2024
One of the most powerful and significant books I have ever read about the nature of faith and church. If you are a church planter, pastor, seeker, doubter, churchy, unchurched, wondering, wandering,
if Christianity is your maybe,
if you're burned out by business as usual in the institutional church and turned on by the idea of doing church in a way that truly loves people,
if you are someone who feels deeply, loves large, and lives in the realm of radical transparency....
You probably need to read this book. Today.
Just read it again, remembering all I forgot the first time through because #overwhelmed.
Just read the book. And then maybe read it again.
if Christianity is your maybe,
if you're burned out by business as usual in the institutional church and turned on by the idea of doing church in a way that truly loves people,
if you are someone who feels deeply, loves large, and lives in the realm of radical transparency....
You probably need to read this book. Today.
Just read it again, remembering all I forgot the first time through because #overwhelmed.
Just read the book. And then maybe read it again.
Displaying 1 - 21 of 21 reviews