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All God's Children: How Confronting Buried History Can Build Racial Solidarity
The more you understand someone's history, the better you can see their humanity. This is true for individuals as well as for society at large. Race relations have suffered because of the erasure of important Black history and cultural context. As we fill in the gaps of our collective knowledge, communities can grow in understanding, empathy, and solidarity.
Terence Lester shares the buried history of the struggles Black people have faced against unjust systems. He tells powerful stories of courage, injustice, pain, and triumph, including ones from his own history. He also unpacks the sociological and cultural dynamics of unconscious bias and inattentional ignorance that keep us apart, and how they can be overcome. This honest account of what it's like to be Black in America paves the way for the church to move beyond showing support from a distance toward loving one another in long-term solidarity, advocacy, and friendship.
Terence Lester shares the buried history of the struggles Black people have faced against unjust systems. He tells powerful stories of courage, injustice, pain, and triumph, including ones from his own history. He also unpacks the sociological and cultural dynamics of unconscious bias and inattentional ignorance that keep us apart, and how they can be overcome. This honest account of what it's like to be Black in America paves the way for the church to move beyond showing support from a distance toward loving one another in long-term solidarity, advocacy, and friendship.
240 pages, Paperback
Published June 20, 2023
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June 19, 2023
All God's Children is Terence Lester's third book. I've read and loved his first two books and he has hit it out of the park again with this one. It is impossible to read one of Terence's books and not feel inspired.
Terence truly has a way with words and writing that make you feel as though you're sitting in a coffee shop chatting in person. The stories he tells and experiences he shares are filled with realness and humility. There were so many experiences in All God's Children that I could relate to as well as some feelings that I wasn't aware I'd been harboring. We all desire to be fully seen as who we are even if/when we don't realize it. I had a particular friendship that was forever changed back in 2020. I loved this person dearly, and still do, but it was hard for them to fully see me and understand the collective trauma that BIPOC experience in America and that caused deep hurt. Our friendship hasn't been the same since, and it was in large part due to the fact that I didn't feel as though they cared for me as a whole person. They seemed to only care about the parts that they could understand and agree with.
I think this book is a great starting point for any non-person of color who wishes to do their part to help build racial solidarity. The way Terence writes comes from a place of love, grace, knowledge, and hope. While there are some hard and sad truths throughout the book, the underlying message is hope and that all it takes is one person loving like Jesus to help move mountains.
Here are a few quotes that really stood out to me:
"To love our neighbors and neighborhood is to know and understand the issues they face."
"To say to a Black person, 'I don't see your color' is not only an obvious misstatement of fact, but a willful decision to ignore what makes them who they are."
"When we choose to discover the history of another person, or explore our own historical shaping, we can truly see the people standing right before our eyes, and thus understand our own shaping-and that honors God."
"Addressing someone by their name may not seem like a lot, but to those who have been made to feel invisible, it is deeply affirming."
"...it's tempting to take one look at the situation and say, 'Hey, there's nothing I can do because the need is too great.' But in these moments, it's important to pause and do for one person what we wish we could do for everyone. It's being like Jesus, willing to go after that one lost sheep and search for that one lost coin."
Thank you to ivpress and Terence Lester for an advanced copy!
Terence truly has a way with words and writing that make you feel as though you're sitting in a coffee shop chatting in person. The stories he tells and experiences he shares are filled with realness and humility. There were so many experiences in All God's Children that I could relate to as well as some feelings that I wasn't aware I'd been harboring. We all desire to be fully seen as who we are even if/when we don't realize it. I had a particular friendship that was forever changed back in 2020. I loved this person dearly, and still do, but it was hard for them to fully see me and understand the collective trauma that BIPOC experience in America and that caused deep hurt. Our friendship hasn't been the same since, and it was in large part due to the fact that I didn't feel as though they cared for me as a whole person. They seemed to only care about the parts that they could understand and agree with.
I think this book is a great starting point for any non-person of color who wishes to do their part to help build racial solidarity. The way Terence writes comes from a place of love, grace, knowledge, and hope. While there are some hard and sad truths throughout the book, the underlying message is hope and that all it takes is one person loving like Jesus to help move mountains.
Here are a few quotes that really stood out to me:
"To love our neighbors and neighborhood is to know and understand the issues they face."
"To say to a Black person, 'I don't see your color' is not only an obvious misstatement of fact, but a willful decision to ignore what makes them who they are."
"When we choose to discover the history of another person, or explore our own historical shaping, we can truly see the people standing right before our eyes, and thus understand our own shaping-and that honors God."
"Addressing someone by their name may not seem like a lot, but to those who have been made to feel invisible, it is deeply affirming."
"...it's tempting to take one look at the situation and say, 'Hey, there's nothing I can do because the need is too great.' But in these moments, it's important to pause and do for one person what we wish we could do for everyone. It's being like Jesus, willing to go after that one lost sheep and search for that one lost coin."
Thank you to ivpress and Terence Lester for an advanced copy!
July 2, 2023
Thanks to NetGalley and InterVarsity Press for a digital ARC - pub date 6/20/2023. Full disclosure - I am not religious in any kind of organized sense (more spiritual, more pagan-leaning) so, a few pages into this book, I became concerned as it became clear that the title was not hyperbole. It is written by a deeply-feeling Christian pastor. However, Terence Lester quickly proved himself the kind of Christian pastor that not only practices what he preaches but he also approaches every living human being with grace and hope and respect. Even if you aren't religious or of a different religion, I truly feel that you can read this book and come away strongly moved. He never claims to have all of the answers but draws on his life experience, his family and friends and their experiences, and builds a strong argument rooted in humanity and empathy for the correction and healing of racial divides.
One of the things that hit me strongest was his emphasis on the work of understanding, of getting to know people, of understanding the suppressed history of Black people. Another point was the line he drew between racial justice and racial reconciliation and it hit like a bolt of lightning. Of course we cannot skip over the justice and straight to the reconciliation. Why on earth do we think we can? Trauma cannot be healed by ignoring it. This includes racial trauma. Pretending to "not see color" or suppressing selective bits of history does not help anyone except White supremacists. We cannot understand each other and support each other without honestly knowing each other. Learn all of the history. Speak to all of the people. Use your heart as much as your head. Terence Lester supports all of this with verses from the Bible but he does not dismiss real world examples as equally important. I definitely would suggest this book to anyone interested in expanding their mind and heart and wanting to pursue a strong approach to social and racial justice.
One of the things that hit me strongest was his emphasis on the work of understanding, of getting to know people, of understanding the suppressed history of Black people. Another point was the line he drew between racial justice and racial reconciliation and it hit like a bolt of lightning. Of course we cannot skip over the justice and straight to the reconciliation. Why on earth do we think we can? Trauma cannot be healed by ignoring it. This includes racial trauma. Pretending to "not see color" or suppressing selective bits of history does not help anyone except White supremacists. We cannot understand each other and support each other without honestly knowing each other. Learn all of the history. Speak to all of the people. Use your heart as much as your head. Terence Lester supports all of this with verses from the Bible but he does not dismiss real world examples as equally important. I definitely would suggest this book to anyone interested in expanding their mind and heart and wanting to pursue a strong approach to social and racial justice.
June 10, 2023
This is an important book birthed out of years of personal and professional experience. Terence Lester leads the reader on a journey of examining the intersection between racism and poverty. His work with the non-profit he founded, Love Beyond Walls, provides the reader with real examples of people struggling with homelessness and the invitation to love them. He also shares many experiences from years pastoring a majority-white church. As a black pastor, there were many challenges and painful experiences along the way.
In this book, the reader is invited and challenged to learn about America’s racist history. The stories shared are not just statistics, but personal examples from the author’s own life and the lives of his relatives. The reader is then led to unpack biases, engage differences, and become a guest at the table of those who are different than oneself.
This book shares an essential concept that we all need to wrestle with: each human being is made in God’s image. We are all God’s children. Through this book, we are invited to live into this reality on a daily basis, going beyond our walls and outside our comfort zones to love others.
In this book, the reader is invited and challenged to learn about America’s racist history. The stories shared are not just statistics, but personal examples from the author’s own life and the lives of his relatives. The reader is then led to unpack biases, engage differences, and become a guest at the table of those who are different than oneself.
This book shares an essential concept that we all need to wrestle with: each human being is made in God’s image. We are all God’s children. Through this book, we are invited to live into this reality on a daily basis, going beyond our walls and outside our comfort zones to love others.
June 19, 2023
Is this an easy read? No. Is it worth reading? 1,000%.
When I say this isn’t an easy book to read, it has nothing to do with language. Dr. Lester is consistently clear, concise, relatable, and to the point. In that sense, it’s a very easy read. The message is what might be a bit more challenging. This is an honest and heartfelt invitation to see things for what they are and face topics that might make us uncomfortable, though are best aired out.
Written from a strong perspective of faith, All God’s Children is also an intensely personal account of a black man sharing his experiences to bridge gaps and unite. That said, you don’t need to be a Christian to get the message and benefit from reading the book. You also don’t have to be Black, Indigenous, or People of Color (BIPOC). You just have to want to start from a point where you recognize that there are things we need to talk about so that we can all get along better as humans and address the very present state of inequality that still exists.
Dr. Lester often talks about his work with people suffering from homelessness, the challenges they feel, and his own experiences working in support of this community and as someone who also experienced homelessness. It brings honest options on how to help people while also offering small steps we can all do to return humanity to people suffering from homelessness and do the Christian thing, and care.
It’s also a book that will bring forth uncomfortable topics that are constantly under fire. Too often people react by not engaging in conversation because a topic is “too woke” and continue going about their life with their unchallenged perspectives, unwilling or uninterested in ruffling feathers because it has no benefit to them. This type of rhetoric is as common as it is lazy and some people can’t be bothered to face things that have happened in the past of the United States.
The book also offers a very honest perspective of the differences in Church communities and how race unfortunately still plays a role in keeping us separated. People easily forget that Jesus was a man born in Bethlehem who later moved to Nazareth and that he was more than likely a person of color, taking into account just where and when he was born. In addition, people are extremely adept at quoting scripture when it’s convenient to them but failing to apply what they’ve memorized but not learned. Jesus spoke with, consoled, suffered with, broke bread, and was with any and everyone.
Time after time, Dr. Lester puts forth messages from his own experience to hopefully inspire change and dialogue, though it goes beyond tweeting something in support. It begins with proximity and contact, because until you see and understand a bit better what other people experience, you won’t know what can be improved and how you can help make the world a better place, with one act of kindness and solidarity with your fellow human. Also, and I can’t stress this enough, the first step to getting along better is to truly listen to what other people have to say and instead of just walking a mile in someone else’s shoes, walking that mile together to learn, understand, grow, and heal.
When I say this isn’t an easy book to read, it has nothing to do with language. Dr. Lester is consistently clear, concise, relatable, and to the point. In that sense, it’s a very easy read. The message is what might be a bit more challenging. This is an honest and heartfelt invitation to see things for what they are and face topics that might make us uncomfortable, though are best aired out.
Written from a strong perspective of faith, All God’s Children is also an intensely personal account of a black man sharing his experiences to bridge gaps and unite. That said, you don’t need to be a Christian to get the message and benefit from reading the book. You also don’t have to be Black, Indigenous, or People of Color (BIPOC). You just have to want to start from a point where you recognize that there are things we need to talk about so that we can all get along better as humans and address the very present state of inequality that still exists.
Dr. Lester often talks about his work with people suffering from homelessness, the challenges they feel, and his own experiences working in support of this community and as someone who also experienced homelessness. It brings honest options on how to help people while also offering small steps we can all do to return humanity to people suffering from homelessness and do the Christian thing, and care.
It’s also a book that will bring forth uncomfortable topics that are constantly under fire. Too often people react by not engaging in conversation because a topic is “too woke” and continue going about their life with their unchallenged perspectives, unwilling or uninterested in ruffling feathers because it has no benefit to them. This type of rhetoric is as common as it is lazy and some people can’t be bothered to face things that have happened in the past of the United States.
The book also offers a very honest perspective of the differences in Church communities and how race unfortunately still plays a role in keeping us separated. People easily forget that Jesus was a man born in Bethlehem who later moved to Nazareth and that he was more than likely a person of color, taking into account just where and when he was born. In addition, people are extremely adept at quoting scripture when it’s convenient to them but failing to apply what they’ve memorized but not learned. Jesus spoke with, consoled, suffered with, broke bread, and was with any and everyone.
Time after time, Dr. Lester puts forth messages from his own experience to hopefully inspire change and dialogue, though it goes beyond tweeting something in support. It begins with proximity and contact, because until you see and understand a bit better what other people experience, you won’t know what can be improved and how you can help make the world a better place, with one act of kindness and solidarity with your fellow human. Also, and I can’t stress this enough, the first step to getting along better is to truly listen to what other people have to say and instead of just walking a mile in someone else’s shoes, walking that mile together to learn, understand, grow, and heal.
August 15, 2023
There is something incredibly sweet about the way that Terence Lester, the author of All God's Children beckons the reader in. It is a calling to build, belong and come together to love well and allow space for all of us to be fully seen. We are all image bearers, seen and loved by God as He created us. While this is all true, throughout history (and now) white supremacy has tainted the way we welcome, the way we embrace each other and the capacity to which we love one another. All God's Children speaks to the complexities of this undeniable welcome that we are both unconditionally given by Christ and also need to learn to unconditionally extend toward each other.
The author writes of how we might be willing to allow our Black siblings different levels of presence, but shares experiences of how he has been made to feel welcome only partly, loved only in part, and only welcome to speak about certain issues. This is not a real embrace, this is not what Christ has taught us, for we are all God's children, and we all belong equally. It isn't our table to begin with, it is Christ's.
Terence has a beautiful voice, with critical truth for each of us. Through the words in each chapter it is evident the love he has for people who are forced to exist on the margins of society, and he invites the reader to see and welcome as Christ does. Because of our own discomfort, and biases we have made some of God's children invisible. I was challenged through each chapter, finding it hard not to underline the entirety of the book. One of my favorite things about the way Terrence writes, is that he breaks down the walls by welcome, he welcomes the believer to love, he calls us to understand the painful effects of white supremacy not only in how it affects our Black siblings but also ourselves. He does not make this an us versus them, it is a lovingly truthful approach welcoming the reader to see what has kept us apart, and the healing that can come from learning our shared history, its impact on our racial divide and outlines how we can begin embracing each other fully, in complete welcome.
I am a white woman, and I believe the truth expressed in these pages is life changing for me, healing prejudices, revealing biases, like blinders have fallen and I cannot be more thankful. Proximity is a gift to me in every way, my faith is stronger as I see what I never knew I was missing until reading the inspiring words by Terence. Everyone should read this book.
The author writes of how we might be willing to allow our Black siblings different levels of presence, but shares experiences of how he has been made to feel welcome only partly, loved only in part, and only welcome to speak about certain issues. This is not a real embrace, this is not what Christ has taught us, for we are all God's children, and we all belong equally. It isn't our table to begin with, it is Christ's.
Terence has a beautiful voice, with critical truth for each of us. Through the words in each chapter it is evident the love he has for people who are forced to exist on the margins of society, and he invites the reader to see and welcome as Christ does. Because of our own discomfort, and biases we have made some of God's children invisible. I was challenged through each chapter, finding it hard not to underline the entirety of the book. One of my favorite things about the way Terrence writes, is that he breaks down the walls by welcome, he welcomes the believer to love, he calls us to understand the painful effects of white supremacy not only in how it affects our Black siblings but also ourselves. He does not make this an us versus them, it is a lovingly truthful approach welcoming the reader to see what has kept us apart, and the healing that can come from learning our shared history, its impact on our racial divide and outlines how we can begin embracing each other fully, in complete welcome.
I am a white woman, and I believe the truth expressed in these pages is life changing for me, healing prejudices, revealing biases, like blinders have fallen and I cannot be more thankful. Proximity is a gift to me in every way, my faith is stronger as I see what I never knew I was missing until reading the inspiring words by Terence. Everyone should read this book.
February 13, 2023
Thanks NetGalley for this ARC in exchange for an honest review!
Terrence does a great job of incorporating his ministry among the unhoused community with the messy overlapping that often occurs due to other factors, predominantly race, in America. There's a reason so many unhoused people are black (and have disabilities/neurodivergence), and it's an issue baked into the very foundations of America. When church members bury this history, or believe it's all "in the past" and has no influence on how believers do life today, it's not only ignoring the problem, but being actively complicit in the generational sin of colonialism and slavery + it's consequences. We're living in the consequence of sin, and BIPOC continue to pay the price. Yet, if we believe the Kingdom of G-d has overcome the evil of sin, and that all human beings possess the very image of the Creator, then certainly there's some recognition and reconciliation that can actually happen. This is a book of hope, a hand extended, towards true belonging for all G-d's children residing within America.
Full disclosure, I read this book at the same time as Godbreathed: What It Really Means for the Bible to be Divinely Inspired and man oh man, they meshed together so well. The many biases Terrence takes the time to define and systemic problems which have arisen out of white patriarchy grasping for power and using the Bible as a weapon to do so coincides with a lot of what Zack talks about in /his/ book, but doesn't necessarily have the stories and details Terrence does. So consider this an endorsement to read both, haha.
Terrence does a great job of incorporating his ministry among the unhoused community with the messy overlapping that often occurs due to other factors, predominantly race, in America. There's a reason so many unhoused people are black (and have disabilities/neurodivergence), and it's an issue baked into the very foundations of America. When church members bury this history, or believe it's all "in the past" and has no influence on how believers do life today, it's not only ignoring the problem, but being actively complicit in the generational sin of colonialism and slavery + it's consequences. We're living in the consequence of sin, and BIPOC continue to pay the price. Yet, if we believe the Kingdom of G-d has overcome the evil of sin, and that all human beings possess the very image of the Creator, then certainly there's some recognition and reconciliation that can actually happen. This is a book of hope, a hand extended, towards true belonging for all G-d's children residing within America.
Full disclosure, I read this book at the same time as Godbreathed: What It Really Means for the Bible to be Divinely Inspired and man oh man, they meshed together so well. The many biases Terrence takes the time to define and systemic problems which have arisen out of white patriarchy grasping for power and using the Bible as a weapon to do so coincides with a lot of what Zack talks about in /his/ book, but doesn't necessarily have the stories and details Terrence does. So consider this an endorsement to read both, haha.
July 1, 2023
Thankful for the opportunity to read an ARC of All God’s Children by Dr. Terence Lester. This work can lead to powerful discussions and real change when used effectively. Dr. Lester wove in his own personal experiences as a Black male pastor in majority white congregations to drive home how racism can separate us, but proximity and solidarity can unite us. Particularly in the church, it can be unnerving to experience the type of discrimination, tokenism, and racism that smiles in your face while dismissing your humanity. Dr. Lester explored various ways that this could be harmful to your faith walk, and how being proximate to those different from you can affirm and strengthen both your walk and the walk of others. If you’ve studied race and racism at any level previously, a lot of concepts included in the book will be familiar to you, but I appreciated the references to both Dr. King and Dr. Cone that I will research further. I’m also finishing up Caste by Isabel Wilkerson and several parallels between the two books jumped out at me while reading. I would love to put this book in the hands of every evangelical that is open to deconstructing their version of Christianity!
June 21, 2023
This book is a masterful story-led tapestry of history, personal vignette, and gentle argument.
What I especially loved about this book is how Terence not only focused on his personal experiences but he included so many incredible voices from the Black Christian community. It's as if this book was written in a communal setting—simply breathtaking.
Terence's pastoral heart also shows through—he is incredibly gentle and gracious but also spells out the truth in bold lettering so as to not let us forget how important it is to regard all of God's people by seeing them.
More than anything—it's SO easy to read. Not once did I feel like I needed to flip back and forth to understand a concept. Truly, his teaching gift shines through the pages of this book. I'm incredibly grateful for this incredible resource Terence created. As an Afro-Latina in a multi-ethnic church context, I've been looking for a book that addresses churches in a pastoral way. Pastors and leaders in churches—this is the book you need as a resource. Acknowledging how past pain can cause future harm is the beginning of walking alongside our brothers and sister in racial solidarity.
What I especially loved about this book is how Terence not only focused on his personal experiences but he included so many incredible voices from the Black Christian community. It's as if this book was written in a communal setting—simply breathtaking.
Terence's pastoral heart also shows through—he is incredibly gentle and gracious but also spells out the truth in bold lettering so as to not let us forget how important it is to regard all of God's people by seeing them.
More than anything—it's SO easy to read. Not once did I feel like I needed to flip back and forth to understand a concept. Truly, his teaching gift shines through the pages of this book. I'm incredibly grateful for this incredible resource Terence created. As an Afro-Latina in a multi-ethnic church context, I've been looking for a book that addresses churches in a pastoral way. Pastors and leaders in churches—this is the book you need as a resource. Acknowledging how past pain can cause future harm is the beginning of walking alongside our brothers and sister in racial solidarity.
June 5, 2023
Terence Lester's new book All God's Children does a wonderful job of navigating the terrain of racial strife within the church. Lester powerfully moves between his own story as a black man in the US while connecting his experiences to the stories we read in the Bible.
I appreciated the Application pieces at the end of each chapter for pragmatic steps for the reader to take on their own journey toward building racial solidarity. This book will be especially helpful for church folk whose antiracism journey stalled out after they read Robin DiAngelo following George Floyd's murder.
It's work we all need to do, and Terence Lester has given us a great resource to begin the journey.
I appreciated the Application pieces at the end of each chapter for pragmatic steps for the reader to take on their own journey toward building racial solidarity. This book will be especially helpful for church folk whose antiracism journey stalled out after they read Robin DiAngelo following George Floyd's murder.
It's work we all need to do, and Terence Lester has given us a great resource to begin the journey.
June 8, 2023
I had the opportunity to read an early copy of this book, and I found it a helpful addition to the conversation about how Christians should respond to injustices around us. Though hard to read, I appreciated the specific examples of ways we can be blind to the hurt we are causing others in God’s family. I also thought the application sections at the end of each chapter were especially helpful for turning knowledge into action as we listen to the stories of others and seek to love them well.
May 31, 2023
This book is soulful and so timely as we figure out how to facilitate the promise of the "awakening" of 2020. Terence so beautifully writes about how trauma is experienced, moved, then transformed into action and revolution. This is a necessary read for those looking for a place to begin or inspiration to pivot into new seasons of liberation.
July 12, 2023
Summary: A plea that we need to confront the history we try to hide of racial injustice and that real reconciliation can only happen when we stand together in soliarity against racial injustices
Terence Lester leads the Atlanta-based Love Beyond Walls, a Christian community development organization addressing poverty, homelessness, and community development. He’s served as a pastor in both black and white churches and worked in the middle of efforts to address racial inequities and to foster racial reconciliation.
This book reflects the continued polarization in the United States around matters of race. The first part addresses our long-standing and currently increasing effort to suppress the history of racial inijustices and the contributions of Black Americans to our country’s history. Lester experienced this in his own education and it was only through reading and learning on his own that he understood more deeply the history of racial oppression beginning as early as 1619, running through the system of slavery in which both South and North were implicated, contributing to our young country’s economic prosperity, and continuing to control lives and livelihoods of Blacks through Jim Crow, lynchings, redlining, school-to-prison pipelines, voter suppression efforts, and continued concentration of economic resources within powerful interests.
It’s a history many do not want to acknowledge or understand. Against the arguments that teaching this history only perpetuates racial division, he contends that only understanding can lead to Whites and Blacks joining in solidarity to advocate for more just policies and practices. He argues that God is not colorblind but likes gathering those of every color around his throne. It is folly to pretend that we are. He contends that we cannot have racial reconciliation without racial justice.
Solidarity is a key idea for Lester. Solidarity is more than posting a black square or “Black Lives Matter” on social media. It means that we arrange our lives to be in proximity with people of color. It means supporting businesses of people of color. It means recognizing bias, including the skepticism of the competence of leaders who are people of color (he recounts having to provide far more evidence of credentials and competence than White peers, for example). Solidarity means doing, volunteering alongside others and accepting their leadership. Solidarity means speaking up on behalf of the other as Mr. Rogers did with Officer Clemmons, sharing his wading pool, both in 1969 and 1993 as a powerful statement of racial solidarity. Solidarity means not just making space at our tables, it means truly letting it become their table. Token presence is not inclusion.
Lester describes the pain of those who have walked away from him as he spoke about racial justice. Yet this is a book filled with gritty hope, encouraged by friends, both Black and White, who have stood and worked in solidarity, who have stopped theorizing and temporizing and waded in with him to tackle challenging problems. It is also a hope nurtured through the way of the cross, that realizes that only the seed that dies bears fruit, that we only save our lives by losing them. Terence Lester’s passion, pain, and persisting hope in gospel-nourished solidarity in pursuit of justice reverberates throughout the pages of this book. One senses his deep longing that we not miss this moment as the people of God to seek the shalom of all God’s children.
________________________________
Disclosure of Material Connection: I received a complimentary review copy of this book from the publisher.
Terence Lester leads the Atlanta-based Love Beyond Walls, a Christian community development organization addressing poverty, homelessness, and community development. He’s served as a pastor in both black and white churches and worked in the middle of efforts to address racial inequities and to foster racial reconciliation.
This book reflects the continued polarization in the United States around matters of race. The first part addresses our long-standing and currently increasing effort to suppress the history of racial inijustices and the contributions of Black Americans to our country’s history. Lester experienced this in his own education and it was only through reading and learning on his own that he understood more deeply the history of racial oppression beginning as early as 1619, running through the system of slavery in which both South and North were implicated, contributing to our young country’s economic prosperity, and continuing to control lives and livelihoods of Blacks through Jim Crow, lynchings, redlining, school-to-prison pipelines, voter suppression efforts, and continued concentration of economic resources within powerful interests.
It’s a history many do not want to acknowledge or understand. Against the arguments that teaching this history only perpetuates racial division, he contends that only understanding can lead to Whites and Blacks joining in solidarity to advocate for more just policies and practices. He argues that God is not colorblind but likes gathering those of every color around his throne. It is folly to pretend that we are. He contends that we cannot have racial reconciliation without racial justice.
Solidarity is a key idea for Lester. Solidarity is more than posting a black square or “Black Lives Matter” on social media. It means that we arrange our lives to be in proximity with people of color. It means supporting businesses of people of color. It means recognizing bias, including the skepticism of the competence of leaders who are people of color (he recounts having to provide far more evidence of credentials and competence than White peers, for example). Solidarity means doing, volunteering alongside others and accepting their leadership. Solidarity means speaking up on behalf of the other as Mr. Rogers did with Officer Clemmons, sharing his wading pool, both in 1969 and 1993 as a powerful statement of racial solidarity. Solidarity means not just making space at our tables, it means truly letting it become their table. Token presence is not inclusion.
Lester describes the pain of those who have walked away from him as he spoke about racial justice. Yet this is a book filled with gritty hope, encouraged by friends, both Black and White, who have stood and worked in solidarity, who have stopped theorizing and temporizing and waded in with him to tackle challenging problems. It is also a hope nurtured through the way of the cross, that realizes that only the seed that dies bears fruit, that we only save our lives by losing them. Terence Lester’s passion, pain, and persisting hope in gospel-nourished solidarity in pursuit of justice reverberates throughout the pages of this book. One senses his deep longing that we not miss this moment as the people of God to seek the shalom of all God’s children.
________________________________
Disclosure of Material Connection: I received a complimentary review copy of this book from the publisher.
June 22, 2023
I just finished reading Dr. Terence Lester’s All God’s Children: How Confronting Buried History Can Build Racial Solidarity, and for all the great things that it is, one facet of the book I want to commend is the unqualified belief in and modeling of human dignity that Lester holds.
The subtitle implicates the goal of his book, but you’d be remiss to chalk it up as another hot history take whose main aim is to exaggerate the victimization of Black people in America. And, while I can already see the parking lot of folks who will arrive at such wild conclusions, I hope (and envision!) the rest of us will walk away with the inspiration we need to “make a life.” That is, to live from and for love in order to inhibit the real, evil social pressures presently inflicted upon Black and unhoused communities.
Lester intertwines his history of activism and pastoral ministry to exhort the readers to internalize the truth that we can all be about the Christ-life, we can all pursue “proximate” relationships with those we are “inattenionally blind” to and to those whom this country has categorized as people whose suffering was self-inflicted.
Lester recounts when he was unintentionally homeless and the countless times over the last decade he chose to live unhoused. Why? Because, (and it’s unfortunate it’s not way easier than this, though I believe there are conditions we can create to make the burden of love lighter to carry), it takes us a while to experience the suffering of another as meaningful to us. In order for us to trust and understand one’s pain, we must walk in it, and once we make the choice to… Lord Almighty… Lester has shown us we can never shrink back into our ignorance and ways of belittling the beloved children of God.
Neglect of the poor is almost inherent within the DNA of every American-born person spoon-fed the “bright side” of capitalism and intentionally unreflective of its historical and present power to shape our false narratives about the houseless and Black people.
I don’t want to give the nuggets of this book away because you should preorder it here and digest it for yourself. But, if you pay attention and cling to what Dr. Lester is writing, you’ll be rejuvenated with clarity as to how the apprehension of the gospel of Jesus can transform us into those with the joyful power to create the Beloved Community, though this is not easily brought about.
Once we learn to admire the image of God in every person and to embrace all the confrontation that entails, the fruit of our lives will be that of genuine, racial solidarity. Heck, you might even start to reclaim the Beloved inheritance of “Child” that is spoken over your life when you read it like This Beloved, Black Child did.
Thank you for this work and your life, Dr. Lester.
The subtitle implicates the goal of his book, but you’d be remiss to chalk it up as another hot history take whose main aim is to exaggerate the victimization of Black people in America. And, while I can already see the parking lot of folks who will arrive at such wild conclusions, I hope (and envision!) the rest of us will walk away with the inspiration we need to “make a life.” That is, to live from and for love in order to inhibit the real, evil social pressures presently inflicted upon Black and unhoused communities.
Lester intertwines his history of activism and pastoral ministry to exhort the readers to internalize the truth that we can all be about the Christ-life, we can all pursue “proximate” relationships with those we are “inattenionally blind” to and to those whom this country has categorized as people whose suffering was self-inflicted.
Lester recounts when he was unintentionally homeless and the countless times over the last decade he chose to live unhoused. Why? Because, (and it’s unfortunate it’s not way easier than this, though I believe there are conditions we can create to make the burden of love lighter to carry), it takes us a while to experience the suffering of another as meaningful to us. In order for us to trust and understand one’s pain, we must walk in it, and once we make the choice to… Lord Almighty… Lester has shown us we can never shrink back into our ignorance and ways of belittling the beloved children of God.
Neglect of the poor is almost inherent within the DNA of every American-born person spoon-fed the “bright side” of capitalism and intentionally unreflective of its historical and present power to shape our false narratives about the houseless and Black people.
I don’t want to give the nuggets of this book away because you should preorder it here and digest it for yourself. But, if you pay attention and cling to what Dr. Lester is writing, you’ll be rejuvenated with clarity as to how the apprehension of the gospel of Jesus can transform us into those with the joyful power to create the Beloved Community, though this is not easily brought about.
Once we learn to admire the image of God in every person and to embrace all the confrontation that entails, the fruit of our lives will be that of genuine, racial solidarity. Heck, you might even start to reclaim the Beloved inheritance of “Child” that is spoken over your life when you read it like This Beloved, Black Child did.
Thank you for this work and your life, Dr. Lester.
May 24, 2023
Dr. Lester combines his lived experience as an activist, pastor, and Black man with scholarship to invite honest, constructive discourse about race relations in America. All God’s Children is just over 200 pages, great for someone who is just delving into the process that is building racial solidarity. It’s the first book I’d recommend to a friend who has questions about Critical Race Theory, racism in America, and inequality, to encourage them without overwhelming them. The end of the book also provides a list of books and films to further explore if you do want to learn more.
Dr. Lesters calls the reader to truly see and love people as individuals, while simultaneously recognizing the systemic factors that play huge roles in our lives. He does not shirk from tough realities or the responsibilities we must take up. He calls it like it is, yet I didn’t feel discouraged with his bluntness. The end of each chapter has a section with practical applications so the reader is challenged, and also empowered to grow. He emphasizes building meaningful relationships over having a “gotcha” moment, and from the compassionate, but candid language that this book is written in, he practices what he preaches.
I admit I was a bit hesitant to read because I am ex-evangelical and unsure how much I would find applicable. But I am so glad I took the chance! All God’s Children touches on so much of what I wished I could’ve said to friends and family when I left the church, but didn’t have the research, or attitude, to communicate effectively. Dr. Lester is able to empathetically meet listeners where they are AND he has the credentials to back what he says. He presented information that was entirely new to me and I found myself uncovering biases I didn’t realize I had. It goes to show that doing “the work” is an ongoing process and there is no shame in that.
I feel Dr. Lester is truly “exposing deeds of darkness” in order to bring light, like Ephesians calls Christians to do. This book is a call to action. It addresses the uncomfortable, it reveals truth that has been buried. It has redeemed some of my hope in the faith I grew up with and healed some of my own hurt. There was genuine love and care evident in every page. I will be reading his other books and look forward to what comes next.
Dr. Lesters calls the reader to truly see and love people as individuals, while simultaneously recognizing the systemic factors that play huge roles in our lives. He does not shirk from tough realities or the responsibilities we must take up. He calls it like it is, yet I didn’t feel discouraged with his bluntness. The end of each chapter has a section with practical applications so the reader is challenged, and also empowered to grow. He emphasizes building meaningful relationships over having a “gotcha” moment, and from the compassionate, but candid language that this book is written in, he practices what he preaches.
I admit I was a bit hesitant to read because I am ex-evangelical and unsure how much I would find applicable. But I am so glad I took the chance! All God’s Children touches on so much of what I wished I could’ve said to friends and family when I left the church, but didn’t have the research, or attitude, to communicate effectively. Dr. Lester is able to empathetically meet listeners where they are AND he has the credentials to back what he says. He presented information that was entirely new to me and I found myself uncovering biases I didn’t realize I had. It goes to show that doing “the work” is an ongoing process and there is no shame in that.
I feel Dr. Lester is truly “exposing deeds of darkness” in order to bring light, like Ephesians calls Christians to do. This book is a call to action. It addresses the uncomfortable, it reveals truth that has been buried. It has redeemed some of my hope in the faith I grew up with and healed some of my own hurt. There was genuine love and care evident in every page. I will be reading his other books and look forward to what comes next.
June 12, 2023
What a wonderfully, thorough unpacking of the history of why racial relations in the United States are where they are now. Dr. Lester does an amazing job of sifting through archival history, not just in facts and figures, but in the very humanity and lack of humanity that continues between the children of slaves and the children of slaveholders in this country. His insight breaks down the very history that many are seeking to bury deeply, rather than deal with taking steps towards admittance of fault, and understanding how systemically restraints, behaviors and judicial laws are still in effect that keep the Brown and Black population from reaching their full, God ordained potential. I agree when Dr. Lester wrote of his frustration during the George Floyd protests that while dealing with not just COVID and keeping those in his vicinity and the unhoused community safe he also had to deal with a new issue,
"Suddenly, added to this load was the heartbreak of the Black community coupled with the eagerness of White churches to make sense of it all. I was facing an awkward tension whereby pastors wanted me to address their churches but to do so in a manner that was palatable for their White congregations." (Lester, pg. 49). This continues, and until White America can take our unfiltered message and work through it, this racial divide will continue.
It was also good to see the added Afterword, written by Vonnetta L. West, where she penned her take on Dr. Lester's message "The answer is belonging. If we accept this invitation, we are telling God that we want to acknowledge and experience belonging. We are expressing that we desire the shift from putrid passion for divisions and disparities based on nation, gender, race, and religion to a compassionate determination to cultivate belonging for everyone. There is enough room in God's beloved community for all to dwell there." (West, pg. 210).
There is indeed room for all. Perhaps we haven't seen the manifest blessing of God that could come to all, because this segment refuses to see all that He has to offer, instead of the bits they want to keep, increasing it without any thought to His mandates or care for their neighbors. We lose everything when we don't believe and act on the God mandated edict to love God, and love our neighbor as ourselves. All must believe His grace is sufficient. Until everyone understands and has a Christlike love for themselves, we are hard pressed to have a Christlike love for others.
I would recommend that readers make use of the educational material and bibliography at books end, also. I received this ARC in exchange for an honest review, it has not only enriched my life, it will challenge and enrich yours also. #BeEncouragedTAL
"Suddenly, added to this load was the heartbreak of the Black community coupled with the eagerness of White churches to make sense of it all. I was facing an awkward tension whereby pastors wanted me to address their churches but to do so in a manner that was palatable for their White congregations." (Lester, pg. 49). This continues, and until White America can take our unfiltered message and work through it, this racial divide will continue.
It was also good to see the added Afterword, written by Vonnetta L. West, where she penned her take on Dr. Lester's message "The answer is belonging. If we accept this invitation, we are telling God that we want to acknowledge and experience belonging. We are expressing that we desire the shift from putrid passion for divisions and disparities based on nation, gender, race, and religion to a compassionate determination to cultivate belonging for everyone. There is enough room in God's beloved community for all to dwell there." (West, pg. 210).
There is indeed room for all. Perhaps we haven't seen the manifest blessing of God that could come to all, because this segment refuses to see all that He has to offer, instead of the bits they want to keep, increasing it without any thought to His mandates or care for their neighbors. We lose everything when we don't believe and act on the God mandated edict to love God, and love our neighbor as ourselves. All must believe His grace is sufficient. Until everyone understands and has a Christlike love for themselves, we are hard pressed to have a Christlike love for others.
I would recommend that readers make use of the educational material and bibliography at books end, also. I received this ARC in exchange for an honest review, it has not only enriched my life, it will challenge and enrich yours also. #BeEncouragedTAL
June 20, 2023
Terence writes with clarity, intelligence and profound personal insight which often brought me to tears. 'All God's Children' is such an important book because it seeks to reconcile us all as God's children in His broken but beautiful world. Isn't this the very heart of Jesus?
Reading from Australia, I have no real experience of American culture but often feel like an outside observer watching from the other side of the world as horrific injustices play out graphically on our TV or computer screens. At other times, I see the effects of racism in America through the stories of others, like my son, who have travelled there and experienced racism. It could be easy to distance myself from this reality as something that happens over there and dismiss this book as irrelevant to the Australian situation but it would also be a tragic mistake. Racism is not just an American problem. It's a human problem.
Here in Australia, we have our own buried history that seethes and bubbles below the surface of a White Australia. First Nations people in our country live with the consequences of our violent history of discrimination and injustice daily. We are often blind to their disempowerment. We often don't even hear their voices. Their stories deserve to be heard - an idea that resonates strongly with the current Voice referendum here in Australia.
I love that Terence champions hearing stories and acting for justice in real ways that move beyond the tokenistic so we can stand beside our brothers and sisters in solidarity. This is what it means to be human and love each other. I'm thankful for the practical suggestions Terence gives that help us work towards a racial solidarity in real, meaningful ways that unite us all.
No matter where you are reading from, this book is so important and so relevant. I pray as it goes out it blesses and heals and unites and restores and moves us closer to an understanding of what it really means for us all to be God's children.
Thank you, Terence, for sharing your story and your heart. I'm only saddened that this read is timely and the ideas in it are not historical. I can't wait until the day we look back in astonishment at the effort we had to go to in order to reconcile races. For those of us who long to be better at this already, this book is a great start.
Reading from Australia, I have no real experience of American culture but often feel like an outside observer watching from the other side of the world as horrific injustices play out graphically on our TV or computer screens. At other times, I see the effects of racism in America through the stories of others, like my son, who have travelled there and experienced racism. It could be easy to distance myself from this reality as something that happens over there and dismiss this book as irrelevant to the Australian situation but it would also be a tragic mistake. Racism is not just an American problem. It's a human problem.
Here in Australia, we have our own buried history that seethes and bubbles below the surface of a White Australia. First Nations people in our country live with the consequences of our violent history of discrimination and injustice daily. We are often blind to their disempowerment. We often don't even hear their voices. Their stories deserve to be heard - an idea that resonates strongly with the current Voice referendum here in Australia.
I love that Terence champions hearing stories and acting for justice in real ways that move beyond the tokenistic so we can stand beside our brothers and sisters in solidarity. This is what it means to be human and love each other. I'm thankful for the practical suggestions Terence gives that help us work towards a racial solidarity in real, meaningful ways that unite us all.
No matter where you are reading from, this book is so important and so relevant. I pray as it goes out it blesses and heals and unites and restores and moves us closer to an understanding of what it really means for us all to be God's children.
Thank you, Terence, for sharing your story and your heart. I'm only saddened that this read is timely and the ideas in it are not historical. I can't wait until the day we look back in astonishment at the effort we had to go to in order to reconcile races. For those of us who long to be better at this already, this book is a great start.
May 28, 2023
Terence Lester's book is a much needed addition to the study of racism in America. The history of churches looking the other way throughout our nation's history is one that needs to be told now more than ever, because it is still happening today.
Shaking the Gates of Hell by John Archibald tells about how pastors, particularly the author's father,who did not discuss the civil rights movement in their sermons. A Fever in the Heartland by Timothy Egan makes it very clear that the rise of the KKK was largely due to church's support of the hate organization and how many times the KKK paid pastors off to embrace hate. All God's Children adds to and substantiates our nation's history as it pertains to the failure of our churches to proclaim love and equality and to take a stand against racism.
I just completed a peace project, that became mired in xenophobia and racism. Not one church would support a PEACE project. It was deemed too controversial. Terence's words rang true for me. Many of the things he discussed I experienced while working on the peace project. The first statewide KKK rally in Illinois took place where I live. Those of us working on the peace project were asked not to mention our town's buried history. We refused to remain quiet. We experienced intense push-back. All that Terence discusses in All God's Children is real and is still happening. In this age of many trying to ban books, it is more important than ever that people read books like Terence's. We must educate ourselves, especially when the teaching of history has become political and is being twisted or censored.
During and after the Trump-Clinton race for president I attended church every Sunday. Not once was the hatred spewed by Trump ever addressed, even in a congregation where there were several people of color. There were Trump bumper stickers in the parking lot. Seemingly the church had made a choice in our Republican town - not to take a stand against hate, lose parishioners, and thus $$$$$. Sadly church leaders haven't learned from history and don't have the courage to take a stand.
It is my hope that this book become a best seller and that Terence writes many more.
Shaking the Gates of Hell by John Archibald tells about how pastors, particularly the author's father,who did not discuss the civil rights movement in their sermons. A Fever in the Heartland by Timothy Egan makes it very clear that the rise of the KKK was largely due to church's support of the hate organization and how many times the KKK paid pastors off to embrace hate. All God's Children adds to and substantiates our nation's history as it pertains to the failure of our churches to proclaim love and equality and to take a stand against racism.
I just completed a peace project, that became mired in xenophobia and racism. Not one church would support a PEACE project. It was deemed too controversial. Terence's words rang true for me. Many of the things he discussed I experienced while working on the peace project. The first statewide KKK rally in Illinois took place where I live. Those of us working on the peace project were asked not to mention our town's buried history. We refused to remain quiet. We experienced intense push-back. All that Terence discusses in All God's Children is real and is still happening. In this age of many trying to ban books, it is more important than ever that people read books like Terence's. We must educate ourselves, especially when the teaching of history has become political and is being twisted or censored.
During and after the Trump-Clinton race for president I attended church every Sunday. Not once was the hatred spewed by Trump ever addressed, even in a congregation where there were several people of color. There were Trump bumper stickers in the parking lot. Seemingly the church had made a choice in our Republican town - not to take a stand against hate, lose parishioners, and thus $$$$$. Sadly church leaders haven't learned from history and don't have the courage to take a stand.
It is my hope that this book become a best seller and that Terence writes many more.
June 22, 2023
This book stands out from others on anti-racism and discrimination in that Terence Lester has crafted a narrative that is thorough in its sourcing (corroborating references, studies/statistics cited), with a powerful and poignant personal testimony woven throughout. His writing style educates through story-telling, encouraging the reader to inform others as well as learn about others through proximity and relationship.
All God's Children is written by a Christian man, from a largely Christian perspective, but I don't believe it is exclusionary or disqualifying for non-Christian readers. In fact, the courage and honesty within its pages is exemplification of universal spiritual values: humility, self-reflection, service, and justice. Terence presents himself and his faith without compromise or appeasement, while sharing with unabashed vulnerability the ways religious institutions have failed him, along with so many of God's children.
Even in his triumphs, Terence has mindfully examined the factors at play: his privilege, the struggle and sacrifice of those who have come before, mentorship and support, tokenism. These, too, are considered in moments of pain and disappointment. A standout theme is the balance and equanimity of inherent dignity and self-respect, coupled with humility and reverence for God. This balance allows for true kinship and solidarity with others—friends and strangers alike.
Terence shares that in learning the stories of those we perceive as different, we begin to pierce the veil of otherness and enmity. In his presentation of this, along with myriad examples, I am continually inspired. This book isn't just for Christians or religious folks, but for everyone who has a heart to lead through service. It outlines ways we can change ourselves for the better, along with setting an example that others are moved to follow.
All God's Children is written by a Christian man, from a largely Christian perspective, but I don't believe it is exclusionary or disqualifying for non-Christian readers. In fact, the courage and honesty within its pages is exemplification of universal spiritual values: humility, self-reflection, service, and justice. Terence presents himself and his faith without compromise or appeasement, while sharing with unabashed vulnerability the ways religious institutions have failed him, along with so many of God's children.
Even in his triumphs, Terence has mindfully examined the factors at play: his privilege, the struggle and sacrifice of those who have come before, mentorship and support, tokenism. These, too, are considered in moments of pain and disappointment. A standout theme is the balance and equanimity of inherent dignity and self-respect, coupled with humility and reverence for God. This balance allows for true kinship and solidarity with others—friends and strangers alike.
Terence shares that in learning the stories of those we perceive as different, we begin to pierce the veil of otherness and enmity. In his presentation of this, along with myriad examples, I am continually inspired. This book isn't just for Christians or religious folks, but for everyone who has a heart to lead through service. It outlines ways we can change ourselves for the better, along with setting an example that others are moved to follow.
June 18, 2023
Dr. Lester has done it again. He weaves personal testimony, sound theological reflection, and critical reflection upon current events to craft another opportunity for all of us - and especially for those of us who carry White privilege - to learn how to turn aside, "get proximate", and get caught up in the right story: That of our neighbor whose suffering deserves to be heard, addressed, and acted upon.
There's so much here to reflect upon, but today I am sitting with his insights about how we need to "be proximate" to one another's story in ways that, ultimately, open us up to more of our own. He puts it like this: "But living a genuine life of racial proximity means we take not of the macro and micro challenges of those with ethnic backgrounds different than our own.... We allow our in-person interactions to shape our big picture understanding of groups and communities we previously misunderstood." It's not enough for me to have an intimate, self-indulgent moment of emotionality around someone else's painful story. I need to figure out how to connect dots from their (very local and particular and personal) experiences to an historical, cultural, institutional system that makes it this way for them and not for me. At the same time, I can't just give intellectual assent to the idea of racial equity and compassionate co-conspiracy with them. I need to bring those ideas into the ground of my own life, and make something happen.
Better yet, we can open our eyes to see who is already making something happen - and ask how we might join them. Thanks to Dr. Lester, this book offers us the worldview and the immediate "go and do" practices that lead us into this work, howsoever it may find us.
There's so much here to reflect upon, but today I am sitting with his insights about how we need to "be proximate" to one another's story in ways that, ultimately, open us up to more of our own. He puts it like this: "But living a genuine life of racial proximity means we take not of the macro and micro challenges of those with ethnic backgrounds different than our own.... We allow our in-person interactions to shape our big picture understanding of groups and communities we previously misunderstood." It's not enough for me to have an intimate, self-indulgent moment of emotionality around someone else's painful story. I need to figure out how to connect dots from their (very local and particular and personal) experiences to an historical, cultural, institutional system that makes it this way for them and not for me. At the same time, I can't just give intellectual assent to the idea of racial equity and compassionate co-conspiracy with them. I need to bring those ideas into the ground of my own life, and make something happen.
Better yet, we can open our eyes to see who is already making something happen - and ask how we might join them. Thanks to Dr. Lester, this book offers us the worldview and the immediate "go and do" practices that lead us into this work, howsoever it may find us.
June 20, 2023
Part memoir, part call to action, all Jesus… this book is the real deal!
After reading about how Terence is helping the homeless through his nonprofit, Love Beyond Walls, I was eager to learn more from him. When it comes to following Jesus, Terence is the real deal – someone who focuses on whole-heartedly loving his neighbors.
In this book, like the prophets of the Old Testament, Terence Lester calls on American society to truthfully and compassionately face its history of racism and to move forward toward justice and love. Weaving together his moving stories of helping the homeless with the times his contributions as a Black Pastor were dismissed and minimized, he sheds light on the inequalities still present in our society.
He encourages the reader to love their Black neighbors like Jesus would. Jesus spent time with and really listened to those who were different (a Samaritan woman, a centurion and many others), and we are encouraged as well to change up our routine and expand our social circles so we can befriend and listen to those different from us. Those of us in mostly White businesses and churches can use our voice to ensure Black church members and co-workers are more than welcomed – that they can belong and be themselves. I love the way Terence phrases this as “We built this with you in mind.”
Overall, I really enjoyed All God’s Children and Terence’s story and encouragement. If you are a Christian (or anyone) who wants to better love all your neighbors, this is an excellent book.
After reading about how Terence is helping the homeless through his nonprofit, Love Beyond Walls, I was eager to learn more from him. When it comes to following Jesus, Terence is the real deal – someone who focuses on whole-heartedly loving his neighbors.
In this book, like the prophets of the Old Testament, Terence Lester calls on American society to truthfully and compassionately face its history of racism and to move forward toward justice and love. Weaving together his moving stories of helping the homeless with the times his contributions as a Black Pastor were dismissed and minimized, he sheds light on the inequalities still present in our society.
He encourages the reader to love their Black neighbors like Jesus would. Jesus spent time with and really listened to those who were different (a Samaritan woman, a centurion and many others), and we are encouraged as well to change up our routine and expand our social circles so we can befriend and listen to those different from us. Those of us in mostly White businesses and churches can use our voice to ensure Black church members and co-workers are more than welcomed – that they can belong and be themselves. I love the way Terence phrases this as “We built this with you in mind.”
Overall, I really enjoyed All God’s Children and Terence’s story and encouragement. If you are a Christian (or anyone) who wants to better love all your neighbors, this is an excellent book.
June 24, 2023
Welcome to All God’s Children by Dr Terence Lester!
I was drawn to this book first by its author, who also wrote “I See You: How Love Opens Our Eyes to Invisible People,” a book that I refer to frequently as a canonical reference for anti-poverty work in support of those who are poor, marginalized and systematically overlooked.
I was drawn to this book next as I read it - both the first and second time - because of its thoughtful and clear development of the linkage between racism and poverty. I took many notes, and include here just a handful.
Disremembered history sets the stage for only shallow solutions to deeper problems: we need to acknowledge that exclusion is common in American society. And we can’t be satisfied with this status quo – we need to now create social change, guided by intelligent carriers of dreams. This will not happen overnight.
Justice and community are intertwined. The immense burden of verbal and online abuse has a daily and cumulative impact: it causes internal rage for those who experience it, along with the criminal indifference of those who don’t acknowledge it - this is outrageous. Loving your neighbor is to know and understand the issues they face.
Lament with others.
Listen to others.
Learn from others.
Show compassion and empathy – stand alongside others.
Most importantly, you need to do something. Reading this book thoughtfully is an important “something” to embrace today, and implement its lessons and recommendations tomorrow, and the next day, and the next, and the next….
Bravo, Dr Terence Lester!
I was drawn to this book first by its author, who also wrote “I See You: How Love Opens Our Eyes to Invisible People,” a book that I refer to frequently as a canonical reference for anti-poverty work in support of those who are poor, marginalized and systematically overlooked.
I was drawn to this book next as I read it - both the first and second time - because of its thoughtful and clear development of the linkage between racism and poverty. I took many notes, and include here just a handful.
Disremembered history sets the stage for only shallow solutions to deeper problems: we need to acknowledge that exclusion is common in American society. And we can’t be satisfied with this status quo – we need to now create social change, guided by intelligent carriers of dreams. This will not happen overnight.
Justice and community are intertwined. The immense burden of verbal and online abuse has a daily and cumulative impact: it causes internal rage for those who experience it, along with the criminal indifference of those who don’t acknowledge it - this is outrageous. Loving your neighbor is to know and understand the issues they face.
Lament with others.
Listen to others.
Learn from others.
Show compassion and empathy – stand alongside others.
Most importantly, you need to do something. Reading this book thoughtfully is an important “something” to embrace today, and implement its lessons and recommendations tomorrow, and the next day, and the next, and the next….
Bravo, Dr Terence Lester!
June 19, 2023
This book is a practical guide for people on the topic of racial solidarity and reconciliation, specifically the believers in Jesus Christ. Sunday is often known as the most segregated day of the week and through his lived experiences, Dr. Lester shares how this is true and how it does not fully reflect the heart of the gospel. Through his tenure as a minister and pastor in churches with predominately white congregations and predominantly black congregations, Dr. Lester has experienced how these churches handle race differently based on the congregants.
While it is difficult to face, we must face the realities of our history, even if the impacts of that history are not our reality. Dr. Lester challenges the believer to take time to not only under the national history but the personal stories, personal history, of their neighbor. Throughout the book, Dr. Lester calls this being in proximity to each other. When we are in proximity to each other, we can understand one another. This is the call and the work of Jesus.
Beyond understanding the history and building community, Dr. Lester explains that solidarity leads to justice. When we stand with one another, we fight to see justice prevail in the community. Dr. Lester outlines practical ways to demonstrate this solidarity.
The entire book is a practical guide with practical examples to bridging the gap.
While it is difficult to face, we must face the realities of our history, even if the impacts of that history are not our reality. Dr. Lester challenges the believer to take time to not only under the national history but the personal stories, personal history, of their neighbor. Throughout the book, Dr. Lester calls this being in proximity to each other. When we are in proximity to each other, we can understand one another. This is the call and the work of Jesus.
Beyond understanding the history and building community, Dr. Lester explains that solidarity leads to justice. When we stand with one another, we fight to see justice prevail in the community. Dr. Lester outlines practical ways to demonstrate this solidarity.
The entire book is a practical guide with practical examples to bridging the gap.
June 10, 2023
Dr. Terence Lester has written a powerful, enlightening, and well-researched book to sharpen our focus! He expresses the need to TAKE ACTION in order to truly tackle and unravel systemic racism in the United States of America. He defines this action as being an active learner who fully absorbs and comprehends the history of people who repeatedly experienced injustice , disparity , exclusion, and unfair treatment . This active learner needs to also step out of their comfort zone in order to understand, empathize , and truly stand in solidarity with people who experience injustice in the world. After each chapter, there are real-world applications that offer a proactive, progressive approach and mindset to take action that work towards racial solidarity. The message that links each chapter together is simply that our country should actively embrace differences and offer a fully inclusive environment where everyone feels welcomed, appreciated and accepted. My favorite quote is the following : “To pursue justice is to look at what’s wrong , understand the root cause , and take proper corrective steps toward change.” Dr. Lester’s words are lit with purpose , passion, and guided goodness.
August 17, 2023
It is time to uncover some buried history and learn how to love our neighbors in a better way. This book is so very well written and it provides the teaching, guidance and challenges we need to make the necessary changes.
As you read chapter 5 of this book, I encourage you to slow down the pace of your reading and really spend some time unpacking and examining your own biases…we all have them. I then encourage you to look around and see others who don’t look or live just like you. Really see them and listen to their stories. This will help to destroy the false biases that we are surrounded by.
Reading this book will result in you examining your own heart. What will you find there? It will encourage you to be more aware. As your awareness grows, you will encounter and learn about the pain of others. Spend some time acknowledging their pain. Choose to serve instead of ignore. May we all do our part to build racial solidarity.
Be humble, be teachable and please do something.
Read this book!
I received a complimentary copy of this book from IVP. All opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own.
As you read chapter 5 of this book, I encourage you to slow down the pace of your reading and really spend some time unpacking and examining your own biases…we all have them. I then encourage you to look around and see others who don’t look or live just like you. Really see them and listen to their stories. This will help to destroy the false biases that we are surrounded by.
Reading this book will result in you examining your own heart. What will you find there? It will encourage you to be more aware. As your awareness grows, you will encounter and learn about the pain of others. Spend some time acknowledging their pain. Choose to serve instead of ignore. May we all do our part to build racial solidarity.
Be humble, be teachable and please do something.
Read this book!
I received a complimentary copy of this book from IVP. All opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own.
June 19, 2023
Incredible book! Dr. Terrence Lester provides an introspective look at the realities of racism and the church. He draws on not only personal experiences but statistical analysis and current events to bring you an awakening to the climate of the culture in our country.
As a Christian in our country and someone who works hard to challenge the mindset of other Christians, it empowered me with even more insight to challenge the long held beliefs of those I encounter.
Terrence's work with Love Beyond Walls is work that is deeply connected to my personal experience of homelessness and the treatment of those in society that are unseen and not given the dignity deserved of any human. Far too many people bury their heads in the sand and struggle to relate to issues that don't affect them and ignore the realities of racism and poverty and how they intersect. This book is a must read for anyone who wants to learn more and is curious about challenging social justice, inequity and wants to gain a broader understanding of what people experience!
As a Christian in our country and someone who works hard to challenge the mindset of other Christians, it empowered me with even more insight to challenge the long held beliefs of those I encounter.
Terrence's work with Love Beyond Walls is work that is deeply connected to my personal experience of homelessness and the treatment of those in society that are unseen and not given the dignity deserved of any human. Far too many people bury their heads in the sand and struggle to relate to issues that don't affect them and ignore the realities of racism and poverty and how they intersect. This book is a must read for anyone who wants to learn more and is curious about challenging social justice, inequity and wants to gain a broader understanding of what people experience!
June 19, 2023
Terence Lester's All God’s Children: How Confronting Buried History Can Build Racial Solidarity is a great read. However, be ready for your own biases to be challenged and to feel a little uncomfortable at times. This book reveals the work that still needs to be done for racial solidarity, especially within the church.
Terence gives us a glimpse of some of the struggles and painful experiences he endured while working with the pastors and congregations of the white church, trying to help others experiencing homelessness, and attempting to connect people that are different.
Terence explains the importance of history and connects it to the present.
Personally, chapter 9 “Sit At Another’s Table” was so powerful that I read it twice before moving on to the next chapter.
The application section at the end of each chapter drives the reader to self-reflect with the hopes that they will take the knowledge and apply it in their daily lives.
This book is a reminder that we are all made in God’s image and that we all can and need to “Do Something”.
Terence gives us a glimpse of some of the struggles and painful experiences he endured while working with the pastors and congregations of the white church, trying to help others experiencing homelessness, and attempting to connect people that are different.
Terence explains the importance of history and connects it to the present.
Personally, chapter 9 “Sit At Another’s Table” was so powerful that I read it twice before moving on to the next chapter.
The application section at the end of each chapter drives the reader to self-reflect with the hopes that they will take the knowledge and apply it in their daily lives.
This book is a reminder that we are all made in God’s image and that we all can and need to “Do Something”.
July 8, 2023
I thoroughly enjoyed reading All God’s Children. I will definitely recommend this to a number of my friends and family. I have so many takeaways from this, including this quote: “the solution to dealing with many of the macro racial problems in America starts at a micro level as we live in close proximity to others.”
It’s written in such a way that’s easy to read, but it’s also packed with quotes from many other authors, references to psychological studies, etc. I really appreciated that, among other things, this book is a great stepping stone to other important resources. I also appreciated that each chapter ended with an application section with questions that did actually make me think.
My only minor critique is that it sometimes veers a little and seems to get a little lost in politics. That doesn’t really bother me, but sometimes the threads back to Lester’s thoughts got a little lost.
It’s written in such a way that’s easy to read, but it’s also packed with quotes from many other authors, references to psychological studies, etc. I really appreciated that, among other things, this book is a great stepping stone to other important resources. I also appreciated that each chapter ended with an application section with questions that did actually make me think.
My only minor critique is that it sometimes veers a little and seems to get a little lost in politics. That doesn’t really bother me, but sometimes the threads back to Lester’s thoughts got a little lost.
September 23, 2023
Dr. Terence Lester has done it again. He’s managed to combine all of the reasons why, in 2023, we should all work actively towards anti-racism, compassion for the unhoused, and love for our fellow man into one great book, complete with scriptures, historical, and expert references to back it all up.
If you’re looking for a great book to convince any of your crazy family why Black Lives really do Matter or why they’re in a cult and voting for the wrong guy, this is the book for you. And no, this book isn’t political. It’s about living like Jesus and doing what Jesus what do.
Or, if you’re looking for a book from the perspective of a Black man with maybe the biggest heart imaginable, a few advanced degrees, including a PhD in public policy and societal change, and a knack for explaining things that makes you want to sign up to change the world alongside him, then this is the book for you.
If you’re looking for a great book to convince any of your crazy family why Black Lives really do Matter or why they’re in a cult and voting for the wrong guy, this is the book for you. And no, this book isn’t political. It’s about living like Jesus and doing what Jesus what do.
Or, if you’re looking for a book from the perspective of a Black man with maybe the biggest heart imaginable, a few advanced degrees, including a PhD in public policy and societal change, and a knack for explaining things that makes you want to sign up to change the world alongside him, then this is the book for you.
June 17, 2023
I absolutely benefited from this book. I nearly said enjoyed, but backtracked because ultimately what Terence talks about is the truth. And the truth he presents is very hard, frustrating, and uncomfortable. I appreciate how he opens up his own life with stories of how racism has impacted him, in addition to the collective history of our culture/nation/society building, enabling, and permitting a system that is very oppressive/destructive towards the black community. This is a definitely a great book for a friend who denies the existence of racism. This might open up their eyes to how racism is still very well alive, unfortunately. I appreciate the tone of hope throughout the book that Terence won't allow the grim and serious nature of the conversation to take away his courage, passion, and energy towards elevating his community with him.
June 20, 2023
All God's Children by Dr. Terence Lester is an engaging, thought-provoking read.
As a mother raising transracially adopted children, I try to read as much as I can about racial relations. As a believer in Christ, I am even more interested when the author infuses faith into the subject. This book delivered on both ends.
Dr. Lester does a great job of balancing research, personal stories, and practical ways to move forward to create a book that is both informative and enjoyable. Yes, there are heavy topics and subject matter but there is also hope. There are simple phrases and steps to take, such as "practice proximity." The point is well-made to do something, no matter how seemingly small that thing may be. As the author states, "And so today, do for one person what you wish you could do for everyone."
This book will both challenge and encourage those who choose to move forward.
As a mother raising transracially adopted children, I try to read as much as I can about racial relations. As a believer in Christ, I am even more interested when the author infuses faith into the subject. This book delivered on both ends.
Dr. Lester does a great job of balancing research, personal stories, and practical ways to move forward to create a book that is both informative and enjoyable. Yes, there are heavy topics and subject matter but there is also hope. There are simple phrases and steps to take, such as "practice proximity." The point is well-made to do something, no matter how seemingly small that thing may be. As the author states, "And so today, do for one person what you wish you could do for everyone."
This book will both challenge and encourage those who choose to move forward.
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