February 28th, 2022

Evangelism. Our mission brings people together, especially people who are on opposite sides of “the dividing wall of hostility.” In SF, Christians are often the ones seen as hostile. Yet, in my experience, embodying a shame-reversal framework of evangelism diffuses this stereotype and indeed helps lower this “dividing wall.” For example, my friend Alyson (whom I’ve mentioned in past letters) experienced this dynamic multiple ways when I was writing the chapter shown on the right:

1. She was featured in it.
2. She proofed the book before its publication.
3. She recognized the uniqueness of a shame-reversal theology applied to evangelism in a book.

The fact that Alyson was a pastor of San Francisco’s well-known Unitarian Universalist church and theologically well-read speaks volumes. Non-Christian ministers like her typically don’t proof an author’s article about Christian evangelism in a book endorsed by evangelical scholars! Furthermore, my partnership with Alyson had a ripple effect, bringing other groups together in the past like our respective youth groups & members from a dozen of San Francisco‘s different faith communities. Evangelism brings unfamiliar people together.  

I love reading stories about how some of you are similarly bringing people together at work, at the gym, through acts of hospitality, through sports, both here in the States and abroad. We ALL are called to be the fragrance of Christ (2 Cor 2:14) and to seek the peace of where we live (Jer 29:7). But what I often find lacking is training to embody a Gospel that trains influencers to engage God and their communities more holistically. This is a Gospel that embodies the shame-reversal work of Jesus on the cross AND this is the Gospel that tore down the wall of hostility between groups (Eph 2:14). In imagining bringing groups together that have some hostility towards each other, sometimes the walls may not come down until the next age, but let's keep spurring each other towards this mission! 


At Kingdom Rice, our work trains leaders to embody the Gospel that transforms people and their communities. First, some resources: Pastor Fred Mok invited me to expand some of what I’ve written here to help train his church. It's an hour long video you can find here. And in case you're unaware, the chapter I named above is part of a book called “Honor-Shame and the Gospel.” It reveals a shame-reversal Gospel among trafficked women, the illiterate, and more. Lastly, we designed a “Lenses” course to interactively learn to embody this material with others. Our board considers this our most strategic offering, and it’s the one I personally sink the most amount of time leading. 

Drop me a line. Love to hear how you are doing or your thoughts. Have a blessed Lenten season!

- Steve Hong