In "The God of Intimacy and Action," beloved author and activist Tony Campolo teams up with spiritual director Mary Albert Darling to show how contemplative spiritual practices can lead to greater intimacy with God and fuel passion for reaching out to others through spreading the Good News and fostering justice for the poor and oppressed. The authors reveal why this combination is not only crucial but historical and is vividly demonstrated in the lives of saints such as St. Francis of Assisi, Ignatius of Loyola, and Catherine of Siena.

"Catholics and Protestants have been debating for centuries about which is more vital — faith or good works? There are hopeful signs, however, that the controversy may be winding down. Acclaimed evangelical speaker and writer Campolo teams up with spiritual director and teacher Darling to reveal some gems from the liturgical Christian tradition to evangelical Protestants who may be ready for a refreshing change. While steeped in their own evangelical tradition, the authors are not afraid to venture back into Christian history and reclaim some practices that have long been considered exclusively Catholic. Darling suggests Centering Prayer, along with works by Ignatius Loyola and Catherine of Siena, as excellent spiritual tools to help evangelicals grow in faith and love for the poor. A vital theme in Campolo and Darling's work is that spirituality is not solely an individualistic practice, but must lead Christians to love and help the oppressed. True Christian mysticism, the authors posit, is not an either/or proposition: "We believe that the nexus between evangelism and justice is to be found in the kind of Christian mysticism we are advocating in this book." While not all evangelicals are ready for such a radical shift, others will be greatly enriched. (July 13)" Publishers Weekly (Copyright Reed Business Information, Inc.)

"'Catholics and Protestants have been debating for centuries about which is more vital — faith or good works? There are hopeful signs, however, that the controversy may be winding down. Acclaimed evangelical speaker and writer Campolo teams up with spiritual director and teacher Darling to reveal some gems from the liturgical Christian tradition to evangelical Protestants who may be ready for a refreshing change. While steeped in their own evangelical tradition, the authors are not afraid to venture back into Christian history and reclaim some practices that have long been considered exclusively Catholic. Darling suggests Centering Prayer, along with works by Ignatius Loyola and Catherine of Siena, as excellent spiritual tools to help evangelicals grow in faith and love for the poor. A vital theme in Campolo and Darling's work is that spirituality is not solely an individualistic practice, but must lead Christians to love and help the oppressed. True Christian mysticism, the authors posit, is not an either/or proposition: 'We believe that the nexus between evangelism and justice is to be found in the kind of Christian mysticism we are advocating in this book.' While not all evangelicals are ready for such a radical shift, others will be greatly enriched. (July 13)' Publishers Weekly (Copyright Reed Business Information, Inc.)" Publishers Weekly (Copyright Reed Business Information, Inc.)

How contemplative practice can fuel Christians’ enthusiasm for evangelism and social justice

A beloved and bestselling author, preacher, and activist teams up with a spiritual director to show Christians how contemplative spiritual practice that leads to greater intimacy with God can fuel passion for reaching out to others through evangelism (spreading the Good News) and social justice (helping the poor and oppressed). Tony Campolo and Mary Darling show how and why this combination is important, drawing on the historical examples of St. Francis, St. Teresa of Avila, and St. John of the Cross, among others. They explain mystical spirituality and its practices and integrate it with social activism to illuminate what the authors call " holistic Christianity."

Dr. Tony Campolo (St. Davids, PA), Professor Emeritus of Sociology at Eastern University, is a widely known media commentator on religious, social, and political matters. Mary Darling (Spring Arbor, MI) is Professor of Communication and Worship at Spring Arbor University.