Caleb Kaltenbach - Messy Truth: How to Foster Community Without Sacrificing Conviction

The church desperately needs wise and winsome guides that can equip us to lavishly love LGBTQ people in the context of very real, very messy churches and ministries. Caleb Kaltenbach is one of those guides!

Michelle Sanchez, executive minister of Make and Deepen Disciples at Evangelical Covenant Church

In Messy Truth, you will grow in your compassion for and conversation with those in the LGBTQ community. Caleb Kaltenbach is a leader and pastor who fosters relationships without sacrificing conviction, and he will teach you to do the same.

Kyle Idleman, senior pastor of Southeast Christian Church

As our churches and our world become increasingly polarized on the complicated issues of life, Caleb Kaltenbachs ideas are a welcome voice of warmth and biblical clarity. Without sacrificing principle, he brings the reader a grace-filled lens to view the difficulties we face, which also provides practical skills.

John Townsend, PhD, New York Times bestselling author of the Boundaries series

Once again, Caleb Kaltenbach tackles this difficult subject with superbly well-balanced grace and truth. His sensitivity and empathy regarding the LGBTQ community is one to be modeled. A must-read for all Christians.

Becket Cook, author of A Change of Affection

Many books discuss research and theories about loving people, but this book models how we can relentlessly love people and meet them where theyre at so we can guide them to Jesus.

Efrem Smith, cosenior pastor of Midtown Covenant Church

Messy Truth provides a most practical guidethrough stories, conversations, and tips for church leaders and Christians to show mercy over judgment.

DJ Chuang, author of MultiAsian.Church

Messy Truth is a timely wake-up call for the church. It offers a road map for staying faithful to Scripture and being empathetic and gracious toward people in the LGBTQ community and beyond.

Sean McDowell, PhD, associate professor of apologetics at Talbot School of Theology

Caleb teaches us the art of seeing peoplepeople whom Jesus loves. In Messy Truth, we are given the tools to have healing and life-giving conversations that ultimately foster community and belonging for all people.

Adrianna Cervantes, youth and young-adult programming coordinator at Shepherd Church

Calebs application of Jesuss powerful formula of grace and truth gives us the guidance we need to move forward in a way that honors God and loves people.

Randy Frazee, pastor and author of His Mighty Strength

Bringing wisdom and clarity to the most complicated of situations, Messy Truth helps churches and followers of Jesus advance their faith beyond their agenda. This book goes beyond making a point; it makes a difference!

Rusty George, senior pastor of Real Life Church

Very few people these days combine convictions about Gods Word with the ability to unleash compassion for everyone. Likewise, very few people these days are calling the church to full commitment to truth and full commitment to grace. Thats the lesson in this book.

Ray Johnston, senior pastor of Bayside Church and founder of Thrive

In Messy Truth, youll learn how to best point your LGBTQ friends to Jesus and help them connect in Christ-centered communities.

Jarrett Stephens, senior pastor of Champion Forest Baptist Church

I am often asked, Whos doing it right? Who is a model for relating to the LGBTQ community? I point people to Caleb Kaltenbach, whose book Messy Truth helps the reader catch his vision for entering into sustained, authentic relationships and provides practical examples from his own life and principles for doing so.

Mark Yarhouse, professor at Wheaton College and director of Sexual and Gender Identity Institute

Messy Truth is exactly what the church needs in order to navigate todays murky cultural and relational waters with biblical fidelity and love. It forges a better way for Christians to love God and our neighbors faithfully and well, not only in the matters that are the subject of the book, but in any we might face in a post-Christian world.

Karen Swallow Prior, research professor of English, as well as Christianity and Culture, at Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary

I was drawn in by Calebs winsome approach through the entire book and found myself wanting to talk about it with others. Gather your leadership team and dig into this book together!

Rich Birch, author of Church Growth Flywheel and host of unSeminary Podcast

With the wisdom of personal experience and the kindness of a pastors heart, Caleb helps us to love better across the lines of difference while maintaining our convictions. More than this, he helps us see that it is not in spite of our faith that we love in this way, but because of it.

Scott Sauls, senior pastor of Christ Presbyterian Church in Nashville, Tennessee

Messy Truth will help you think through the challenge of living and relating to people who see and live in the world differently than you do.

Darrell Bock, executive director for cultural engagement at Howard G. Hendricks Center for Christian Leadership and Cultural Engagement

This book is filled with real-life, lived, and wrestled-down wisdom. Allow Caleb to be your guide to help you discern Gods truth, grow in compassion, and be able to have a conversation with anyone.

Daniel Im, lead pastor at Beulah Alliance Church, podcaster, and author

This book demonstrates why redemptive community is essential in helping others follow Jesus, and Caleb provides a biblical framework along with practical steps to reach people different from ourselves.

Ruth Malhotra, public relations and communications specialist

As a culture, we refuse to honor people we disagree with, pretend truth doesnt exist, or run screaming back to our echo chambers to find people who agree with us. Messy Truth gives us a framework to have the meaningful dialogue we so desperately need to foster.

Carey Nieuwhof, host of the Carey Nieuwhof Leadership Podcast and author of At Your Best

Like a handmade tapestry, Messy Truth masterfully weaves together truth and love across the fabric of its pages. Whether youre leading an entire congregation or the kids at home, this is just the tool you need to navigate the world were in.

Ricky Jenkins, senior pastor of Southwest Church

Caleb once again embraces the messiness of engaging people and challenges the churchs often-flawed reaction to LGBTQ individuals. By establishing us all as image bearers and being worthy of not only love and respect but also viewed as beings of value, the argument of right versus wrong easily changes to simply loving and being loved by a just God. This paradigm shift is truly effective only when we make it as a community and include those we disagree with.

Lesli Hudson-Reynolds, gender identity ministries at Posture Shift

Conversations about faith and sexuality are at the forefront of our society. I dont know of many people more qualified than my friend Caleb to speak to how we can engage with grace and truth.

Ashley Wooldridge, senior pastor of Christs Church of the Valley

Caleb shows uswith biblical intelligence, pastoral wisdom, and lots of experiencethat being radically gracious does not mean we are taking a soft approach to truth. Truth is grace and grace is truth. If were not being gracious, were not actually being truthful.