Rich Villodas - Good and Beautiful and Kind: Becoming Whole in a Fractured World

Good and Beautiful and Kind is a peaceful, gracious, and wise formulation of what it looks like to follow Jesus in a world ripping apart by a lack of love, by systemic powers, and by our own woundedness. One will not find a cajoling gospel here but a deeply gracious and good gospel that not only can heal us personally but can repair our fractured society. Give yourself a retreat to spend time with this beautiful book.

Rev. Canon Dr. Scot McKnight, professor of New Testament at Northern Seminary

We desperately need resources to heal the brokenness, deception, and deformation that has crept into the church. In this beautiful book, Rich Villodas lays out a vision, theology, framework, and life-giving practices to help us restore our integrity and become more like the disciples Jesus had in mind. I am deeply grateful for his pastoral, analytical, and compelling vision.

Jon Tyson, author of Beautiful Resistance and pastor of Church of the City New York

This book is a gift to us all! Every chapter is incredible. So timely and important. Grace-filled, hope-filled, practical, and thought-provoking. Rich not only identifies the fractures in our world and wounds in our souls, but he also provides a pathway to wholeness. Good and Beautiful and Kind is written from the heart of a true pastor who longs for people to know we were made in love and for love by a good, beautiful, and kind God. In a broken and disillusioned world, these pages are full of hope and healing. You will discover that the ancient way of Jesus is actually the path to the future.

Christine Caine, founder of A21 and Propel Women

Reconciliation and justice require new frameworks and practices to reach the next generation. In this book, Rich Villodas has given us a path toward goodness, beauty, and kindness when we are rooted in the way of Jesus. This is a must-read for everyone longing for wholeness and healing.

Latasha Morrison, founder and CEO of Be the Bridge, and the New York Times bestselling author of Be the Bridge: Pursuing Gods Heart for Racial Reconciliation, ECPA 2021 Christian Book of the Year

With his characteristic blend of theological insight and keen analysis of the human condition, Rich Villodas helps us look closely at the forces that are tearing us and our world apart. He moves us tenderly and pastorally toward practices that can help us find healingpersonally, relationally, and socially. If the church has any hope of recovering its radiance, it will be the result of the kind of deep work Rich leads us to embrace here. This is a stunning book with significant power to reshape our worldif we let it.

Glenn Packiam, pastor and author of The Resilient Pastor and Blessed Broken Given

Its not a secret that we are living in difficult and fractured times. Not only do we know this; we feel this. Such times can be reasons for not just helplessness but more dangerously, hopelessness. Thankfully, there are servant leaders like Pastor Rich Villodas who dont pretend to have all the answers and yet are not afraid to invite us to walk a better way. In his latest book, Villodas offers us an honest, reflective, and faithful compass to guide us to more of a good, beautiful, and kind life. How do I know a book is good? When my soul feels heard, encouraged, and challenged to keep pursuing and embodying the kingdom of God. Such is this book!

Rev. Eugene Cho, president and CEO of Bread for the World, and author of Thou Shalt Not Be a Jerk: A Christians Guide to Engaging Politics

Many would confess that we are living in a fractured and anxious age. Still, few people have moved us from diagnosis to healing. In Good and Beautiful and Kind, Rich charts, with masterful insight and pastoral clarity, both the root causes of the dis-ease of our time and the spiritual antidotes that can lead to wholeness. For those of us praying, longing, and waiting for wholeness, this is an answered prayer. What a gift!

Rev. Dr. Gabriel Salguero, pastor of the Gathering Place and president of the National Latino Evangelical Coalition

So much in the world right now seems so wrong. What can keep us going another day? Good and Beautiful and Kind by Rich Villodas restores a sense of joy and sweetness on the journey of discipleship. This book is for all those who need a reminder that even when times seem dim, there is a path that leads to brightness and abundant life.

Jemar Tisby, PhD , author of The Color of Compromise and How to Fight Racism