Reclaiming Hope: Lessons Learned in the Obama White House About the Future of Faith in America - Hardcover

Wear, Michael R.

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 071808232X ISBN 13: 9780718082321

Publisher: Thomas Nelson, 2017

Synopsis

Learn how the seeds of the Trump presidency were sown in the Obama White House.
In this unvarnished account of faith inside the world's most powerful office, Michael Wear provides unprecedented insight into the highs and lows of working as a Christian in government. Reclaiming Hope is an insider's view of the most controversial episodes of the Obama administration, from the president's change of position on gay marriage and the transformation of religious freedom into a partisan idea, to the administration's failure to find common ground on abortion and the bitter controversy over who would give the benediction at the 2012 inauguration.
The book is also a passionate call for faith in the public square, particularly for Christians to see politics as a means of loving one's neighbor and of pursuing justice for all. Engrossing, illuminating, and at times provocative, Reclaiming Hope changes the way we think about the relationship of politics and faith.
"Reclaiming Hope will certainly give you a fresh perspective on politics--but, more importantly, it may also give you a fresh perspective on faith."--Andy Stanley, senior pastor of North Point Ministries
"An important and extremely timely book...Get it, read it, and talk to others about it." --Timothy Keller, author of Reason for God
"An important contribution in this age of religious and political polarization." --J.D. Vance, author of Hillbilly Elegy
"A lifeline for these times." --Ann Voskamp, author of One Thousand Gifts and The Broken Way
"We can hope, and this book can help us." --Russell Moore, president of the Ethics & Religious Liberty Commission of the Southern Baptist Convention

About this title

About the Author

 Michael Wear is the founder of Public Square Strategies LLC, a consulting firm that helps businesses, non-profits, foundations, and Christian organizations at the intersection of faith, politics, and culture. Wear directed faith outreach for President Obama's historic 2012 re-election campaign and was one of the youngest White House staffers in modern American history, leading evangelical outreach and helping manage the White House's engagement on religious and values issues, including adoption and anti-human trafficking efforts. He holds an honorary position at the University of Birmingham's Edward Cadbury Centre for the Public Understanding of Religion, and serves on the national board of Bethany Christian Services. He lives with his wife, Melissa, in Washington, DC.
 
 
 
 

From the Inside Flap

"This is an important and extremely timely book. It is partly a memoir,partly a reflection on the relationships between faith and governingpower, and partly a road map for navigating the unprecedented social andcultural changes we are facing. It's readable and thought-provoking. Getit, read it, and talk to others about it."
--TIMOTHY KELLER, AUTHOR OF REASON FOR GOD

"Michael Wear is a man of deep faith who clearly brought his love forJesus to his work in the White House. Reclaiming Hope offers importantinsight about his time working in the public square for the legitimateand necessary place of both faith and people of faith in today's politicalenvironment, and it deserves serious attention."
--HIS EMINENCE TIMOTHY CARDINAL DOLAN

"This is an important book on many levels: it addresses faith's role in poli-tics and public policy; it reveals Barack Obama's personal faith and beliefs;it calls for Christians to engage in the public square; and it offers hope forAmerica's future. For anyone interested in the intersection of faith andpolitics, Reclaiming Hope is a must read."
--THE HONORABLE MARK PRYOR, FORMER US SENATOR FROM ARKANSAS

"According to my friend Michael Wear, too many of us left the party early! I've known Michael for years and greatly appreciate his commitment tothe church and his personal faith in Jesus. Reclaiming Hope will certainlygive you a fresh perspective on politics--but, more importantly, it mayalso give you a fresh perspective on faith."
--ANDY STANLEY, SENIOR PASTOR OF NORTH POINT MINISTRIES

"Michael Wear makes a powerfully compelling case for engaging the inter-section of politics and religion. Drawing from his personal and singularexperience in the White House under the Obama administration, Wearwrites a lifeline for these times--that despite any personal differences,hope can unite. The pages in your hand could give you hope and lead andguide us forward as a nation. We can all reclaim hope and carry it with us."
--ANN VOSKAMP, NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLING AUTHOR OF ONE THOUSAND GIFTS AND THE BROKEN WAY

"As a pastor who has been close to President Obama's personal journeyof faith, I was fascinated by Michael Wear's insider account of the eventsand influences that formed this administration. Surprisingly honest andcompelling, this book helps us understand the forces at play in PresidentObama's leadership decisions. Reclaiming Hope will give you a sense ofhope for a future we can help shape."
--JOEL HUNTER, SENIOR PASTOR OF NORTHLAND, A CHURCH DISTRIBUTED

"Michael Wear's reflections on life as a young evangelical Christianworking for President Obama are not your typical Washington memoir.There's no 'If only they'd listened to me' bravado nor is there the cattyscore-settling we've grown to expect from the genre. Instead, this bookoffers Oval Office insight with road-to-Damascus vulnerability. Whetheror not you agree with the author's politics, you can learn what it meansto bear witness in a time riddled with culture wars and political strife.Michael Wear is part of why I think a new generation can bring a newshape to American public life, one in which we can disagree without tear-ing each other apart. We can hope and this book can help us."
--RUSSELL MOORE, PRESIDENT OF THE ETHICS & RELIGIOUS LIBERTY COMMISSION OF THE SOUTHERN BAPTIST CONVENTION

"In my eighteen years as a leader of the congressional coalition on adoption,I happily witnessed countless times when members of Congress fromopposite ends of the political spectrum united behind their shared beliefthat children belong in families. Revealing such opportunities for commonground was what Michael was uniquely good at. During a time when thepolitical discourse has strayed more to what we don't agree on, ReclaimingHope reminds us all of what can be achieved when we come together."
--THE HONORABLE MARY LANDRIEU, FORMERUS SENATOR FROM LOUISIANA

"More than a story about how faith and politics entangle in the rarifiedatmosphere of the White House, this fine memoir is also a road map forhow we can pick up the broken pieces of our political life and reassemblea national commitment to a common good."
--MIKE MCCURRY, WHITE HOUSE PRESS SECRETARY - AND PROFESSOR OF PUBLIC THEOLOGY AT WESLEY THEOLOGICAL SEMINARY

"Michael Wear's debut is a warm, engaging read of the author's experiencewith faith, politics, and the intersection (and sometimes collision) of thetwo. Reclaiming Hope is an important contribution in this age of religiousand political polarization."
--J. D. VANCE, AUTHOR OF HILLBILLY ELEGY

"Anyone who (mistakenly) believes that the right wing holds a monop-oly over faith in America should read Michael Wear's warm and movingaccount of his work on behalf of Barack Obama--and of the rest of us."
--ALAN WOLFE, AUTHOR OF AT HOME IN EXILE

Edition details

• Publisher: Thomas Nelson
• Publication date: 2017
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 071808232X
• ISBN 13: 9780718082321
• Binding: Hardcover
• Edition number: 1
• Number of pages: 304