Love Them Anyway: Finding Hope in a Divided World Gone Crazy

Love breaks through defenses and destroys walls that divide us.

Love demands more of you and me than we often want to give. It’s easy to love a lovely person, but what about...them? What about that stereotype, that race, that person or group of people in a political, cultural, or socioeconomic class who don’t behave like you, don’t believe like you, and if you are honest...make you uncomfortable? What is love in this context? We read that Jesus broke boundaries to love the people that many detested. His love was transformative because His love saw past disagreement, indifference, and offense. Loving them? Like this? That’s hard.

If you consider yourself a Christian, then love should be your primary characteristic. But it seems that division defines us in our society where rage and anger abound. Today, many people see Christians as angry followers of God who are more interested in winning political arguments than loving people. If we say we follow Jesus but are not loving like Him, then what’s the point? There is a better way.

Using the incredible story of how Pastor Choco chose to “love them anyway” to transform the crime-ridden community of Humboldt Park in Chicago, Love Them Anyway will inspire you to love in a way you never have. This book will pave a compelling path for you to both express and experience a truly transformative love on a deep level. It will tap into your deepest desires, expose your hesitations, connect you deeper with God’s love, and help you take bold steps to love the people around you—and your love will change lives. When you learn to Love Them Anyway, your passion will be redirected, your purpose will be refined, and you will see God use you in ways you could never have imagined.

Love is hard. It’s not convenient, and it’s not always safe. But love is beautiful. Love is contagious. It breaks through defenses and destroys walls that divide us. Love is the answer. So, love them anyway.

Redirect your passion, refine your purpose, and see God use you in ways you never imagined.

Wilfredo “Choco” De Jesús, former senior pastor of New Life Covenant Church in Chicago, one of the largest US congregations in the Assemblies of God, has met Presidents Obama and Trump. Recently he was elected General treasurer of the Assemblies of God. He is the founder of the nonprofit agency Chicago Dream Center, which serves the city of Chicago through residential, outreach, and rescue programs. In 2013 De Jesús was named one of Time magazine’s 100 most influential people in the world in recognition of his authentic Christian leadership in evangelical and Latino communities. De Jesús lives in Springfield, Missouri, with his wife, Elizabeth.