Unconditional Love : Radical Stories, Real People

 Inspired by the film Unconditional and Papa Joe Bradford's outreach to at-risk children, Unconditional Love gathers real-life stories celebrating the best in ordinary people who have found extraordinary ways to act as the hands and feet of Jesus in their time and place. Through them we see what matters most in this life, we stir our God-made desire to help others in need, and the world becomes a better place.

Papa Joe writes the collection's foreword, starting the conversation about how God's love compels us to show unconditional love for others in ways simple and profound, selfless and yet so rewarding.

We meet a band whose trip to Africa resulted in an effort that has so far provided life-saving water and health care to more than 600,000 people. In Tennessee, an 80-year-old woman works a plan to feed 2,000 homeless each week.

Others give from their own struggles: a teenager who lost his leg raises money to provide other children with prosthetics; a woman whose brother was killed on 9/11 helps Afghani refugees who fled the Taliban feel at home in the United States; a human rights agency rescues victimes of slavery and sexual exploitation.

A host of other stories bringing our lives into clearer social and spiritual focus are combined with inspirational quotes, a Bible reading plan, and other tools to encourage further self-discovery and greater personal outreach.

Ben Stroup is a writer, blogger, and consultant. His previous books include Church Giving Matters. He and his wife have two sons and live in Nashville, Tennessee.