About the Book
What are young adults’ deepest concerns and hopes for the Christian church?
Hungry for Hope: Letters to the Church from Young Adults invites readers to the table for an honest, hopeful, and transformative exploration of the pressing challenges and opportunities facing the church today. With voices rooted in the lived experiences of young adults across the United States, this book addresses topics such as climate catastrophe, mental health, marginalization, and more, offering actionable insights for the church’s journey toward renewal and relevance.
Why Hungry for hope is a must-read
Addresses Critcal TOpics
From climate change to mental health, this Hungry for Hope engages with the issues young adults care about most.
Centers Young Adult Voices
Learn directly from the perspectives of young adults navigating faith, identity, and justice.
Offers Actionable Insights
Each chapter provides practical guidance for congregations and individuals to foster transformation.
Supports Church Renewal
Ideal for church leaders, theological educators, and student groups looking for fresh ways to connect faith and action.
Themes in Hungry for Hope
Hungry for Hope: Letters to the Church from Young Adults explores vital themes that address the challenges and opportunities facing the modern church. The themes in this book reflect the real-world struggles and aspirations of young adults today. They challenge the church to listen, learn, and act with courage, transforming faith communities into spaces of justice, inclusion, and renewal.
Each chapter is built around these key themes and serves as an invitation to reflect on the wisdom, insights, and dreams young adults bring to the table, offering actionable guidance for renewal and justice.
Courageous Curiosity
CHAPTER 1
WHAT ELSE COULD IT BE?
Courageous Curiosity and the Postures That Get Us There
Amber Kalina and Reesheda N. Graham Washington, Co-Authors
What does it mean to approach the world with courageous curiosity? This chapter describes how adopting an open and brave mindset is essential for young adults and the church to address the complexities and challenges of today’s world.
Tokenism of Young Adults
CHAPTER 2
Tokenism of Young Adults:
Moving from Anxious Relationships Toward Cocreating Communities
Rev. Baird Linke and Rev. Kristen Glass Perez, Co-Authors
Too often, the experiences of young adults are shaped by tokenism. This chapter proposes a relational approach, where young adults are valued as co-creators of the future, moving beyond superficial gestures to authentic partnerships in faith communities
Destruction & Re-Creation
CHAPTER 3
Destruction and Re-Creation:
Wayfinding in a Climate Apocalypse
J. D. Mechelke and Rev. Talitha Amadea Aho, Co-Authors
The devastating reality of our climate crisis is explored in this chapter. It reflects on the collapse of the systems and stories that have defined “progress” and calls the church to engage meaningfully with the uncertainties of a changing world.
Grief & Lament
CHAPTER 4
Lament Embodied in Community:
Accompanying Grief Toward Genuine Healing
Shaya Aguilar and Rev. Dr. Soong-Chan Rah, Co-Authors
Grief is a profound part of the human experience, yet we often lack spaces or communities to process it. This chapter examines the global and personal griefs shaping our time and offers insight into how the church can create spaces for lament and healing.
Mental Health
CHAPTER 5
Health and Wholeness:
Trauma, Anxiety, and Our Call to Mental Health
Sarah Brock Iverson and Jia Johnson , Co-Authors
As collective fears and sorrows mount, mental health struggles have become increasingly prevalent. This chapter calls for the church to respond compassionately and create environments of care that address the emotional and psychological needs of its members.
Abuse of Power
CHAPTER 6
Why Are You So Angry?
Power, Fear, and Anger Among Historically Powerful and Historically Powerless Communities
Rev. Drew Stever and Rev. Dr. Eric H. F. Law, Co-Authors
Abuse of power within the church has caused deep harm. This chapter examines how power has been misused in faith communities and calls for accountability and transformation to build trust and heal relationships.
Marginalization, Inclusion, and Liberation
CHAPTER 7
Liberating the Sanctuary:
Beyond Marginalization, Intersectionality, and Inclusion to Reach Liberation
Abby Grifno and Dr. Jimmy Hoke, Co-Authors
Young adults have borne the weight of marginalization in many forms. This chapter challenges the church to confront the ways it has perpetuated exclusion and calls for a commitment to inclusion and liberation for all.
Sex, Shame, and Intimacy
CHAPTER 8
Sex Is a Gift:
The Bigger Gift Is Talking About It
Rev. Madeline Burbank and Kara Haug, Co-Authors
Harmful teachings about sex and intimacy have left many young adults grieving. This chapter explores the intersection of faith, intimacy, and shame, offering a vision for the church to move toward healthier, life-giving understandings.
Community
CHAPTER 9
Gather at the Table:
A Call for Communities Marked by Love and Belonging
Amar D. Peterman and Nicholas Tangen, Co-Authors
Community is at the heart of faith. This chapter reflects on how the church can become a truly Christ-centered community, rooted in justice, compassion, and love, to foster meaningful relationships.
Beyond the Walls
CHAPTER 10
Beyond the Walls:
The Church’s Call to Be in the World
Kayla Zopfi and Dr. Jeremy Myers, Co-Authors
Being centered on Jesus means decentering the church toward its neighbors. This chapter challenges faith communities to step beyond their walls and become trustworthy partners in God’s work of mending the world.
Scarcity & Abundance
CHAPTER 11
Reclaiming “Enough”:
Away from Scarcity Toward True Abundance
Catalina Morales Bahena and Dr. Cherice L. Bock, Co-Authors
The final chapter lifts up a narrative of abundance, challenging the fear-driven mindset of scarcity. By reclaiming “enough,” the church can root itself in God’s abundance, fostering relationships with God, others, and the earth.
