ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

I dedicated this book to the deacons and deaconesses of Redeemer Presbyterian Church over the years, as well as the leaders of Hope for New York, a ministry that grew out of Redeemer and still works closely with our church (and others) to serve the poor of the city. I am also so grateful for the lifetime work and ministries of my friends and colleagues Jeff White and Mark Gornik of the New Song Churches in Harlem and Baltimore. With regard to doing justice, we have been interdependent learners for years. I sometimes taught them, and they have in turn taught me, and together we have discovered the principles and practices presented in this book.

The first church that taught me about care for the needy, however, was my congregation in Hopewell, Virginia. There, Christians knew instinctively that if love is genuine, it is expressed not simply in words but in deeds.

As usual, this book would not have been written without the editorial guidance and personal support of my agent, David McCormick, and my editor at Penguin, Brian Tart. Many thanks again to Lynn Land and Janice Worth, who year in and year out make my summer writing time possible. Janice merits special kudos for this present volume, however, because it was her idea that I turn a talk on justice and generosity into a book. Finally I thank my wife, Kathy. This volume is just one more joint effort to make good on our wedding pledge, that, through our life together, “the afflicted may hear, and be glad” (Psalm 34:2).