A Sojourner's Truth: Choosing Freedom and Courage in a Divided World
A Sojourner's Truth is an African American girl’s journey from South Carolina to the United States Naval Academy, and then to her calling as an international speaker, mentor, and thought-leader. Intertwined with Natasha's story is the story of Moses, a leader who was born into a marginalized people group, resisted the injustices of Pharaoh, denied the power of Egypt, and trusted God even when he did not fully understand where he was going. Along the way we explore the spiritual and physical tensions of truth telling, character and leadership development, and bridge building across racial, ethnic, socioeconomic, and gender lines. Join the journey to discover your own identity, purpose, and truth-revealing moments.
Preface
Part I: Formation
1. Pain: Truth is, your identity can get you into hot water
2. Grace: Truth is, women are the unsung heroes in this world
3. Community: Truth is, there is no place like home
4. Purpose: Truth is, winners don't quit on themselves
Part II: History
5. Consciousness: Truth is, it's time to wake up
6. Deliverance: Truth is, freedom comes to those who demand it
7. Trust: Truth is, we have a money problem
Part III: Wilderness
8. Anger: Truth is, there’s something that can kill you
9. Death: Truth is, remembering can bring us together
10. Humility: Truth is, there is hope worth holding on to
11. War: Truth is, we must prepare to fight
Part IV: Redemption
12. Live: Truth is, we can find a way out of the wilderness
13. Build: Truth is, you need the right people and the right perspective
14. Heal: Truth is, love will lead us home
15. Light: Truth is, beauty can come from ashes
16. Home: Truth is, we need courage to live redeemed
Benediction
Acknowledgments
Notes
"Raw, vulnerable, and bold, Natasha Robinson calls the people of God in Christ to honesty, courageous confession, and loving listening. Every Christian needs to read this beautiful and poetic call to restoration, reconciliation, and redemption."
"A Sojourner's Truth is a strikingly vulnerable work. In these pages, Natasha Sistrunk Robinson gifts us with her compelling story in hopes of setting us on a liberating path toward personal change, dependency on God, and faithful action. This book is right on time because it is capable of guiding women and men to genuine self-examination, growth, and leadership. We need Natasha's voice right now!"
"This book is a bridge over troubled waters and at times steps into those waters to reveal transformative truths about our broken world. Allow the powerful, troubling, reconciling, and dynamic words from Robinson to move you toward a life of deeper insight and impact."
"In A Sojourner's Truth, Natasha Robinson weaves together three pivotal stories: her personal journey to freedom, the path of African Americans toward liberation, and the exodus experience of the Israelites. With a swift and truthful pen, Natasha calls the reader to examine their personal history while she excavates American history and the biblical narrative. As a leader, mentor, and prophetic voice of justice, Natasha has written a work that is a guidebook and a guidepost, pushing the reader toward courage, boldness, and hope."
"This message is right on time—and it couldn't come from a more trustworthy source! Natasha offers an innovative and liberating pathway to spiritual formation that will support all who seek to engage our divided world. Whether you are new to conversations around difference, division, and inequality, or a seasoned sojourner laboring under the weight of our divided world, Natasha's prophetic wisdom can guide you toward elevated and sustainable action."
"In A Sojourner's Truth, Natasha leads us through the story of Moses and through the raw reality of her own journey. Then Natasha leads us further still: she invites us to engage with our own story and our purpose in the world. Her exposition is profound, her cultural analysis is incisive and truth telling, and her personal story is both searing and vulnerable. This book is a must-read but also a must learn from!"
"Natasha Robinson has lived it, experienced it, learned from it, and now through her writing, teaches us. The church needs truth telling. We are lost without the truth exposing secrets, lies, and false narratives. Natasha Robinson writes the truth that emerges from her own powerful narrative. She expresses the courage to speak the truth and to raise her voice. This is a voice the church needs to hear."
"Of the three transcendentals—beauty, goodness, and truth—it is the last one, truth, that is most under siege today in our postmodern world. This important, inspiring, and well-written book allows the light of truth to shine through uplifting—and at times heart-wrenching—stories and insights that use the theme of exodus as a guiding image. This book will stay with me for a long time."
"Wrapping super-helpful teaching around a super-intriguing story, Natasha Sistrunk Robinson—in her prophetic voice—calls each of us toward greater self-insight, healing, and reconciliation. Natasha writes as she lives—with integrity of character—and shares inspirational stories of courage and devotion along with an always-present authenticity. Be prepared to be challenged!"
"I love the way this woman writes! Guided by biblical insights, emotional honesty, and social relevance, Natasha Sistrunk Robinson does a masterful job of taking us on a journey that empowers us to lead others and ourselves out of the wilderness into the promised land of purpose, reconciliation, and real-life transformation. I highly recommend this book!"
"Bold. Honest. Provocative. Wise. Natasha Robinson's voice brings all of these qualities to bear at a time when gracious but uncompromising truth telling is needed more than ever. Her personal story and biblical teaching connect us to God's heart on matters of compassion, justice, and leadership. She's the ideal guide for this tough but inspiring journey."
"I am grateful for this sister's journey and for her willingness to share it. I am also grateful for her hard-won truth and her courage in declaring it. Read it and find clarity and courage to 'act, change, live, and stay on the redemptive path!'"
"A Sojourner's Truth is Natasha Sistrunk Robinson's love letter to a stream of Christian faith familiar with compassion yet less familiar with justice. Through personal stories, keen biblical reflection, and straight talk about public policy, Natasha invites readers to rethink Christian discipleship. Revealing more and more of the truth of Jesus with each chapter, she leads readers on a sojourn well worth the taking."
"A Sojourner's Truth is an important book indeed. First, it is Natasha's story, but told on Natasha's terms. . . . For every ugly racial inequality still staining American soil and souls, she issues a battle cry to action. . . . In this brave volume, therefore, she invites us to kneel a while with her narrative and, as the saints of old used to say, to tarry there. Near her feet, humbled to look up and see God, we'll be inspired to do the right thing: to climb up from the mud and finally march."
Product Details
- Title : A Sojourner's Truth: Choosing Freedom and Courage in a Divided World
- Authors:
- Robinson, Natasha Sistrunk
- Raybon, Patricia
- Publisher: IVP Books
- Publication Date: 2018
- ISBN: 9780830873760
Natasha Sistrunk Robinson (MA, Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary) is a writer, international speaker, leadership consultant, mentoring coach, and the visionary founder of the nonprofit, Leadership LINKS, Inc. She is author of Mentor for Life: Finding Purpose through Intentional Discipleship and the Hope for Us: Knowing God through the Nicene Creed Bible study. A graduate of the US Naval Academy and a former Marine Corps officer, Natasha has nearly twenty years of leadership and mentoring experience in the military, government, church, seminary, and nonprofit sectors. As the chairperson of the board at Leadership LINKS, Inc., Natasha's vision is to holistically develop transformative and redemptive servant leaders who are united in community and committed to invest in long-term generational and cultural change. In addition, she is a columnist at Outreach Magazine, regular contributor at Missio Alliance, and a member of the INK Creative Collective.