Richmond: Broken Promises, New Covenants
The history here is as thick as the air on a summer evening — from the stately homes lining Monument Avenue to the timeless brick warehouses along the James River. Richmond today hums with energy thanks to a thriving arts scene, up-and-coming colleges and universities, and innovative national corporations whose headquarters anchor the local economy. But on a still night you can also hear the humming of Richmond’s past: port of entry for the Atlantic slave trade, capital of the Confederacy, and site of urban-suburban divisions as stark as any in America. Yet it’s here that a multicultural and multiclass generation of Christian leaders are building new kinds of institutions that take Richmond’s future as seriously as its past.
A Local Pastor Turned Public School Champion
Don Coleman, Richmond's newly elected school board chairman, wants more churches to adopt local, struggling schools.

1.21.14
Friday Night Football for the Glory of God
How a local team's success has altered Richmond's future.

9.30.13
Has Foodie Culture Forgotten the Poor?
In my hometown of Richmond, I long for a truly great food scene that blesses the privileged and under-privileged alike.

7.29.13
Meeting Refugees on the Roofs of Richmond
How a new housing ministry is welcoming the newly arrived.

1.7.13
Walking toward Wellness: How Healthy Eating Informs Our Kingdom Work
Two Christians who promote natural foods as part of their vocational callings.

8.21.12
Another Kind of Christian Witness at Chick-fil-A
Franchise owner Erik Devriendt doesn't have much to say about the recent imbroglio over Dan Cathy's comments. He just wants to help local refugees.

8.1.12
Not Your Typical Indie Music Scene: The Listening Room Speaks
What happens when a Richmond-based concert venue asks audiences to be completely silent.

7.3.12
Why Your City Needs Emerging Christian Leaders
Fritz Kling and Tim Holtz share how the Richmond Christian Leadership Institute has prepared over 150 diverse leaders under age 40 to serve their city well.

5.31.12
The Secret to City-Wide Culture Making
The qualities that have made the Richmond Christian Leadership Institute flourish in five years are key to any leadership program, anywhere.

5.30.12
Bolder As I Got Balder: How God Used Breast Cancer to Give Me Courage
A cancer diagnosis inspired Kim Newlen to create something beautiful for other women.

5.15.12
A Holy Conversation: Should Christians Seek to Bless Their Muslim Neighbors?
How Christian-Muslim dialogue in Richmond is bearing fruit amid rancorous national debates.

5.8.12
Nature Nurture: A Nonprofit Transforming Youth through the Great Outdoors
Blue Sky Fund, led by Lawson Wijesooriya, connects inner-city kids to Richmond's natural riches.

5.3.12
Furniture Fit for the Kingdom
For Harrison Higgins, building beautiful furniture is not simply a steady job but a sacrament unto God.

5.1.12
Where Are the Dads? Treating Richmond's Fatherless Epidemic
How local Christians are building human capital through public health—one man at a time.

4.24.12
The New School Choice Agenda
Why Christians in Richmond, Virginia, and elsewhere are choosing to send their children to struggling public schools.

4.9.12
Creative Discipleship: Meet Richmond's Christians
Five Richmonders who transcend their city's cultural Christianity in unlikely ways.

4.1.12
This Old City: A Christian's Dream of Renovating Richmond
Like the old mansions gracing my streets, Richmond itself finds its beauty in the very places it needs the most work.

3.29.12
Marking the Place of Sin and Grace: The Meaning of Our City Monuments
Communities tell their stories through public landmarks. What does your city's landmarks say about you?

3.27.12
Zoning the Land for the Glory of God: A Developer's Lament
With the current land-use patterns in the U.S., seeking biblical justice is near impossible.

3.22.12
Why Liberty Needs Justice: A Response to the Tea Party-Occupy Film
A real revival in America will include the 99 percent.

3.20.12
Freedom and Virtue: A Response to the Tea Party-Occupy Film
If Christians want to advance the common good, they should turn to their own hearts, not the government.

3.15.12
With Liberty or Justice for All: Inside the Occupy and Tea Party Movements
How can people who share the same faith embrace such different politics?

3.13.12