Interrupted: An Adventure in Relearning the Essentials of Faith

Jen Hatmaker details her shift from a comfortable, suburban Christianity focused on church programs and internal social circles to a faith centered on social justice and poverty alleviation. She describes a personal crisis where she realized her lifestyle contradicted the biblical mandates regarding the poor, the marginalized, and the oppressed. The narrative follows her family’s decision to move toward a missional theology, resulting in the founding of Austin New Church. Hatmaker analyzes the disconnect between modern American church culture and the radical service lived by the historical Jesus, emphasizing direct action over religious bureaucracy.

This book is for Christians who feel a disconnect between their weekly religious routines and the economic needs of their local communities. Readers seek this text to find a practical framework for moving beyond standard volunteerism into a way of life that prioritizes systemic change and neighborhood advocacy. By the end, the reader understands how to deconstruct a self-serving faith and replace it with a model of ministry that values physical presence and resource sharing with those living at the margins of society.

Inward-looking and clear-cut; an easy read.

Best for readers like The Story Seeker. Which reader are you?