Books
Fierce Love: Available Now
A healing antidote to our divisive culture, full of evocative storytelling, spiritual wisdom, and psychological insight—by the first female, Black senior minister at the historic Collegiate Churches of New York.
We are living in what Dr. Jacqueline J. Lewis calls “hot mess times”: a world divided by politics, race, intolerance, fear, and rancor. But her own experience—of being a woman in a traditionally male domain, of being in an interracial marriage, of making peace with childhood abuse—demonstrates that our human capacity for empathy, compassion, and forgiveness is the key to reversing these ugly trends.
Inspired by the Ubuntu philosophy “I am who I am because we are who we are” and explained through stories from her own life and those of her mentors and inspirations, Dr. Lewis details the nine daily practices necessary for transforming ourselves, our communities, and our world at large. From learning to put down our emotional baggage to speaking truth to power to resisting joyfully, Dr. Lewis gives readers a renewed sense of the power they have to create caring communities; to stand up for the vulnerable; and to change our shared story from one of anxiety, anger, and divisiveness to one of mindfulness, compassion, and unity.
Jacqui’s Fierce Love is a manifesto for all generations, a universalist’s vision for mending our broken hearts and fractured world.
Learn MoreJourney Toward Fierce Love
Take a 9-week journey with Jacqui through her book Fierce Love!
Learn More
Ten Essential Strategies for Becoming a Multiracial Congregation
How do churches build immunity from racial and ethnic tensions that threaten to divide rather than unite congregations? Jacqui Lewis and John Janka believe that the answer lies in the development of multiracial, multicultural communities of faith.
Purchase Now
You Are So Wonderful!
With illustrations by Jeremy Tugeau, this children’s book from Jacqui Lewis celebrates that each child is gift from God and made in God’s image. From School Library Journal: “In simple, rhyming text, this title celebrates the uniqueness of people, focusing on physical features: ‘No one else has your grin. No one else has your chin.’ There are references to God as creator as well as a biblical psalm. Brightly colored, full-page illustrations depict an urban environment with a diverse cast of characters of various ages, sizes, races, and abilities.”
Purchase Now
The Power of Stories
Most congregational leaders find it difficult to resist the dominant cultural expectation that different cultural and ethnic groups should stick to themselves–especially when it comes to church. But some congregational leaders have learned the secrets of breaking out of these expectations to bring together communities of faith that model God’s radical inclusiveness.What makes the difference? Jacqui Lewis explains that it resides in the stories these leaders tell: stories about who they themselves are, and what the communities they lead are about. These leaders are able to embrace the multiple, complex stories within these diverse communities, hearing in the many voices a particular echo of the living voice of the gospel. In this book Lewis shares with the reader examples of congregational leaders who have successfully overcome the challenges of leading multicultural congregations, and the lessons that can be learned from them.
Purchase Now
Drawing from raw, vulnerable, and brave coming-of-age stories, she invites us into her ministry to ‘Love. Period.’ This book is radical, just, and joyous. Just like Middle Church. Just like Jacqui Lewis.
Valarie Kaur, author of See No Stranger: A Memoir and Manifesto of Revolutionary Love
Fierce Love teaches us that with spiritual faith we can transcend the darkest moments and come through stronger.
Gabby Bernstein, #1 New York Times bestselling author of The Universe Has Your Back
A powerful antidote to the tribalism that is wrecking our country and poisoning our souls, Fierce Love is a welcome moral North Star for readers everywhere.
Van Jones, New York Times bestselling author of Beyond the Messy Truth and CNN political contributor
Walks of faith need living words. Responsive, sanguine, breathing words. Fierce Love is that. Full of big, liberating, bold ideas, it is also a radiant work of testimony, revelation and guidance.
Aunjanue Ellis, Actress and Producer
With this book, Jacqui Lewis made me see the world in a different way—as a place where we can live our lives fully, tell our stories honestly, and love one another fiercely.
Paul Tough, New York Times bestselling author of How Children Succeed