To my colleagues & friends in MCC,

I want to share with you what promises to be the start of a wonderful, yet uncertain journey. Tomorrow morning, at the close of an Ecumenical Easter Sunrise Service, I will begin a Walk across the United States with other colleagues. Even as I begin this walk I do not know how everything will turn out. The family challenges I face with Wanda have not yet been satisfactorily addressed. Yet though uncertain, the journey must begin.

I'm walking to help raise the profile of progressive Christians who are fair-minded, inclusive, hopeful and also Christian. I believe it is time that those of us who claim the name of Jesus and also dare to love the earth and environment, who believe science and faith are both paths to truth, who respect other faith traditions and welcome people, like Jesus called us to, as they are, who they are - I believe it is time for us to rise up and reclaim the landscape in this country from those who use the media and airwaves as their own bully-pulpits. I am not a Christian - BUT - not like those Christians. I am a Christian.

I believe there are millions of others like myself for whom most of the so-called "Christian spokespersons" simply do not speak for. I'm walking for them, for those so alienated from Church that they could never believe in a loving, gracious God. I'm walking to reclaim the faith that speaks of love, not division and exclusion. I'm walking, along with others, to fuel the fires of a new great awakening. The Rev. Dr. James Forbes, Jr., Senior Minister of Riverside Church was in Phoenix with us last year, when we began to plan this walk. He said:

"You never know where the next Great Awakening is going to come from. Wherever it happens, I want to be present at the beginning, when the Spirit moves in wonderful ways. I see a spark of what very well may be the next Great Awakening here in Phoenix, Arizona.”

I believe this is the start of something amazing. Since the beginning of this year things have really begun to heat up. Several national organizations have signed on to support CrossWalk America (the host of the Walk of which I'm Vice-President). And in our Walk Wherever You Are program, we have churches and people across the US, and now in the UK and Australia, who are walking in celebration of the Three Great Loves (love of God, love of neighbor, and love of self). These great truths are expressed more fully in a document entitled The Phoenix Affirmations.

As we walk, a documentary film maker will be along for the journey. We'll be "blogging" our way across the US through 12 states on our way to Washington, D.C. On the Sunday of Labor Day Weekend there will be one massive party in DC to conclude the Walk, and to start what I believe is a "fire for a Gospel of Love that cannot be sated."

So often, though we share a deep love and abiding respect, we stand at different places when it comes to faith. The reason I've included you here is not an assumption that you agree with me. It is because you matter to me.

So I invite you to visit our website (www.crosswalkamerica.org), review the affirmations, join our email list, donate if you are so moved, but most of all - keep track of our progress. There is an interactive map on the website that tells what locations we'll be in through the 20 weeks of the Walk. You can also research the organization and its work at this site. As a shameless plug, there's even a promotional movie clip on which I share why I'm walking.

I'd like to invite you to also consider joining the PrayerWalker's Club. More than 20 people in my own congregation are part of one such group.

Whatever you do, I implore you over this summer to lift up a voice for love, to raise a standard for a Christianity in America that invites, celebrates, and rejoices in the glories of God's world, people, creatures - and even in God's presence in and through all things.

I'll be available by email. So I invite you to contact me if you wish, but above all, to hold myself and all the walkers in your prayers.

Peace & Love,
Brad Wishon
Gentle Shepherd MCC
Phoenix, AZ