2020-04-12

Today, Christians around the world celebrate Easter. Though for many the day feels disrupted and diminished by the global health crisis we are experiencing, the story of Easter remains one of hope in the midst of a violent and unjust world. Today we share the words of John Gallaher, Lead Pastor at Embrace Church, who Kurt and I photographed yesterday together with his wife Laura Rice Gallaher. “Jesus Christ proclaimed an upside-down kingdom of compassion, justice, and inclusion. He prioritized the suffering and placed those at the margins at the center of his life and ministry. His peaceable kingdom was a threat to the power structures of his day that were built on fear, violence, and exploitation. In an effort to silence him, the powerful executed Jesus by crucifixion. My Christian faith teaches me that the story doesn’t end there; our fundamental belief is this: Christ died, Christ is risen, and Christ will come again! On Easter we celebrate Jesus’ resurrection, which was vindication that his way of peace and love is the better way, God’s way. This helps me hold on to hope in a violent, difficult, and painful world. Paul, one of the early leaders in the Jesus movement, gave this encouragement to some struggling Christians: ‘Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up’ (Galatians 6:9).”