I needed to read this book. As somebody who has long been disillusioned by religion and tempted to give up on the Church, The Light is Winning was a much-needed dose of hope for me. I found my own perspectives being challenged not only by Hoag's thoughts and ideas about God and culture but also by his beautiful story and the cheerful and endearing way in which he tells it.--Matthew Paul Turner, Author of Churched and When God Made You In his hopeful new book, The Light is Winning, Zach reminds us that while deconstructing our religious faith might be a necessary part of our spiritual journey, it's not enough. Zach encourages us to rebuild a proper religious practice, one that demonstrates the power and mystery of Christianity: The Resurrection.--Elizabeth Esther, author of Girl at The End of the World Only Zach Hoag could bring out the hope in an apocalypse. Leading us towards the light of authentic religion at the end of the post-modern tunnel we call being 'spiritual', The Light is Winning is the kind of book that you will want to keep on your nightstand for months, maybe years. You will want to reach for it each and every time you begin to lose your way and your faith.--Jerusalem Jackson Greer, author of At Home in this Life and Beautiful Surprises So often authors write about their successes. What I love about Zach is he's given us a rare and precious opportunity to witness his apparent defeat, allowing us to watch as he wrestles with his upbringing in an authoritarian cult and his subsequent journey through denominations and church planting. Zach uses his stories to invite us into some deeper truths about the Church today, offering hope during a tumultuous time in American Christianity. And maybe the best part of all of this? He draws inspiration from TV shows, like Breaking Bad and The Walking Dead. When someone tells me we don't want an undead zombie faith, I find myself nodding along.--Melanie Dale, author of It's Not Fair and Women Are Scary We live in a world that often seems overcome with darkness and pessimism. Between toxic news cycles, Christian in-fighting, and what feels like a non-stop dose of negativity on all sides, people are left longing for a message of hope--- I am left longing for a message of hope. I am grateful for this book, because while I don't pretend to have answers for the darkened world around us, I do know this: the world needs to know that the Light is Winning.--Benjamin L. Corey, author of Unafraid: Moving Beyond Fear-Based Faith When I survey 21st century America, I fight to avoid depression and despair. But in such a moment, Zach Hoag has swept in with a prophetic message bursting with optimism. The darkness is real, he admits, but it is also receding. Hoag refocuses our collective gaze and argues convincingly that America is entering a time of 'Great Revealing.' So sit back and read slowly. The Light is Winning pulls back the cultural curtain to reveal, not a wizard, but a blinding light of hope.--Jonathan Merritt, contributing writer for The Atlantic and author of Learning to Speak God from Scratch Zach takes the reader on a journey, first acknowledging the presence of these religious wounds, then gently leading us through a hopeful apocalypse, to a place of transformation and healing.--Shawn Smucker, Author and Writer Zach Hoag writes with a deep love for the church and a tender pastor's heart. He has known loss and pain, but most importantly, he has turned to the light in the midst of darkness, and the hope he writes about is what we all desperately need today.--Ed Cyzewski, author of A Christian Survival Guide and Coffeehouse Theology Zach Hoag's personal and ecclesiastic apocalypse will draw you into his story and perhaps your own moment of revealing. You will cheer when you realize, like him, that the light is indeed winning!--Kelley Nikondeha, Co-Director, Communities of Hope and Author, Adopted: The Sacrament of Belonging in a Fractured World
Zach Hoag writes with a deep love for the church and a tender pastor's heart. He has known loss and pain, but most importantly, he has turned to the light in the midst of darkness, and the hope he writes about is what we all desperately need today.
author of A Christian Survival Guide and Coffeehou Ed Cyzewski
I needed to read this book. As somebody who has long been disillusioned by religion and tempted to give up on the Church, The Light is Winning was a much-needed dose of hope for me. I found my own perspectives being challenged not only by Hoag’s thoughts and ideas about God and culture but also by his beautiful story and the cheerful and endearing way in which he tells it.
Author of Churched and When God Made You Matthew Paul Turner
Zach takes the reader on a journey, first acknowledging the presence of these religious wounds, then gently leading us through a hopeful apocalypse, to a place of transformation and healing.
Author and Writer Shawn Smucker
So often authors write about their successes. What I love about Zach is he’s given us a rare and precious opportunity to witness his apparent defeat, allowing us to watch as he wrestles with his upbringing in an authoritarian cult and his subsequent journey through denominations and church planting. Zach uses his stories to invite us into some deeper truths about the Church today, offering hope during a tumultuous time in American Christianity. And maybe the best part of all of this? He draws inspiration from TV shows, like Breaking Bad and The Walking Dead. When someone tells me we don’t want an undead zombie faith, I find myself nodding along.
author of It’s Not Fair and Women Are Scary Melanie Dale
Only Zach Hoag could bring out the hope in an apocalypse. Leading us towards the light of authentic religion at the end of the post-modern tunnel we call being 'spiritual', The Light is Winning is the kind of book that you will want to keep on your nightstand for months, maybe years. You will want to reach for it each and every time you begin to lose your way and your faith.
author of At Home in this Life and Beautiful Surpr Jerusalem Jackson Greer
When I survey 21st century America, I fight to avoid depression and despair. But in such a moment, Zach Hoag has swept in with a prophetic message bursting with optimism. The darkness is real, he admits, but it is also receding. Hoag refocuses our collective gaze and argues convincingly that America is entering a time of 'Great Revealing.' So sit back and read slowly. The Light is Winning pulls back the cultural curtain to reveal, not a wizard, but a blinding light of hope.
contributing writer for The Atlantic and author of Jonathan Merritt
In his hopeful new book, The Light is Winning, Zach reminds us that while deconstructing our religious faith might be a necessary part of our spiritual journey, it’s not enough. Zach encourages us to rebuild a proper religious practice, one that demonstrates the power and mystery of Christianity: The Resurrection.
author of Girl at The End of the World Elizabeth Esther
We live in a world that often seems overcome with darkness and pessimism. Between toxic news cycles, Christian in-fighting, and what feels like a non-stop dose of negativity on all sides, people are left longing for a message of hope I am left longing for a message of hope. I am grateful for this book, because while I don’t pretend to have answers for the darkened world around us, I do know this: the world needs to know that the Light is Winning.
author of Unafraid: Moving Beyond Fear-Based F Benjamin L. Corey
Zach Hoag’s personal and ecclesiastic apocalypse will draw you into his story and perhaps your own moment of revealing. You will cheer when you realize, like him, that the light is indeed winning!
So often authors write about their successes. What I love about Zach is he’s given us a rare and precious opportunity to witness his apparent defeat, allowing us to watch as he wrestles with his upbringing in an authoritarian cult and his subsequent journey through denominations and church planting. Zach uses his stories to invite us into some deeper truths about the Church today, offering hope during a tumultuous time in American Christianity. And maybe the best part of all of this? He draws inspiration from TV shows, like Breaking Bad and The Walking Dead. When someone tells me we don’t want an undead zombie faith, I find myself nodding along.
author of It’s Not Fair and Women Are Scary Melanie Dale
Stu Gray narrates this controversial work, which wrestles with historical doctrines of Christianity and the current political climate in America. Gray’s voice is smooth yet excitable. He offers compassion and empathy to those struggling to understand what in the world is going on between the church and the secular world. As his tenor naturally rises and falls with the content, the listener will join the roller coaster of emotions, questions, and hopeful answers offered. Sadly, the author of the book denies historical Christianity such that this book will lead many astray. Regardless, Stu Gray offers a professional narration that anyone, whether agreeing or disagreeing with the content, will enjoy. T.D. © AudioFile 2017, Portland, Maine
NOVEMBER 2017 - AudioFile
Stu Gray narrates this controversial work, which wrestles with historical doctrines of Christianity and the current political climate in America. Gray’s voice is smooth yet excitable. He offers compassion and empathy to those struggling to understand what in the world is going on between the church and the secular world. As his tenor naturally rises and falls with the content, the listener will join the roller coaster of emotions, questions, and hopeful answers offered. Sadly, the author of the book denies historical Christianity such that this book will lead many astray. Regardless, Stu Gray offers a professional narration that anyone, whether agreeing or disagreeing with the content, will enjoy. T.D. © AudioFile 2017, Portland, Maine
NOVEMBER 2017 - AudioFile