Sojourners - A Prayer for All People

Do you remember the last time an article changed how you saw something? Maybe it was a piece that challenged you, encouraged you, or simply made you feel less alone. One article from Sojourners has stuck with me for 25 years. When I was growing up in the ’80s and ’90s in Washington, D.C., Sojourners magazine was a fixture in my home. I remember seeing Sojourners banners around town and at protests and recognizing that it was more than just a magazine. I saw Sojourners as a community of Christians who took Jesus and justice seriously. When my parents moved to Ohio, Sojourners moved with them. I read their copies when I was home from college. The summer I graduated, I went to Haiti in May and spent August in Japan and Korea. While at my parents' house, I read A Prayer for All People in the July-August 2000 issue of Sojourners, with translations of the Lord’s Prayer in Haitian Creole and Japanese. I’m sure you have had moments like that. Some people call them God winks or woo-woo, or the Holy Spirit moving. I can’t recall every article I’ve ever read, but that one felt special: When I saw the Lord’s Prayer printed in languages of two of the three places I was going that summer, I took it as a sign that I was right where God wanted me to be. In 2023, after many twists and turns, I joined Sojourners’ editorial team. I work remotely from my home in rural Georgia and connect with colleagues across the country and in D.C. as we shape the organization and magazine that meant so much to my spiritual formation. We know that people across the country and the world depend on our unique blend of fact-based journalism, theological depth, and moral conscience. One of the most rewarding things is hearing from readers who let us know just how much a particular article meant to them. This past year, I’ve had conversations with Chicago pastor David Black about praying at Broadview facility, Alabama poet laureate Ashley M. Jones about poetry and activism, Nashville-based singer-songwriter Crys Matthews about being a preacher’s kid, and author Barbara Brown Taylor about neighborliness. I got to draw from my life experience, writing about a unique cemetery in Georgia and about a picture I drew of God. More importantly, I’ve had the chance to edit pieces by writers exploring how to stay grounded in the second Trump presidency, how Deaf Christians are building community, and how one retired pastor is using her inheritance toward reparations, just to name a few. It is a tremendous honor to be able to pay close attention to and amplify the voices of writers, activists, and change makers who are not yielding to despair or apathy. I hope the work we do helps you feel encouraged to walk faithfully in the path you are on, or to maybe even chart a new path. Maybe you’ve been connected to Sojourners’ work since the 1970s, or maybe you found us recently. I trust that, if you are reading this, Sojourners is part of your spiritual journey, too. Your gift will help us keep doing this work, which keeps us rooted in faith and activism. Future writers, editors, and leaders might be reading Sojourners in your home and finding the courage to keep working for Jesus and justice for all people. Thank you for helping us continue this work for generations to come. Donate Today With gratitude, Josina Guess Associate Editor P.S. You may have heard that one of our longtime supporters, author Margaret Atwood, has supported our social justice mission through a challenge gift of $20,000. In just a few days, readers like you stepped up to the challenge, and we only have $5,276 left to meet this match. Will you join us today? Your contribution, no matter what size, truly makes a difference. Unsubscribe or update email preferences Copyright © 2025 Sojourners. All rights reserved. Email: sojourners@sojo.net | Tel.: 202.328.8842