A Dangerous Dozen

Sometimes What We Need Most Is What We Fear Most

"Times change and situations seem to change, but there is still a great need for prophets, for God's ambassadors, to stand up and be counted. Who will dare to be Paul the Apostle today, or Dorothy Day, or Francis of Assisi, or Dietrich Bonhoeffer? Who will dare, when God calls, to say, 'Here I am, Lord. Send me’?"
—from the Foreword by Archbishop Desmond Tutu

Meet twelve fascinating—at times, intimidating—Christian change agents who were unafraid to ask what God would have them do in the face of life’s realities—and unafraid to go ahead and do it. Their words and actions challenged the status quo, and in so doing they showed the face of Jesus to the Church and to the world.

Whether calling us to live simply in the name of Jesus, showing the way to genuine peacemaking, or exemplifying the true meaning of courage, the legacies of these blessed troublemakers continue to inspire us today … if we let them.

Paul of Tarsus • Mary Magdalene • Origen of Alexandria • Francis of Assisi • Hildegard of Bingen • Thomas Cranmer • Sojourner Truth • Dorothy Day • Dietrich Bonhoeffer • Janani Luwum • Oscar Romero • K. H. Ting

Sometimes What We Need Most Is What We Fear Most

"Times change and situations seem to change, but there is still a great need for prophets, for God's ambassadors, to stand up and be counted. Who will dare to be Paul the Apostle today, or Dorothy Day, or Francis of Assisi, or Dietrich Bonhoeffer? Who will dare, when God calls, to say, 'Here I am, Lord. Send me’?"
—from the Foreword by Archbishop Desmond Tutu

Meet twelve fascinating—at times, intimidating—Christian change agents who were unafraid to ask what God would have them do in the face of life’s realities—and unafraid to go ahead and do it. Their words and actions challenged the status quo, and in so doing they showed the face of Jesus to the Church and to the world.

Whether calling us to live simply in the name of Jesus, showing the way to genuine peacemaking, or exemplifying the true meaning of courage, the legacies of these blessed troublemakers continue to inspire us today … if we let them.

Paul of Tarsus • Mary Magdalene • Origen of Alexandria • Francis of Assisi • Hildegard of Bingen • Thomas Cranmer • Sojourner Truth • Dorothy Day • Dietrich Bonhoeffer • Janani Luwum • Oscar Romero • K. H. Ting

Foreword by Archbishop Desmond Tutu ix
Acknowledgments xi
Prologue: The Outlaw xiii

1 Paul of Tarsus: The Catalyst 1
2 Mary Magdalene: The Witness 17
3 Origen of Alexandria: The Innovator 31
4 Francis of Assisi: The Radical 45
5 Hildegard of Bingen: The Visionary 59
6 Thomas Cranmer: The Reformer 72
7 Sojourner Truth: The Liberator 85
8 Dorothy Day: The Activist 95
9 Dietrich Bonhoeffer: The Resister 107
10 Janani Luwum: The Revivalist 121
11 Oscar Romero: The Advocate 133
12 K.H.Ting: The Reconstructionist 146

Epilogue 162
Notes 166