Overview

2020 American Express NGen Leadership Award We don't care about what we don't see.Countless people are invisible to us. We overlook the poor and homeless, partly because we don't share much space with them. More seriously, we often choose not to see the realities around us. We hold misconceptions about who is deserving or not, or make false assumptions about people's poverty being their own fault.Terence Lester calls us to see the invisible people around us. His personal encounters and real-life stories challenge Christians to become more informed about poverty and homelessness, and to see the poor as Jesus does. When we see people through God's eyes and hear their stories, we restore their dignity and help them flourish. And when we recognize our own inner spiritual poverty, we have greater empathy for others, no matter their circumstances.Let love open your eyes. Discover how seeing leads us to act with compassion and justice—as God intends.

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9780830845729

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Reviews

""Devour this book and let Terence gently speak to you from his soul. He will help you to see poverty differently. He won't let you stay in despair but will lead you to the promised land of hope where real solutions and love await you."" -- From the foreword by Dave Gibbons, founder and CEO, XEALOTS ""Terence Lester's writing in I See You is clearly inspired by life-changing experiences and Scripture. Each chapter seamlessly moves the reader from just receiving information to accepting an open invitation to become the hands and feet of our God and see the most vulnerable in our world. This book illuminates with such compassion what we already know—that suffering is not an isolated event that happens to 'them over there.' Suffering belongs to us as much as any other life experience. Each word I've read has changed me and challenged me. I pray you will allow I See You to do the same for you."" -- Casey J, Christian songwriter and storyteller ""Terence Lester uses his own humbling experiences and relationships to put faces and names to the challenges of homelessness and calls for accountability to overcome fear of the unknown. Readers are provoked to see the value that God has given to every person based solely on his image in which they've been created. I See You shines a light on the effect we can have collectively on poverty when we take action and reject fear of the unknown. This book is for those who are ready to boldly love those that society has taught us to fear."" -- Anna Ferguson, director of operations for REMERGE ""If you want the world to be better, we need the voices of the people making things better to be heard. Terence Lester is that voice that needs to be heard. This book will shake you and cause you to be different for the better."" -- Jeff Shinabarger, founder of Plywood People, author of More or Less ""As a person who has all the unfair privilege this world has to offer—I'm a white, straight, Christian man—I wish I had read Terence Lester's book I See You twenty years earlier. His unique ability to share the experiences of the most vulnerable among us through powerful narrative storytelling will grab the reader and pour into their hearts. The world needs more leaders like Terence Lester, and this book is a powerful example of how he will continue to change the world for the better."" -- Jeff Hilimire, chief executive officer of Dragon Army, cofounder of 48in48 ""When the Bible describes transformation, one of the central motifs is that of moving from blindness to sight. In I See You, Terence Lester serves as a spiritual guide of sorts, helping us to see critical arenas of life that are otherwise so easy to miss. Go on this journey with Terence—you will not be disappointed."" -- Daniel Hill, pastor, author of White Awake ""I loved reading I See You. Lester's voice shines through. He brings the reader on an amazing life journey to love those you encounter. For many years, I have admired his decision to live on the streets for some time and to be with the people who spend their days and nights dealing with the challenges of poverty. Lester helped me to understand more and to empathize more. He helped me to know a bit more about the stories of these wonderful people and friends. I particularly loved how he contrasted the emotions and feelings of fear versus love. 'There is a vast difference though between living with the fears that keep us safe and letting our fears control us and the actions we take, especially when it comes to the way we treat other people—like crossing the street when we see someone dressed differently.' This chapter was powerful for me and made me reflect on some of my own unfounded fears. Thank you!"" -- Bo Adams, chief learning and innovation officer, Mount Vernon Presbyterian School, executive director, Mount Vernon Institute for Innovation ""With his remarkable gift of riveting storytelling, Terence Lester opens the eyes of our hearts, allowing us to see fellow image bearers of God who are often invisible and marginalized in our broken world. With skillful artistry, Lester paints a compassionate and compelling picture of the heart, hands, and feet of true neighborly love. I See You will not only open your eyes to the poor and the homeless but paradoxically you will also see your life in a new way."" -- Tom Nelson, author of The Economics of Neighborly Love ""Those interested in the intersections of social justice and religion will both enjoy and be challenged by this work."" -- Ray Arnett, Library Journal, August 2019

Devour this book and let Terence gently speak to you from his soul. He will help you to see poverty differently. He won't let you stay in despair but will lead you to the promised land of hope where real solutions and love await you. --From the foreword by Dave Gibbons, founder and CEO, XEALOTS Terence Lester is a doer! This isn't a book about social theory or what we should do; rather, this is a book about what has been done, is being done, and what is working. He speaks from his heart, a heart with experience in the trenches. Terence has been there. He knows what he is talking about, and he is doing something on a daily basis to address the needs of the most vulnerable in our country. This is a book by a servant leader who is leading a movement that is changing the world for many people. This is a love story. A love story for the most vulnerable and how love calls us to act. Love is an action word, and Terence Lester is living love beyond walls. This is a must-read for anyone in ministry or who says they love the world that God died for. --Ralph Basui Watkins, The Peachtree Associate Professor of Evangelism and Church Growth, Columbia Theological Seminary, pastor of Wheat Street Baptist Church Terence Lester takes readers on an empathic and personal journey that requires all of us to evaluate how we see others. His willingness to step out of his comfort zone to endure the elements people are encountering daily is exemplary. Our homeless brothers and sisters are fighting for their lives, and this book requires readers to analyze if we will fight alongside them. I am confident that this book will bring the mind shift that is needed to turn apathy into empathy. Terence is not just telling stories; he is speaking life--one that he has experienced enough to champion. --Cornelius Lindsey, senior pastor at The Gathering Oasis Church If you want the world to be better, we need the voices of the people making things better to be heard. Terence Lester is that voice that needs to be heard. This book will shake you and cause you to be different for the better. --Jeff Shinabarger, founder of Plywood People, author of More or Less One of the conditions of truth is to allow the suffering to speak, which is why this book is the real talk, straight-no-chaser truth. Using personal narrative, theological conviction, and social analysis, Terence beautifully describes the misery that so many of our sisters and brothers in poverty face. After reading this book many will be inspired to live a more compassionate life rooted in faith, action, and love and will answer the call of the Spirit to do something to help heal our broken world. In this time of rampant social inequality and indifference to the plight of the poor, this book will comfort the afflicted and afflict the comfortable. But most of all it will invite us on a journey that will leave us saying, 'I see you.' --Billy Michael Honor, public scholar, faith leader, and social justice organizer, Huffington Post contributor

Devour this book and let Terence gently speak to you from his soul. He will help you to see poverty differently. He won't let you stay in despair but will lead you to the promised land of hope where real solutions and love await you. --From the foreword by Dave Gibbons, founder and CEO, XEALOTS If you want the world to be better, we need the voices of the people making things better to be heard. Terence Lester is that voice that needs to be heard. This book will shake you and cause you to be different for the better. --Jeff Shinabarger, founder of Plywood People, author of More or Less Terence Lester is a doer! This isn't a book about social theory or what we should do; rather, this is a book about what has been done, is being done, and what is working. He speaks from his heart, a heart with experience in the trenches. Terence has been there. He knows what he is talking about, and he is doing something on a daily basis to address the needs of the most vulnerable in our country. This is a book by a servant leader who is leading a movement that is changing the world for many people. This is a love story. A love story for the most vulnerable and how love calls us to act. Love is an action word, and Terence Lester is living love beyond walls. This is a must-read for anyone in ministry or who says they love the world that God died for. --Ralph Basui Watkins, The Peachtree Associate Professor of Evangelism and Church Growth, Columbia Theological Seminary, pastor of Wheat Street Baptist Church Terence Lester takes readers on an empathic and personal journey that requires all of us to evaluate how we see others. His willingness to step out of his comfort zone to endure the elements people are encountering daily is exemplary. Our homeless brothers and sisters are fighting for their lives, and this book requires readers to analyze if we will fight alongside them. I am confident that this book will bring the mind shift that is needed to turn apathy into empathy. Terence is not just telling stories; he is speaking life--one that he has experienced enough to champion. --Cornelius Lindsey, senior pastor at The Gathering Oasis Church One of the conditions of truth is to allow the suffering to speak, which is why this book is the real talk, straight-no-chaser truth. Using personal narrative, theological conviction, and social analysis, Terence beautifully describes the misery that so many of our sisters and brothers in poverty face. After reading this book many will be inspired to live a more compassionate life rooted in faith, action, and love and will answer the call of the Spirit to do something to help heal our broken world. In this time of rampant social inequality and indifference to the plight of the poor, this book will comfort the afflicted and afflict the comfortable. But most of all it will invite us on a journey that will leave us saying, 'I see you.' --Billy Michael Honor, public scholar, faith leader, and social justice organizer, Huffington Post contributor

Terence Lester is a doer! This isn't a book about social theory or what we should do; rather, this is a book about what has been done, is being done, and what is working. He speaks from his heart, a heart with experience in the trenches. Terence has been there. He knows what he is talking about, and he is doing something on a daily basis to address the needs of the most vulnerable in our country. This is a book by a servant leader who is leading a movement that is changing the world for many people. This is a love story. A love story for the most vulnerable and how love calls us to act. Love is an action word, and Terence Lester is living love beyond walls. This is a must-read for anyone in ministry or who says they love the world that God died for. --Ralph Basui Watkins, The Peachtree Associate Professor of Evangelism and Church Growth, Columbia Theological Seminary, pastor of Wheat Street Baptist Church Terence Lester takes readers on an empathic and personal journey that requires all of us to evaluate how we see others. His willingness to step out of his comfort zone to endure the elements people are encountering daily is exemplary. Our homeless brothers and sisters are fighting for their lives, and this book requires readers to analyze if we will fight alongside them. I am confident that this book will bring the mind shift that is needed to turn apathy into empathy. Terence is not just telling stories; he is speaking life--one that he has experienced enough to champion. --Cornelius Lindsey, senior pastor at The Gathering Oasis Church If you want the world to be better, we need the voices of the people making things better to be heard. Terence Lester is that voice that needs to be heard. This book will shake you and cause you to be different for the better. --Jeff Shinabarger, founder of Plywood People, author of More or Less Devour this book and let Terence gently speak to you from his soul. He will help you to see poverty differently. He won't let you stay in despair but will lead you to the promised land of hope where real solutions and love await you. --From the foreword by Dave Gibbons, founder and CEO, XEALOTS One of the conditions of truth is to allow the suffering to speak, which is why this book is the real talk, straight-no-chaser truth. Using personal narrative, theological conviction, and social analysis, Terence beautifully describes the misery that so many of our sisters and brothers in poverty face. After reading this book many will be inspired to live a more compassionate life rooted in faith, action, and love and will answer the call of the Spirit to do something to help heal our broken world. In this time of rampant social inequality and indifference to the plight of the poor, this book will comfort the afflicted and afflict the comfortable. But most of all it will invite us on a journey that will leave us saying, 'I see you.' --Billy Michael Honor, public scholar, faith leader, and social justice organizer, Huffington Post contributor

Author Information

Terence Lester is a minister, speaker, community activist, author, and founder of Love Beyond Walls, a not-for-profit organization focused on poverty awareness and community mobilization. His campaigns on behalf of the poor have been featured in USA Today and Black Enterprise and have been viewed by millions of people globally on The Today Show, Good Morning America, CBS News, NBC, Upworthy, and ""The Bright Side"" with Katie Couric.

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