On the Pilgrim's WayConversations on Christian Discipleship by J. Nelson Kraybill |
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"Nelson Kraybill has a way with words, matching the elegant simplicity of the Pilgrims’ Way. I relished every word and often thought of biblical journeys, of John Bunyan’s Pilgrim’s Progress, of Chaucer’s Canterbury Tales, of the film Babette’s Feast, and of Martyrs Mirror. This book goes on my shelf with those classic tales of longing for God."
--Shirley Hershey Showalter, President, Goshen College, Goshen, Indiana
On foot, J. Nelson Kraybill enters Canterbury just in time for a Pentecost service at that city’s great cathedral. He has spent ten days On the Pilgrims’ Way, praying and conversing with fellow pilgrims for 140 miles.
Each morning Kraybill meets walking partners at a train station along the Pilgrims’ Way. After reading a psalm and praying at a local church, they hike eastward, talking about topics of Christian discipleship from the Gospel of Luke: conversion, prayer, celebration, community, money, doubt, risk-taking, peacemaking, and much more.
With notebook and camera, Kraybill records a wealth of insight from fellow pilgrims: Mennonites, Baptists, Anglicans, Catholics, and others. More than a travelogue, it is a provocative handbook on issues every disciples of Jesus needs to consider. Each chapter ends with a prayer and questions for reflection.
"Reading this book is the next best thing to actually walking a pilgrimage with fellow Christians. Are you new to Christian faith? This book will help you to chart the way ahead. Are you an experienced hiker or a weary walker? This book will confirm the past and give you courage to carry on."
--Eleanor Kreider, Regents Park College, Oxford, England
"I am using On the Pilgrim’s Way as my text book for a first year course on Christian Discipleship. Each weekend students read a chapter, write a reflection on it and engage in some small action that might have been inspired by their reading or reflection. During Monday’s class we meet in small groups of 3-4 people to share our experiences and be accountable to each other. Each group also produces a question about discipleship arising from their reading and experience that we discuss as a class. Many students have shared how they have never read such an encouraging yet challenging and interesting book on discipleship. "I’ve never had such an interesting text book before!" The pictures and personal stories are very helpful to the overall reader friendliness." Gareth Brandt, Professor of Youth Ministry, Columbia Bible College
About the Author
J. Nelson Kraybill, with graduate degrees from Princeton Theological Seminary and Union Theological Seminary in Virginia, is currently President of Associated Mennonite Biblical Seminary, Elkhart, Indiana.