In Hope for Human Kindness, humanitarian leader and theologian Kent Annan reimagines the Bible's ancient stories to help you better love your neighbors today.

In times of crisis and uncertainty, we hunger for stories that reignite our compassion and guide us toward meaningful action. Hope for Human Kindness offers a transformative journey through familiar Bible stories retold in contemporary contexts, uncovering timeless wisdom for loving our neighbors.

Through a five-step storytelling framework, readers learn to observe similarities between then and now, see situations from multiple perspectives, look for miracles amid misery, identify the bigger connecting story, and imagine hopeful possibilities without denying reality. Each retelling invites you to imaginatively reflect on redemptive ways to grow in love and compassion, offering a path forward for acts of kindness.

What you'll find in Hope for Human Kindness:



- Vivid retellings of familiar Bible stories in contemporary contexts that build a creative bridge between then and now

- Thought-provoking and inspirational calls to reflect and act that transform how you see and respond to suffering with hope and kindness, both locally and globally

- A fresh yet faithful approach to reading Scripture, perfect for those longing for more authentic ways to live out their Christian witness in the world





When we read the Bible, we find stories of floods, fires, and wars. We find people who are hungry or need medical and mental health care. We find churches struggling to serve one another amid pain and division. We find refugees and dangerous journeys across borders. And we find miracles happening in the middle of everyday life.

Annan's creative approach helps you discover that the sacred stories of the Bible are indeed our stories too, connecting us across history to those who faced similar challenges and emerged with renewed purpose. Whether you are a ministry leader, humanitarian worker, or Christian seeking to love your neighbor well, this book provides both inspiration and practical guidance for becoming the neighbor our world desperately needs.



Kent Annan (PhD, thesis pending, University of Glasgow; MDiv, Princeton Theological Seminary) is Co-Director of the Humanitarian Disaster Institute and a Senior Lecturer at Wheaton College. His previous books include Slow Kingdom Coming and Following Jesus through the Eye of the Needle. Kent co-founded Spiritual First Aid. His humanitarian work has included co-founding Haiti Partners, serving on the board for a foundation focused on child trafficking issues, and living in England, France, Albania, Kosovo, and Haiti. He speaks around the country. Kent and his wife have two children and live near Chicago.



Prologue: Changing the World and Ourselves Through Better Stories

Section I: Observe the Surroundings

1. Under Threat (Moses) 



2. Restricted Access (Jesus at the Bethesda Pool) 



3. Rescue (Samson at the Temple)

Section II: See from Different Points of View



4. Beyond the Garden (Adam and Eve) 



5. A Dangerous Path (Sarah and Abraham) 



6. Over the Edge (Jonah)

Section III: Find Everyday Miracles



7. Home Grilling (Jesus Feeding Five Thousand) 



8. Refuse Wasting Away (Jesus Raising a Child)



9. Whispers of Healing (Jesus with the Woman at the Well)

Section IV: Identify Themes



10. Wherever Water Flows (Noah)



11. At Risk (Joseph)



12. Reaching Beyond Borders (Peter's Diet)

Section V: Bear Witness to Hope



13. Growing the Circle (Early Church Sharing) 



14. Strangers No More (Good Samaritan)



15. A Fierce and Gentle Glow (Revelation) 



               



Epilogue: Storytelling that Meets this Moment



A Guide to Sacred Retelling: Reimagining Bible Stories as a Spiritual Practice of Compassion



Additional Resources