Praying with Our Feet

Do you ever feel overwhelmed by inequality and injustice? Ever feel like what you do makes no difference?

Krinks tells the story of her own calling, working alongside others who seize the opportunities to change the world by serving the poor, disenfranchised, and needy in their own neighborhoods and cities. With compelling emotion, the author explores what it means to be radically committed to Jesus' care for - and notice of - those whom society leaves behind.

Beyond the compelling story, this book shows how those called to serve change their communities and nations - and draw others into the work of God.

Praying With Our Feet by Lindsey Krinks is an eye-opening, impassioned memoir that recounts the author's call to service. This memoir documents Krinks' journey into activism and determining her purpose, helping homeless community members in Nashville, Tennessee. I don't necessarily identify as Christian because of the corruption and hypocrisy of many churches, but the description of this book really intrigued me as I adore the philosophy of Christian Civil Rights activists like John Lewis. Unfortunately many Christian churches focus more on comfort than real action, which would improve conditions for those in need in their communities.

Krinks has been inspired by the Catholic Worker Movement, which focuses on serving those in need and fighting injustice. Despite there being massive shortages of affordable housing available in many cities, homelessness has often been criminalized, with laws against trespassing, etc. in order to keep up appearances. Additionally, police are often ordered to retaliate against the homeless by destroying tents and encampments.

I really enjoyed the perspective of this book and focus on service, but also addressing the core of the issues and implementing change/programs at the level of local government. The recent Black Lives Matter movement has helped illuminate the idea of diverting some of the funding from police forces to social services to more greatly benefit the community. Krinks has such a kind, beautiful way of connecting to others which is reflected throughout Praying With Our Feet.

I listened to the audiobook and the narration was fine and seemed to match how I imagined the author. I did speed up the recording 1.5x for best listening. I highly recommend this memoir for anyone interested in social justice and implementing real change that benefits our communities.

Thank you Brazos Press / RB Media and NetGalley for providing this audiobook and ebook ARC.

Praying with Our Feet follows the personal development of Lindsey Krinks as she begins to engage with issues of justice and how those experiences shape her understanding of herself and her community. The primary setting for the book is among an unhoused community in Nashville and tenuous relationships with churches, local government, and nonprofits who limit their engagement.

(It's not big on social analysis or prescriptive strategies, which should not be a knock on the book. My former experience in housing and organizing probably makes me a little more attuned to some of the rhetoric.)

One paragraph, in particular, stood out from the entire book.

"I would learn that once you begin to notice the flattened cardboard and blankets beneath bridges, the footpaths into the woods behind gas stations, the flash of blue tarps through the trees, you never see things the same way again. Once you begin to understand the city not from above but from below, it changes everything."

What Krinks is able to do in her memoir is shift the focus away from her and put it on rehumanizing the unhoused community that she comes alongside of. And similar to the cardboard, blankets, and tarps, once you begin to recognize the humanity in those who have been marginalized, you never see things the same way again. It changes everything.

I started reading the first chapter of this book and before I knew it I had read the entire book in one sitting. Lindsey Krinks is lyrical storyteller: “My heart was a flock of blackbirds beating against a locked and windowless room. Everything spiraled out of control, and when the birds burst out, an emptiness crawled inside, making my heart its den.”

She weaves poetic narrative with unflinching, honest analyses of systemic poverty, homelessness, incarceration, racism, and capitalism. I read this expecting a collection of stories that showed me a glimpse of the sacred, heartbreaking, co-laboring journey to justice that Krinks discovered with the homeless community. What surprised me was how much the memoir was also a love story: the love between Lindsey and her spouse Andrew; the love within a tight-knit activist community; the fierce love of friends living on the streets of Nashville; and the winding love of the author’s faith that survived despite family tragedy, deconstruction, and despair. Krinks’s debut is a tour de force.

Lindsey's book is inspiring and insightful. I have loved getting to learn more about who Lindsey is, and about the incredible work that has and is being done in our community. As soon as this pandemic is over, I will be joining Lindsey in the streets while we pray with our feet.

In writing "Praying with our Feet," Lindsey Krinks has offered readers the chance to listen in on her development from concerned but naive Christian college student to passionate activist to street chaplain for the unhoused in Nashville. This is no "how to" manual for advancing systemic change; neither is it simply a story about a woman who learns how to love her neighbors who live in the underpasses. Krinks is a skilled storyteller, for sure. But the attentive reader will hear in her stories the intellectual and spiritual grounding of her developing theology of care. And the love with which she tells the stories of those she ministers alongside, housed and unhoused, draws open, curious readers to wonder how they, themselves, are being called to bear witness and work for change.

Books about faith-fueled activism can often feel like heroic epics or bible study manuals. This is neither. I look forward to sharing "Praying with our Feet" with the people I work with, knowing that they'll be challenged to respond.

Thanks to NetGalley and Brazos Press for the opportunity to read this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Praying with Our Feet tells the story of a young woman's journey of social activism alongside the development of her faith. At turns funny, heartbreaking, and filled with righteous anger, this book will educate and inspire readers.

An interesting read, as you grow along with the writer. Krink's is concerned with homelessness and the culture prejudices that perpetuate this situation. She is overwhelmed and brings the reader along with her, as she grows in her response. I really appreciated the storyline that carried us along with her and her realizations, rather then telling us what would happen from the beginning. I also really appreciated the human stories that she included.

"while I knew I couldn't give him the keys to a new home, I could be kind. I could connect, affirm his humanity, exchange names..."

"Bu I was learning that whenever I had extra food and coats, I needed to open my hands a little wider to my neighbour. I was learning that every small act of kindness mattered."

She challenges us to do what we can.

I really liked this book and found it interesting what she struggled with regarding the church and the world. She seems caring and passionate while being fiercely convicted. Would be a great book to give to someone who is trying to figure out how to manage their faith with social justice.

The author writes a compelling story of her experiences and what she has learned along the way, and she does it with integrity and humility. The greatest value of the book would be for inspiring others to move in similar directions.