New Heart Church
by Jim Barringer
Alone in a strange city, searching for a job, living on hot dogs and white bread - life after college is not everything that Eli Radak hoped it would be. A shy and quiet loner, Eli is shaken out of his comfort zone by neighbors who insist on burying him in love and community. Their kindness forces himself to confront his own insecurities and find the secret of his true identity in Christ.Alone in a strange city, searching for a job, living on hot dogs and white bread - life after college is not everything that Eli Radak hoped it would be. A shy and quiet loner, Eli is shaken out of his comfort zone by neighbors who insist on burying him in love and community. Unsure how to handle such undeserved kindness, he pushes them away, before finding that something inside of him is longing for the kind of community they have with each other. The eclectic cast includes Stanley, an older man with a dark secret; Danny, who went from being homeless to pastoring a house church; Abbie, who sees past Eli's hard exterior; and many others. Together they take Eli on a journey to discover his true self and his true identity in Christ, among the streets of Fort Worth and the deserts of west Texas. An inspirational, uplifting, and at times gritty tale of true faith, real community, and genuine love.