Have you read Gary Haugen’s original work from 1999, Good News About Injustice? I have lost count of the number of people who have come up to me to tell me how dramatic of an impact this single book has had on their life, their vocation, their understanding of the Gospel.
IVP is releasing a 10th Anniversary Edition of Good News this Fall. Gary just put the final touches on it. Full of new rescue stories from the field, action models of churches engaging justice work, and more.
If you were writing an endorsement of the original Good News About Injustice, what would you say? How has this book impacted you or others you know?
“Good News About Injustice is the clearest expression of why and how the Church should respond to Injustice.”
This book defined biblical justice for me. I was always reading the word in scripture as “goodness”, a very vague idea of “right”. But Gary puts flesh on the word, by totally exposing a world of injustice. So, when Gary then pointed back to scripture in the book, I finally knew what God was talking about! Sometimes we make Jesus to be more of an ethereal philosopher. Gary makes sure we understand him as a physical savior.
This book completely changed how I view injustice in the world. Prior to reading it I would often get frustrated and overwhelmed with the evil in the world. Through Gary Haugen’s writing I was able to recognize the amazing amount of hope and light that God brings to these places of darkness. Rejoicing in that hope for the first time I was motivated into action; I wanted to help bring that hope to the dark places of this world.
When reading Scripture, I could figure out how to take care of widows, how to help orphans and the poor, but I couldn’t understand what God meant when He told us to seek justice. I just didn’t know what that would look like in real life. Gary Haugen’s book, his life, helped open my eyes to the injustices of the world and showed me how to seek this justice that God cares so much about. Instead of becoming overwhelmed by the magnitude of the problem, Gary’s book helped me see that there are many practical steps that I can take to join him and others around the world in obeying God’s call to seek justice for the oppressed. These people are coming to know that God cares for them, has heard their cries and has sent rescue. I praise God for the work that IJM is doing around the world.
Gary Haugen’s book is not only a call to the church to think about injustice, it’s also a testimony to the very concrete ways International Justice Mission has begun to seek justice. This book, for those who read it, may provide the much needed wake up call that the suburban American church needs to stir it to action, to turn the tide on injustice.
I would really like to share the spanish version of this book with local churches. Has it been translated yet?
All - thanks for these remarks - it is so helpful to hear your insights on why this book has been helpful! Keep them coming…
Rossa - YES, ‘Good News About Injustice’ is available in Spanish. Shoot an email to and she should be able to get one to you! Her first name is Lauren.
‘Good News about Injustice’ is an amazing book. It reveals how miracles are taking place with the rescue of so many people from exploitation, rape, bonded labour and other forms of abuse. I deeply appreciate the efforts of the IJM team worldwide in doing such a stupendous job at the risk of their own lives. It is only with the protection of the Almighty and the prayers offered worldwide that such rescue operations are possible. This book has increased my faith in humanity in wanting to transform society for a better world. Heartiest Congratulations to each one of you and especially to the author, Gary.