Five Mere Christians gives you real-life examples that will forever transform how you work.
You’re not a pastor, missionary, or religious professional. You’re a mere Christian like me who works as an entrepreneur, accountant, or barista. And you deeply want to glorify God in every aspect of your life—including your work.
But what on earth does that look like practically?
I could tell you answers to that question through theological exposition. Or I could show you through stories. There is a place for the former. But this book gives you the latter.
And I can’t wait to introduce you to five men and women whose unforgettable life stories are full of wisdom for how you can glorify God through your work today.
"Five Mere Christians is unlike any set of biographies ever written. Filled with exciting twists and page-turning cliffhangers, it reads like your favorite television binge-watch! You feel as if you are right there, in the moment, to witness the extraordinary lives and historic accomplishments of these five mere Christians."
These are the types of stories I (and you) want to read on the beach.
"If you’re looking for a book that combines the punch of a great sermon with the pace of a great thriller, this is it."
These are the top 5 men and women I’d have on the Mere Christians podcast today if they were still alive to be interviewed.
Christiansen's story will show you how to glorify God by:Â
Hamer's story will show you how to glorify God by:Â
Lewis's story will show you how to glorify God by:Â
More's story will show you how to glorify God by:Â
Rogers's story will show you how to glorify God by:Â
Pastor Tim Keller once said, “You never learn anything spiritually valuable by being told. You have to be shown.” Case studies are stickier than commands, which is why this book will forever transform how you work!
"Sometimes we settle for less than we should. Five Mere Christians will expand your vision for what ministry is possible through your work. Absorbing and actionable, this book will show you how to more fully glorify God Monday through Friday!"
Early readers and endorsers have loved this book and are sure you will too!
Reading Five Mere Christians was a joy. And what I discovered is so helpful. Wonderfully insightful, instantly digestible, and terrifically applicable to daily life, this is a fun, breezy read while also being deeply meaningful—with its anchor firmly secured in Christ. I believe this book is one you’ll be excitedly recommending.Â
—John Tinker, Executive Producer of When Calls the Heart and The Practice
Jordan and Kaleigh have crafted a finely cut diamond of a book, brilliantly demonstrating how to reflect the light of Christ into the world’s darkest corners. Plenty of books tell you how to glorify God in your work. This one shows you. These binge-worthy biographies are entertaining, encouraging, and enlightening, blending inspiration with practical guidance. You won't be able to put this book down!Â
—Marcus Brotherton, New York Times bestselling author of Blaze of Light and We Who Are Alive & Remain
This collection of inspirational biographies far exceeded my expectations. The writing is both lively and well researched. If you’re looking for practical ways to live for Christ, to be salt and light in our world, I highly recommend you start right here.Â
—Shirley Raye Redmond, author of Courageous World Changers: Fifty True Stories of Daring Women of God, Christianity Today Book Award Winner 2021
In Five Mere Christians, Jordan tells captivating stories that remind us that the grandeur is in the ordinary, and we can love big as disciples of Christ, right where we are, with what we have. What a relief and excitement!Â
—Tori Hope Petersen, bestselling author & speakerÂ
One of these five biographies is worth more than the cost of the entire book—especially the exceptional one on LEGO's founder, Ole Kirk Christiansen. The story of LEGO's founder is still relatively unknown. I'm praying this riveting telling of it will make God's glory shine brighter amongst this generation of mere Christians!Â
—Tim Croll, LEGO Masters contestant and Director of Serious Play at Narrative.live
When we understand how your work connects to God's mission, everything changes. Five Mere Christians will baptize your imagination to that end, showing you exactly how to leverage your current job to glorify God and participate in heaven's invasion of earth.Â
—João Branco, former CMO of Arcos Dorados
The stories in this book are bound to lift a heavy weight off the shoulders of passionate Jesus followers who have felt their work life is inferior without an official “ministry” title. What a need! As a Christian who makes silly songs on the Internet for a living, Five Mere Christians has shown me that God sees my career as far from trivial—and as Raynor references from Psalm 37, that the Lord “delights in every detail” of the lives of the godly. What a blessing to see how I can further glorify God through the unlikely ministry of spreading childlike playfulness online.Â
—Sarah Maddack, silly song artist and YouTuber
A timeless, collective testimony of God doing extraordinary things through ordinary people, Five Mere Christians is a much-needed reminder that all of us—from poets to toy makers and everyone in between—can glorify God through our work. As someone who doesn't work in “traditional” ministry, this book encouraged me to think about my vocation in a whole new light.Â
—Ashlee Gadd, author of Create Anyway and founder of Coffee + Crumbs
As a writer of superheroes and fiction, it may surprise some that I’m a huge fan of biographies. Jordan and Kaleigh's written portraits about five, real-life superheroes inspire as fully as they entertain; stories sure to inspire readers to equally heroic works of kindness and change.Â
—Mike Maihack, cartoonist + creator of Cleopatra in Space
As a pastor, I try hard to help people understand the sacred significance of everyday work. Five Mere Christians makes that so much easier! Jordan not only tells you your work matters but shows you what that looks like in the lives of some of the most inspiring people in modern history. Read this book and get extra copies to give away!Â
—Mike Kelsey, lead pastor at McLean Bible Church
Few people in ministry get asked the question more, "But what if I'm not in full-time ministry?" That's why Jordan Raynor and Kaleigh Cox's new book Five Mere Christians is such the perfect answer. Every follower of Jesus is in full-time ministry. Our lives are ministry. Our vocations simply look different. I pray this book will encourage every believer to know that we are all commissioned to impact our sphere of influence and that the beauty of the body of Christ is we will all do that in different ways. A gift of a book to the body of Christ.Â
—Denise Jones, author of Reclaiming Your Heart and Flying Solo and founder of Reclaiming Hearts Ministries
Still not sure? Click here to read unbiased reviews on Amazon!
We're both "mere Christians" like you!
My name is Jordan Raynor, and I've had the privilege of helping millions of Christians around the world connect the gospel to their work through my books, podcasts, and devotionals.
I also serve as the executive chairman of Threshold 360, a venture-backed tech startup that I previously ran as CEO following a string of other entrepreneurial ventures. Before that, I was selected as a Google Fellow twice and served in The White House under President George W. Bush.
A sixth-generation Floridian, I live in Tampa with my wife and our three young daughters. We are proud members of The Church at Odessa where I serve as an elder.
My co-author Kaleigh Cox is a mere Christian who co-wrote this book while working full-time for a marketing startup.
More recently, Kaleigh joined my team as my VP of marketing. She is a lifelong student of the faith and work movement and lives with her husband and son in Columbia, South Carolina.
They are members of Crossroads Church, where Kaleigh serves on the women's leadership team.
Five Mere Christians is available now wherever books are sold!
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