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This week we talk to Chris Hoke about finding spirituality within the darkness
Chris Hoke is a jail chaplain and minister to Mexican gang and migrant worker communities in Washington’s Skagit Valley. His experiences are recounted in his new book, Wanted: A Spiritual Pursuit Through Jail, Among Outlaws, and Across Borders, which Kirkus calls “a liberating, transformative chronicle of how spirituality can foster inspiration and hope while emboldening the downtrodden through their darkest days.” Through his work with the organization Tierra Nueva, Hoke co-founded a coffee-roasting business, Underground Coffee, which employs men coming out of prison and addiction, and connects them to agricultural partners in Honduras. Hoke’s work has been featured on NPR’s Snap Judgment and in Sojourners, Image Journal, Modern Farmer, and Christian Century.
In This Interview Chris and I Discuss…
- The One You Feed parable.
- Thinking of how we feed others as much as ourselves.
- The state of our current prison system.
- Practical Mysticism.
- Bringing spirituality into the here and now.
- How creation begins in a place of darkness and chaos.
- How our challenges can make us great.
- Hearing our own stories in old spiritual stories.
- The rawness of the Bible.
- The spiritual search.
- The gift of tears.
- Using sorrow to tame what is savage in our souls.
- The limits of our ability to transform.
- How some people might have more sensitive spiritual antenna.
- The difference between mental illness and spiritual hearing.
- How we would lock up the biblical prophets today.
- How love means embracing suffering.
- The Circle of Concern and the Circle of Influence.
- Fighting despair.
- Dealing with disappointment and heartbreak.
- Underground Coffee- you should buy it!! (see below)
Chris Hoke Links
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Lisa RObbins says
I listened to this on my commute today. Loved the content! I write to 2 men on death row and many don’t understand. These men are human and deserve to be treated as such. I would love to go into prison ministry at some point. Keep up the great to work Chris. And Eric, continue to bring inspiring guests for conversation!
Kathy says
I have been catching up with back episodes and listened to this today – INCREDIBLE interview! The message Chris shares are accessible and relevant whether you’re familiar with life in prison or know someone who is. I appreciate the dignity Chris brings to the life of inmates and his hope for humanity through making jobs available after release.
Eric Zimmer says
Thanks so much. I found Chris to be an amazing person. His book is definitely worth reading.