In this authentic, heart-felt, soulful self-ethnography of faith, Dr. Reese generously and graciously shares his faith journey at home, work, and church in a world with growing division and uncertainty. A follow-up to the one-of-a-kind book Hope for the Thinking Christian, Dr. Reese, a towering figure in journalism research and education, shares words of hope from attentive listening to the “still, small voice” and honest meditation on God’s loving presence in his joyful and sorrowful experiences and struggles.

—Wenhong Erika Chen, PhD
Professor of Media Studies and Sociology
University of Texas at Austin

Is it possible in today’s world to embrace a faith in God that is both reasonable and hopeful? Can a life seeking after God’s will be crafted without descending into a cauldron of exclusivity and meanness? Stephen Reese wonderfully illustrates what such a life might look like. With humility, his book offers both wisdom for the enormously challenging times we face and a thoughtful faith that emerges from community and embraces love for all our neighbors.

—John Elford
Pastor Emeritus at University UMC Austin

Stephen Reese’s Words of Hope is a timely treasure focused on reflective, respectful, and love-centric faith in an overly tribal and often hate-filled contemporary American culture. His autobiographic and life experience-based style combined with journalistic expertise is powerful and unique. Steve’s substance and approach encourage readers to reflect on their individual faith journeys and priorities to travel authentic daily paths rooted in love and tolerance. His wisdom is fresh and insightful toward needed cultural change in our country and world.

—Walt Shelton
Professor, Baylor Law School

In spite of its being distorted by the right and dismissed by the left, people still long to live by genuine faith and the hope it brings. With one foot in the church and the other in the academy, Stephen Reese offers us, not a how-to book, but something much better. He invites us into his down-to-earth, lived experiences—of sitting with a dying friend, sharing prayer with graduate students of other faiths and of no faith, facing his own thorn in the flesh, living in an interfaith home, coping with disappointments in his own faith community. Peppered with the psalms’ poignant honesty and with conversation partners ranging from Richard Rohr to Bill Gaither, Michael Gerson, Christian Wiman, and John Shelby Spong, Reese’s experiences enable us to imagine how we might practice hopeful faith for ourselves.

—Rev. John A. Wright
Retired United Methodist District Superintendent

Reese serves as spiritual guide to all who long for hope in these tenuous days. His authentic storytelling captivated me, awakening memories of hope experienced and motivating me to share that hope with others.

—Rev. Teresa G. Welborn
Senior Pastor, University UMC Austin