John Philip Newell and Discovering Westhope

Terry Walsh
Westhope Member

I’ve been fortunate to attend two of John Philip Newell’s talks - one at Westhope (about ten years ago) and one at Valley Presbyterian Church in Portola Valley (about four years ago).  The reason I decided to join the Westhope community is because of John Philip’s talk.  I was invited by a close friend, Kris, who was living in Portland and flew down to attend his talk.  She had read a few of his books and was excited to hear him in person.  Kris also knew that I had been looking for a church community for a long time to no avail.  My faith was very much intact, but I was frustrated without a community with whom to share and explore it.

Struggling with Church

I had visited many churches over the last few years and was resigned that I wouldn’t have a church home.  No longer could I be involved in a Christian community that did not align with my beliefs.  I had been hurt by Church growing up in the sixties and seventies.  In the eighties and nineties while raising my children, I attended church with them but felt frustrated at many of the attitudes and ideas that I heard and saw from clergy.  The treatment of women, not accepting the LGBTQ+ community, and underserving people of color were all reasons why I was at odds with the religion in which I had grown up.

Speaking to Me

I had not read any of Newell’s books before going to his talk at Westhope.  As I listened to him speak I was shocked by his re-imagining of Christianity and his radical ideas of how the Church can begin again.  He spoke of the harm that the Church has caused to many Christians. At that moment, I felt that I was intended to be there with him, that God had put me in this place and that he was speaking directly to my heart.  I felt relief and then joy.  A member of the clergy was saying things that I had always wanted to hear.  And I knew that any church who would sponsor his visit would be one in which I could be at peace. 

After the talk, I was so filled with excitement and hope.  I couldn’t stop talking about this with my friend and knew that I had found my dream church.  I will always be grateful to John Philip for bringing me home to Westhope.