Good God, Lousy World, and Me: The Improbable Journey of a Human Rights Activist from Unbelief to Faith

"In this extraordinary memoir, one of the foremost human rights advocates of the last half century shares her brutally and hilariously honest story of finding God." -Gary A. Haugen, president and CEO, International Justice Mission


For years, Holly Burkhalter was a heartbroken idealist working on the front lines of change around the world-a witness to the brutalities of genocide, sex trafficking, rape, slavery, greed and injustice. Throughout her career she found herself angrily, sometimes hilariously at odds with a God who seemed distant at best and tyrannical at worst.

Until the day she found herself drawn into a community of fellow activists who loved, worshiped, and served another God altogether-a God who hated injustice, too. And who had a plan for combating it. Us.

It was the greatest, most radiant surprise of her life.

Today Holly engages deeply with the questions that kept her from faith for most of her adult life: How could a good God allow brutality, mental illness, and AIDS? Why does God seem indifferent when we are in great need? What is our part in pushing back the darkness?

Through riveting stories from her life, she wrestles these questions to the ground. Sometimes she wins. Sometimes the questions do. Either way, Good God, Lousy World & Me will transform your understanding of God's presence and purpose-and ours-in a broken world.

Now includes a small group discussion guide.