SOJO MAIL FROM SOJOURNERS: We've never seen corruption like this. The prophets did. 21MAI26

 

By Betsy Shirley Editor in Chief, Sojourners We’re almost to the long weekend (and Pentecost). This week has brought deeply disturbing news, including shootings at a San Diego mosque and the nearly $1.8 billion dollar slush fund President Donald Trump created for his allies. But first, I wanted to start off with a story that made me smile (and truthfully, tear up a bit). ‘All the colors of the rainbow’ In 1997, the contemporary Christian music group Avalon released the hit song “Testify to Love.” Several years later, band member Michael Passons left—and later revealed he was fired for being gay. But this week, Passons joined a former bandmate and a country music star to release a new version of “Testify to Love,” this time fully as himself. Sojourners’ Mitchell Atencio interviewed Passons about what this song means—and I dare you read it without getting choked up. A ’90s Christian Hit Song Is Now Blooming as a Queer Anthem (By Mitchell Atencio) “Testify to Love” means more to former Avalon singer Michael Passons now that he can sing it as “someone who has embraced my identity.” Read the interview + listen to the song Advertisement Thy corruption stinketh Earlier this week, the Department of Justice—currently under the leadership of Trump’s former personal lawyer—announce it would create an unprecedented fund for the president’s allies who had been criminally investigated by the prior administration. As Adam Russell Taylor explains, this is exactly the kind of situation that prompted the prophet Micah to write some of the Bible’s sharpest critiques. The Prophet Micah on Trump’s $1.8 Billion Fund for His Allies (By Adam Russell Taylor) The president is using public resources to reward his allies and ignore justice. This corruption cannot stand. Read Adam's commentary Unleash the Spirit This Sunday begins Pentecost—a season in the church calendar that marks when the Spirit descended upon the early believers after Jesus’ resurrection. If you’re feeling a little fuzzy on what this unleashing of the Spirit means for us in the year of our Lord 2026, Renée Darline Roden and Stuart C. Lord offer examples. Pentecost Means Singing Together (By Renée Darline Rodin) How a bilingual choir offers a glimpse of the church as Pentecost imagines it: many voices, one song. Read more Why We Still Shout (By Stuart C. Lord) Connecting the story of Pentecost to the power of embodied worship in the Black Church. Read more Advertisements Explore Environmental Justice Through PATHWAYS Theological Online Program The PATHWAYS Theological Education, Inc. online, asynchronous Environmental Justice Program provides tools for engaging EJ work while also connecting you locally and challenging you to develop theologically, biblically and ethically. LAST CALL: Sojourners Special Issue on America’s 250th Birthday We're down to the last few extra copies of the June 2026 special issue! Join Julia Alvarez, Edwidge Danticat, Fr. James Martin and others for this landmark Sojourners special issue. Includes a pull-out poster, new hymn and reflection resources. Great for groups. Order now before they're all gone! Donate Subscribe Copyright © 2026 Sojourners. All rights reserved. 611 Pennsylvania Ave SE #342, Washington, DC 20003 Email: sojourners@sojo.net | Tel.: 202.328.8842