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VERSE AND VOICE FROM SOJOURNERS 22MAI26

 

Forward this email to someone you know who would like it! Did someone forward this email to you? Sign up here to receive this newsletter in your inbox every weekday. Verse of the day Do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul; rather, fear the one who can destroy both soul and body in hell. - Matthew 10:28 Voice of the day I realized that war was monstrous. If it didn’t kill those it touched, it took away a piece of their souls, so they could never be whole again. - Nguyễn Phan Quế Mai, The Mountains Sing (2020) Prayer of the day Safeguard of souls, turn us away from the impulses of war that break us down. Create in us instead a permanent pursuit of understanding among each other. Advertisement Our Latest Stories Zondervan to Pull Alan Chambers’ Memoir After Arrest (by Mitchell Atencio) Chambers, who led and later renounced ex-gay ministry Exodus International, was arrested for solicitation of a minor earlier this week. Read more 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. Biblical voices remind us this corruption cannot stand. Read more A ’90s Christian Hit Song Is Now Blooming as 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 more Pentecost Is More Than Speaking in Tongues—It’s Learning to Sing Together (by Renée Darline Roden) How a bilingual choir offers a glimpse of the church as Pentecost imagines it: many voices singing one song. Read more Advertisements Partnering with faith and community leaders for lasting change. Episcopal Relief & Development partners with faith and community leaders around the world to advance lasting change in communities impacted by injustice, poverty, disaster and climate change. We focus on four interconnected priorities: early childhood development, women and girls, climate resilience and disaster response. Join us in creating lasting change. Action Alert: No War With Iran! Contact Congress now to demand peace and an end to the war with Iran. As Christians, we know that each and every life is precious and every step must be taken to avoid bloodshed. Instead of recklessly pursuing a policy of escalation, we demand an end to violence and vigorous oversight from Congress in pursuit of peace. Donate Subscribe

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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

MOTHER JONES DAILY: Trump Knocks Off Thomas Massie in Heated Primary, Meet the Moms Fighting Toxic Air Pollution (You Could Be Next), Trump has been investing in companies and then pumping them in his speeches, Far from DC, an iconic trail is militarized for Trump's border wall, First, a $1.8 billion slush fund. Now Trump aims to weasel out of IRS audits “forever.”, Trump destroyed USAID. Now people are dying., Thomas Massie Has Always Been a Pain in the Ass 20MAI26

 

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May 20, 2026 On Tuesday, Rep. Thomas Massie of Kentucky conceded to challenger Ed Gallrein, ending the most expensive congressional primary in American history. Days before Massie's defeat, Sen. Bill Cassidy of Louisiana (who, among other MAGA transgressions, voted to convict Trump on impeachment charges) faced the same fate.  That means Trump and his allies have succeeded in defeating two Republicans critical of their agenda in one week. From my colleague Stephanie Mencimer: “Combined with Cassidy’s loss over the weekend in the Louisiana Senate primary and the five Indiana state senators losing their primaries two weeks ago,” says Trey Grayson, a former secretary of state and 2010 Republican Senate candidate in Kentucky, “a lot of Republicans are going to say, ‘I think I’ll keep to myself and stay in line.’ That would be a natural reaction.” There are many factors one might point to in Massie’s loss: He lost because he faced down AIPAC, or because he stood against Trump, or because he pushed too hard for the release of the Epstein files, or because his constituents, after seven terms, just didn't like him very much. Stephanie has been covering this race closely for months—and gets into many of these themes. So, if you'd like to get to the bottom of Massie’s lore, I recommend digging in here.  —Sophie Hurwitz

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Trump Knocks Off Thomas Massie in Heated Primary The rogue Kentucky Republican is the latest casualty of the president's campaign to cleanse the GOP of dissenters. BY STEPHANIE MENCIMER

SPONSORED POST Meet the Moms Fighting Toxic Air Pollution (You Could Be Next) Community leaders expose plastic industry myths—and the danger lurking next door. THIS CONTENT WAS PAID FOR AND SPONSORED BY MOMS CLEAN AIR FORCE.

Trump has been investing in companies and then pumping them in his speeches BY JUDD LEGUM Far from DC, an iconic trail is militarized for Trump's border wall BY ALICIA INEZ GUZMÁN First, a $1.8 billion slush fund. Now Trump aims to weasel out of IRS audits “forever.” BY MICHAEL MECHANIC Trump destroyed USAID. Now people are dying. BY REVEAL

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Thomas Massie Has Always Been a Pain in the Ass Can the Kentucky Republican—inventor, farmer, gadfly, genius—survive standing up to Trump? BY STEPHANIE MENCIMER

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