Bob and Gracie Ekblad are the founders and co-directors of Tierra Nueva (New Earth) in Burlington, Washington. Together, they lead a vibrant ministry that serves marginalized communities, including immigrants, inmates, and those struggling with addiction, through their home-based retreat center, New Earth Refuge, nestled in the Skagit Valley. Bob, ordained in the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.), holds a ThD in Old Testament and is known for his engaging courses on biblical interpretation. He also serves as the director of The People’s Seminary and is a part-time chaplain at Skagit County Jail. Some of his better-known books – and we highly recommend them – include Reading the Bible with the Damned, Guerilla Gospel, and The Beautiful Gate.
In this interview, Joy and I talk with Bob about his ministry perspectives, what practical and spiritual engagement looks like – this includes naming some of the challenges and realities that are faced – and some very cool stories that drip with transformation. On the topic of incarceration and our prison system, Bob is totally worth listening to.
To learn more about Bob, you can visit bobekblad.com. There you will find links to some great resources, his podcast, as well as ways to get involved.
Here is a more complete list of his books (some of which are available as audiobooks – and Bob does the reading!):
Reading the Bible with the Damned, Louisville: Westminster John Knox, 2005.
A New Christian Manifesto: Pledging Allegiance to the Kingdom of God, Louisville: Westminster John Knox, 2008.
The Beautiful Gate: Enter Jesus’ Global Liberation Movement, Burlington: The People’s Seminary Press, 2017
Guerrilla Gospel: Reading the Bible for Liberation in the Power of the Spirit, Burlington: The People’s Seminary Press, 2018.
Guerrilla Bible Studies, Volume 1, Surprising Encounters with God, Burlington: The People’s Seminary Press, 2019
Guerrilla Bible Studies, Volume 2, God’s Radical Recruiting, Burlington: The People’s Seminary Press, 2020.
Guerrilla Bible Studies, Volume 3, Basic Training for the Jesus Movement, Burlington: The People’s Seminary Press, 2020.
Guerrilla Bible Studies, Volume 4, Following Jesus: On Earth as in Heaven, Burlington: The People’s Seminary Press, 2023.
Names mentioned in this interview:
Che Guevara, Liberation Theology, L’abri, Monty Python, Gregory Boyle, Philemon of Gaza, Daniel Bourguet, Ivan Illich, Paul Kingsnorth.
Books:
The Tenderness of God (Daniel Bourgue)
Reading the Bible with the Damned (Bob Ekblad)
The Humble Divinity of Jesus in Mark’s Gospel (Daniel Bourguet)