A review by bonniereads777
And…So We Walked: The Inspirational Story of a Couple's Walk Across America by Rick and Jane McKinney, Rick and Jane McKinney

5.0

This is a story of a Christian couple, Rick and Jane McKinney, who were called to walk across America and share Jesus with the people they met. They would start in Los Angeles, California, and walk all the way to Washington, D.C., reclaiming America for God. It seemed a strange thing to do, and many were skeptical, including themselves sometimes. This book is a chronicle of their journey, its up and downs, and its incredible rewards.

What I really like about this book is that on this trip the McKinneys were not just there to walk. They approached people in order to help them. While doing so, they were not judgmental or harsh. They reached out to the people they met with empathy, a listening ear, prayers, and understanding. I can assure you that this doesn’t always happen in the Christian community, and this tells me that God chose two of His best ambassadors for this journey. I love that God sent them on a trip into other cultures and enriched their lives, while at the same time they were helping others more than they probably even know. And I love that it only made their own relationship stronger. I think about the hesitation we sometimes have about sharing Jesus with others, and Rick and Jane are an inspiration to speak out.

One of the points they made on this trip really hit home. They were not the most qualified for this task, or the most athletic or the best funded. What they were was the most willing. And that made all the difference.

I also love that Rick and Jane were so deeply involved. They were talking with people they met about Jesus, but then would learn the personal difficulties of those they encountered, and they cared! Whether they bought someone a sandwich or listened to a heartbreaking story, they were invested in every conversation and every dilemma. It was a heartfelt and meaningful trek–for them, for the people they met, and for the readers of this book. Because their journey is not done. It has continued in print.

I love what they said at one point about the church needing to become more invested in helping the homeless. I completely agree.

Sometimes you feel a call that might seem odd. “Walk Across America” must have sounded insane, but after reading the book, I can see all the reasons why they did it. God always knows the big picture. You just have to be willing to be part of the painting.

I’m going to end this with a quote from the book that is so apt that it has to be shared. “We saw firsthand what people really need is to experience God’s love as demonstrated through his children. Not the church, not religion, not hypocrisy, not a judgmental attitude, but real honest-to-goodness love which emanates from a real relationship with God.”

I downloaded a copy of this book on Kindle Unlimited, where subscribers can read it for free.