Politicology ENCORE: Testimony—Part 1
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Jan 1, 2026 Jon Ward, a journalist and author of "Testimony: Inside the Evangelical Movement That Failed a Generation," shares insights from his life growing up in the Evangelical Church. He discusses the complexities of "Christian Trumpism" and his motivations for writing his memoir. Topics include the insular nature of church communities, the political motivations behind evangelical support for the GOP, and how beliefs in the end times shape ethical perspectives. Ward also addresses the emotional toll of spiritual ecstasy and the tension between faith and intellectualism.
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Writing From Inside To Explain Evangelicalism
- Jon Ward wrote Testimony to understand and narrate his evangelical upbringing through personal experience.
- He found the memoir form best for exploring how that background shaped politics and identity.
Border Stalker As Bridge Between Worlds
- Ward adopts the 'border stalker' idea to describe moving between evangelical and secular worlds.
- He sees it as a role that fosters dialogue and reduces reductionism between tribes.
Raised In A Jesus Movement Church
- Jon Ward describes his parents' conversion during the 1970s Jesus movement and the church's start in a basement.
- He recalls how turning away from tradition produced energetic early community but later 'bad fruit.'
