The Prodigal

Brennan Manning completed this novel shortly before his death earlier this year. In The Ragamuffin Gospel Manning argued that understand imagery and symbol better than doctrines and dogma, and this story dramatically illustrates his great theological themes. This novel is being released alongside the new NIV Ragamuffin Bible.

Jack Chisholm is on top of his game: lead pastor of a big church in a big city, thousands of members, a huge physical plant. He is also living a lie – nobody could be as holy as his congregants think he is, and like all of us, he has his share of faults, flaws, sins. When one of these comes to light, the board of deacons gives him a choice: walk away, or be publicly shamed. They wouldn’t dare, he thinks. I mean too much to this church. So he laughs at them, refuses to even acknowledge what he has done. And they fire him, publicly, messily. Jack loses everything, overnight: his church, his friends, his money, his reputation and his family.
Jack has been a pastor his entire adult life. His only marketable skill – proclaiming the Word of the Lord – is now valueless. How to live? What to do? Take a minimum wage job? Give up? Kill himself?

He falls into a bottle, hopes it all will blow over. At last, out of money, out of hope, the impossible happens. His father arrives to rescue him with these simple words: Come home.

Thus begins JackÂ’s journey back... back to himself, back to hope, back to his Father.
320 pages