Jesus People, Hippies, and How to Reach the Spiritually Hungry (with Andrew Whitman)

In this episode, Chris Bright speaks with Andrew Whitman, author of When Jesus Met Hippies. They explore the 1960s and 70s Jesus Movement, its cultural and spiritual significance, and its impact in both the U.S. and the UK. Andrew shares his personal story of coming to faith during this revival and discusses what today’s church leaders can learn from the movement to better engage the spiritually hungry but institutionally skeptical.

Topics Covered:

• The Jesus Movement: Cultural rebellion, spiritual hunger, and the rise of a new kind of evangelism. - Key differences between the Jesus Movement in the U.S. and the UK.
• Creative evangelism methods used during the Jesus Movement, including music, communal living, and innovative outreach.
• Lessons for today's church: Reaching marginalized and fringe groups with the gospel.
• The relevance of communal discipleship and non-traditional church settings in post-Christian, urban environments.
• How churches can navigate the tension between being biblically faithful and culturally sensitive.

Key Quotes: Andrew Whitman: “We don’t have to become like people to reach them; people know if you love them or not.”

Resources Mentioned: When Jesus Met Hippies by Andrew Whitman (link to purchase) Discovery Bible Study Method Sean Stillman’s Zac’s Place, a church for "ragamuffins"

Andrew's Website: https://www.jesuspeoplerevivaluk.com/