In the Land of Believers

An Outsider's Extraordinary Journey into the Heart of the Evangelical Church

By: Gina Welch

Narrated by: Judith Brackley

Ever since evangelical Christians rose to national prominence, mainstream America has tracked their every move with a nervous eye. But in spite of this vigilance, our understanding hasn't gone beyond the caricatures. Who are evangelicals, really? What are they like in private, and what do they want? Is it possible that beneath the differences in culture and language, church and party, we might share with them some common purpose?

To find out, Gina Welch, a young secular Jew from Berkeley, joined Jerry Falwell's Thomas Road Baptist Church. Over the course of nearly two years, Welch immersed herself in the life and language of the devout: she learned to interpret the world like an evangelical, weathered the death of Falwell, and embarked on a mission trip to Alaska intended to save 100 souls. Alive to the meaning behind the music and the mind behind the slogans, Welch recognized the allure of evangelicalism, even for the godless, realizing that the congregation met needs and answered questions she didn’t know she had.

What emerges is a riveting account of a skeptic's transformation from uninformed cynicism to compassionate understanding, and a rare view of how evangelicals see themselves.

©2010 Gina Welch (P)2010 Tantor

Critic reviews

“Welch offers excellent prose with a laudable purpose.... An engaging, personal look at one variant of Christian fundamentalism.” ( Library Journal)

“Memorable... A genuinely inquisitive memoir about the complicated nature of religious belief.” ( Kirkus Reviews)

Fascinating!!

I’m so glad Gina Welch undertook this journey! It unfolded exactly as it was meant to unfold, and she tells the tale just as she lived it—bravely, eloquently, intelligently—all while remaining true to herself and loving toward those she encountered.

Interesting

Good but not great not as insightful as I would have expected I agree we should care for one another