I had lunch with several long-time readers and supporters of Sojourners, people who in their own lives have been living out the gospel for decades. It was a humbling experience for me to sit with these people — many of them in their 70s — and hear their stories of making a difference. The Sawyers of outside Boston and the Friends of outside Philadelphia talked of their work in housing advocacy, employment training, and women’s empowerment, which have helped literally thousands of people in this and other countries. Mr. Sawyer even gave a local pastor at our table some impromptu advice on working with local zoning laws for a low-income housing development. Pragmatic, humble, hopeful people who have been getting things done for years, despite substantial obstacles. Just one moment at one table in an event that has brought together so many similar people and stories: people living out the Gospel, finding ways around the walls they encounter, and changing lives for the better. And then teaching the rest of us how it’s done.

These are Legacy Christians, men and women who are leaving an impression in this world. May God bless them, and continue to work through them.