With Radiant Hope

With Radiant Hope is a collection of thirty-four messages that George W. Truett wrote at the close of each year to his congregation while serving as pastor of the First Baptist Church of Dallas, Texas. Truett's famed ministry at the now well-known church extended from 1897 to 1944; the messages contained in this volume span the period from 1910 to 1944. The abiding value of these magnanimous missives, from beginning to end, is their pastoral tone, literary quality, biblical basis, and theologically robust character.

There is, of course, no single right way to read the messages that comprise this collection. Some will want to read them from beginning to end in swift succession, perhaps in a single sitting. Others will want to savor them, reading one a day, or a handful a day, over a stretch of time. Beginning during Advent and continuing through Christmastide holds promise for being an especially meaningful way to use this book. Although Truett's letters are situated at year's end, they are for all seasons and offer an edifying read time and time again.

--Joel C. Gregory, Professor of Preaching and Holder of the George W. Truett Endowed Chair of Preaching and Evangelism, George W. Truett Theological Seminary, Baylor University