UZ Update - 2025

As you may have noticed, we haven't posted much recently here at Until Zion. Increased responsibilities and other projects have consumed a significant portion of our time. 

By way of updates, I (Justin), as well as continuing to pastor, also step into a greater leadership role at a justice advocacy non-profit in NYC. I have also been progressing through my PhD program, where much of my research centered on the Reformed tradition approach to issues of justice. I look forward to sharing some of that research by way of some upcoming publications. 

Additionally, Abe has entered into a publishing relationship with Brazos Press. He has been hard at work writing an upcoming book with the working title Joyful Resistance, which argues that Christian communities of “happy nonconformists” will present the most compelling case for the gospel in our contemporary world. 

Needless to say, life and ministry have been full!

That said, new UZ content will be coming soon. There has been much on our hearts and minds amidst the turbulence of this current season. As is the case for many, our hearts have been heavy. And now, maybe more than ever in our lifetimes, we all need reminders and encouragements about what it means for God’s people to be “a sign, instrument, and foretaste of Zion, the city of God.”  

Lastly, over the past year, I (Justin) have also been writing and recording music which, after some encouragement, I decided to officially release. If interested, you can find the album on all major streaming services.

I mention this because the album is entitled Until Zion. Each of the songs reflects the tension that exists between living in this broken world and yearning for and hoping for restoration to come. The lyrics of the final track, which is entitled “Epilogue: Until Zion,” are a simple prayer––a prayer that, for me, captures the heart of what we are about at UZ: 

“We wait for a day when tears will be no more, when death and sorrow breathe their final breath. But until that day comes, we will struggle against unbelief, believing ourselves to be capable of being free. Disabuse us of our arrogance and self-determined confidence. Make us a sign and light of what's to come…until Zion, until you come…”

In a time when many are in desperate need of hope, I pray the Lord empowers us to relinquish the arrogant unbelief that leads us to trust in our own strength and instead makes us that sign and light of what’s to come in the fullness of God’s Kingdom. May the Spirit of God make it so amongst us! 

Justin & Abe