Greetings from the “God Was Right” book tour — currently on my way back from an incredible couple days in Dallas. I am looking forward to an event on Thursday night at Barnes and Noble, where I will be in conversation with the great journalist and author Liel Leibovitz. We encourage everyone in New York City to attend! You can view the invitation here.
I had an event last night at Old Parkland in Dallas, the legendary commercial center developed by Harlan Crow. Old Parkland, the home of dozens of family offices and funds, is not only an office center — that is the least of it. It is a paean to American democracy and capitalism — with founding documents, paintings of American heroes (from George Washington to Jackie Robinson) and much else. At its center is a debate hall.
It was where I was in conversation with Rabbi Adam Roffman who, along with his wife (also a Rabbi), leads the thriving Congregation Shearith Israel. It was such an honor and delight to be in conversation with a Rabbi (and fellow Rebbitzen) with such deep Jewish learning and leadership. I am hopeful that this relationship will continue — as I think it will; some of the attendees, who are also his congregants, said that they want to launch a discussion group that would consider each chapter of the book. I said that I’d Zoom in any time.
I am grateful for Erica and my dear friends Amy and Harlan Korenvaes (who has an office at Old Parkland) for making this event happen. Erica and I know Amy and Harlan through United Hatzalah — on whose Board we all serve. Our friendship with Amy and Harlan is a testament to an idea (really a truth) that derives from the Torah– one which we discussed at the event: The best, most meaningful and enduring relationships are formed through shared devotion and giving to a mission that all believe is sacred.
On Sunday, I spoke about “God Was Right” in conversation with Pastor Stephen Martin of the Vintage Church in Harker Heights, Texas. We spoke at two services – the 9am and the 11am. It was a day – in fact, a weekend – I will always cherish.
(Mark Gerson in conversation with Pastor Stephen Martin of the Vintage Church in Harker Heights, Texas, 6/8/25)
I discussed the book long into Saturday evening with Stephen and his remarkable wife, Dr. Kyla Martin. I was deeply gratified to see her underlined copy of the book, as she told me that she was using what she learned from the book in her medical practice. That is the point: The Torah is the always practical and applicable guidebook, designed for and ready to help everyone through his/her work and life – from daily decisions to existential choices.
Stephen and I were prepared for the discussions that followed Sunday morning. But I was not prepared for what I saw – or really what I felt – before our discussion (which began around a half hour into the service).
First, it is an incredible operation. The church service, I learned, is really a system – that relies on remarkable execution of numerous components – from the sound to the security to the prayer leaders, and many more.
As for the prayer leaders – these were around 8-10 men and women who I saw praying together in a circle before the service. When the service began, they went to the front of the church. People came up to them, sometimes for long periods of time, and opened their hearts. The prayer leaders held their hands, and spoke. I, of course, could not hear what anyone was saying (these were intimate one on one conversations in the front, far from the seats) – but a Pastor sitting next to me said that it could be about any challenge, struggle or opportunity. The prayer leaders were all trained and ready to introduce the parishioners who came before them to individuals and groups at the church who could, when needed, provide ongoing support.
And Stephen had told me about this kind of work the night before, when we did a late night tour of the church. The church members are all called upon to give – of their money, talents, capabilities and gifts. And they do. Consequently, the church has the capabilities and ministries to do and help with anything – from fixing electrical systems in the building to helping children in any kind of need.
I am a rationalist – I am not a “spiritual” guy – but I found myself deeply and even physically moved by what I saw. I was seeing in real time, right in front of me, the true beauty and potential of faith – compassion, love, stewardship, leadership and effectiveness all at once. I knew just how I wanted to start the conversation with Stephen on the pulpit that morning. It was that I had felt the presence of God in the Vintage Church that morning.
Each of our two conversations was a wide-ranging discussion that covered an array of topics in “God Was Right.” Stephen turned into a podcast here. In one of the conversations, we discussed Eagles Wings — the remarkable parachurch ministry of Christian Zionists and philo-Semites through which I met him. I mentioned that Erica and I had led, at another Eagles Wings affiliated church, the largest ever Christian Seder (a couple of days before Pesach in 2022). Stephen said that next year, that will have been the second largest ever Christian Seder — because Erica and I will be back at the Vintage Church!
His invitation actually solved something for me that I realized in the moment. I had so wanted Erica and our children to share the magnificence of Stephen’s faith, church and community with me — but they weren’t there. But they will be, God willing, on 3/28/26 — the date we set for the Vintage Church Seder.
After each service, I had the chance to (all too briefly) meet many of the congregants – as I signed books for each person who made an offering to Eagles Wings. There were a lot!
It will long remember many of these exchanges. Several people asked to pray for me – and asked specifically what in my life I would like them to pray for. We did so right there, with sometimes groups forming to do so. Others told me about something I had said from the Torah during the conversation with Stephen that was especially meaningful to them – from the Torah’s guidance about raising children to that we should become “incapable” of doing bad things (and how we can do that). One man told me that he was honored to be grafted upon me. Others told me about Jewish roots in their families, and others told me that I was the first Jew they had met.
Another attendee commented on the photo of our family that was on the screen. She said: “Your wife is beautiful – really beautiful!”
That proved it: It truly was a morning of truth.
The video from the event can be viewed here: God Was Right | Mark Gerson