Are You good

with God?

Introducing the 20x22 Challenge

Please watch the video below to hear about the 20x22 Challenge.

How to Participate in the 20x22 Challenge

Step #1: Purchase 22 copies of Are You Good with God? here or here.

Step #2: Give 20 copies away to anyone the Lord places on your heart. Pray for each person you give a copy of Are You Good with God? to.

Step #3: Personally lead 2 people through a book discussion with your remaining two copies.

• You can discuss the whole book in one gathering

• You can discuss the whole book in two gatherings (ex: the first gathering covers pages 9-46 and the second gathering covers pages 47-70)

• You can also discuss the whole book in five gatherings (ex: the first gathering covers Introduction: The Big Picture (pages 9-18); the second gathering covers God’s Design (pages 19-32); the third gathering covers Our Downfall (pages 33-46); the fourth gathering covers God’s Demonstration (pages 47-62) and the final gathering covers Our Destination (pages 63-70).

Step #4: Share pictures, praise reports, or thoughts from your book discussion via social media using the hashtags #AreYouGoodWithGod🤔 and #20x22Challenge.

Step #5: If the Lord leads, repeat Steps #1-#4.

Are You Good with God? The Rationale behind the book.

In 2010 I traveled to Atlanta to meet with Miguel Davila of ReachLife Ministries, the nonprofit arm of Reach Records. As we talked, Miguel said that greatest need for our generation was a resource that answered the simple question, “What is the gospel?” He challenged me to write a short book that could be understood by the hip hop and urban fanbase of the Unashamed movement.

On the flight back to Kansas City I brainstormed ways that I could accomplish this task. The result was a short, easy-to-read book, which also led to a CD that expressed the book’s content in lyrical form. A couple months later I was asked to preach at the Legacy Conference hosted by Moody Bible Institute in Chicago. During my sermon I mentioned that our generation shouldn’t be upset that the heroes of our faith (men like John Piper) are not creating resources contextualized to our reality in urban cities. I said that we need to develop our own resources. After preaching I was approached by a man who wanted to ask me about my sermon comment. We met for lunch and he asked if I had any of these resources written. So I told him about my finished manuscript and offered to send it to him. That man’s name was Barnabas Piper, son of the very John Piper I mentioned in my sermon. Barnabas took my manuscript and he told me he would submit a proposal to Moody Publishers. So on January 1, 2012, Moody Publishers released the first edition of G.O.S.P.E.L.

In the years since then I have received countless of emails, phone calls, and text messages that express gratitude for the way G.O.S.P.E.L. was written. I had merged hip-hop cultural references and slang with theological explanations (what I call thebonics). The easy-to-remember G.O.S.P.E.L. acronym provided saints around the globe with opportunities to share the gospel with marginalized communities.

Our modern-day slang becomes outdated very quickly, so a few years ago I felt a stirring in my heart from the Lord to revise the G.O.S.P.E.L. book. I wanted a more conceptual approach to sharing the gospel, and I wanted to aim the book at unbeliev- ers (instead of a resource for believers). After taking time to pray, I contacted Moody Publishers and asked if we could revise G.O.S.P.E.L. I wanted to focus on communicating the gospel message to those who are not following Jesus.

This book is for you! If you do not yet know Jesus Christ, you will be challenged by God’s story and the gospel theme that is woven throughout it. The G.O.S.P.E.L. acronym will explain concepts in ways that you can understand. It is my prayer that God will guide your journey to find the truth—God’s truth—that explains how to have a right relationship with Him. I pray you think deeply about what you read. The gospel bridge connects your story to God’s story. I hope you will consider this message and find the eternal hope it provides.

Are You Good with God? is dedicated to my Mom Rita (Camacho) Horton

Before my mom went to be home with Jesus on November 5, 2021 I wanted to bless her with two meaningful gifts. The story behind the first gift can be read here.

The second gift I wanted to give my mom before she goes to be with Jesus was dedicating Are You Good with God? to her.

I want to express all love to Moody Publishers for literally “stopping the press” to add this dedication! This book is scheduled to release in early January 2022. I knew there was a high probability my mom will be in glory when it comes out. She ended up finishing her race on this side of eternity on November 5, 2021.

Yet, not only did Moody add this dedication but the printer sent an exclusive advanced copy to my mom. So while she was in the hospital, she was able to read it before the Lord called her home. 🤎✊🏽🙌🏽🙏🏽😭

Are You Good with God? is a revised version of my first book G.O.S.P.E.L. My mom’s final plea in this life is knowing her legacy of gospel stewardship will carry on after her life on this side of eternity ended. I told my mom her gospel-legacy will continue with everyone who reads this book!

Shout out to my brother Raymond for the picture and giving our mom this book!