Ed Galisewski
Meet Ed Galisewski, a real life Joe Palooka from Jersey. A mens ministry leader for fifteen years, Ed has ministered to literally thousands of people. He’s been in and out (and in again) of church, learning to overcome his own struggles with the institution while still loving the body of Christ.
Maybe, like him, you are planning to leave your church. Maybe you’d like to, but you feel stuck. You’re not alone–millions of people, especially men, are fleeing their churches or mentally checking out.
He asked Samizdat Creative to help him pull together a book for people who struggle with the church. We pulled together an amazing team of creative writers, designers, coaches, marketers, and even a sports editorial cartoonist to make Ed’s grand vision of A Simpler Faith a reality. In the tradition of samizdat literature, this is not your run of the mill book. It is subversive, but kind; hard, but with heart. Ed pulls back the curtain on the divisive nature of denominationalism and spiritual abuse in many churches and encourages pastors and lay people alike to return to the simple gospel of faith in a Creator, Savior, and Guide.
Ed says you might even need to take a temporary break from church while you heal and reconnect with God. But don’t stay away–when you’re ready, reconnect with a faith community and bring a simpler faith back to the church.
This has been one of the most involved and exciting projects we’ve worked on to date. We are now working with a publicist to give A Simpler Faith the best run in the market possible. And Ed has been working hard with a writing coach on three talks he will offer on a speaking and book tour he’s planning after the release of the book in Spring 2012. He’s doing everything right to give his vision life, and we are thrilled to help him make his book the best it can possibly be.
“On the concept of unity- “Thatʼs right-Jesusʼ most pressing concern beforeleaving the earth was our unity. He was looking ahead, to every generation ofbeliever. And as he prayed, he made it clear that our witness as his body in thisfractured , messed-up, chaotic world would depend on our love for another.”
“On the subject of who is to blame for our disunity - “The easy conclusion- thatthe devil is at work trying to destroy the church- is true, but itʼs not the whole story. Ofcourse the enemy is at work doing that. But closer examination shows that much ofthe blame falls squarely on the shoulders of the church itself-on believers in god-andhow our own devilish deeds have alienated other followers of God. Sadly, weʼve donethe devilʼs work for him.”
“Addressing the concept of man made additions to the faith - “These additions-standards, practices, and allegiances supposedly created for our spiritual benefit-have had the opposite effect.”