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Barefoot Tribe

Take Off Your Shoes and Dare to Live the Extraordinary Life

About The Book

Give your life away and discover God’s unique purpose for you.

As a first grader living deep in the Liberian jungle, Palmer Chinchen watched a young African girl quietly pull the shoes off her feet—her only shoes, her only protection from the parasites that crawl between the toes of so many tribal children—to slip them on his sister’s feet, whose shoes were left behind in their burning bamboo mat house in the bush. That image of tribal love and empathy has stayed with Palmer and continues to drive his passions.

Today, Palmer sees a new kind of tribe forming with the same kind of desires, a tribe of people who are bothered by the brokenness all around, who are passionate about goodness, justice, and beauty. They are leaving their places of comfort to feed the hungry, give clean water to the thirsty, build houses for the homeless, share clothes with the shivering and shoes with the barefoot. This tribe is ready to change the world for good, and we, too, must heed that call today.

Conversational, fresh, and accessible, Barefoot Tribe dares us to break past the safe confines of our manicured suburbs and polished shopping malls to take action, take risks, and remake the world into one more like what Jesus had in mind.

Your time to act is now. God wants your life. Will you speak up, step out, and do something incredible…today?

About The Author

Photograph by Laine Sandoval

Palmer Chinchen, PhD, was raised in the jungles of Liberia and later returned to Africa, where he taught spiritual development and practical theology at African Bible College in Malawi and Liberia. Palmer is now Lead Pastor of The Grove church in Chandler, Arizona, a young, dynamic, and rapidly growing congregation or more than 1,600 worshipers. Palmer and his church are committed to working tirelessly together to eliminate extreme poverty, eradicate malaria, and end injustice in Africa. He is the author of Justice Calling, Barefoot Tribe, God Can't Sleep, True Religion, and Waiting for Daylight.

Product Details

Raves and Reviews

"Having grown up in Liberia, the child of Christian missionaries, Chinchen witnessed firsthand the selflessness of Africans who gave their shoes to others, making themselves vulnerable to life-threatening diseases contracted by walking barefoot in the jungle. Based on this example, the author urges everyone to take a little less for themselves, give more to others, and work together to eliminate poverty, eradicate malaria, foster sustainability, and end injustice. Although much progress has been made, Chinchen insists more needs to be done . . . Chinchen’s manifesto offers hope and inspiration for people of all faiths."

– Booklist

"Using Scripture, personal stories, and workable, proven ideas, Palmer urges every believer to identify brokenness in our world that God is calling them to engage and join the tribe. Recommend to everyone."

– CBA Retailers + Resources

“Barefoot Tribe is a call to rediscover Jesus and His way in a manner that will change the world—as it always has. Palmer’s writing is as clear as it is compelling, and convicting in the best sense of that word. After reading his book, I have decided to take off my shoes and join the tribe.”

– John Ortberg, senior pastor of Menlo Park Presbyterian Church, author of Who Is This Man?

“Nothing great for God happens without passion, and you can feel Palmer Chinchen’s passion on every page of this rallying cry for the church. Far from the usual diatribe on the church's impairments and plights, Barefoot Tribe is a call to arms toward a new kind of tribe that hears the cries of the world in everyday life and responds with passion to its hurts. The author’s vision is not a church in pain but one that feels the pain of the world and salves its wounds. Chinchen changes each word of ‘Here I Stand’ to ‘There We Go.’ Painstaking and passionate, Barefoot Tribe shows us how to ‘Take a Hike.’”

– Leonard Sweet, bestselling author, The Gospel According to Starbucks

"Palmer Chinchen is a prophet to our generation, and Barefoot Tribe is his call to all who have ears to hear. Through fluid prose and captivating stories, Chinchen illuminates the true work of transformation and freedom for which we were all born. Barefoot Tribe is as much a movement as a manifesto, drawing us back to the heart of the Christ whose name we bear. A must read for all who would follow the Way of the Master. Bravo! May we all heed its beautiful and haunting call."

– Ted Dekker, New York Times bestselling author

“Palmer is a modern-day prophet. In this manifesto, he delivers an impassioned challenge to live like Jesus, love like Jesus, and to be—not just go to—the church that our Savior founded with His own blood. If you want comfort and confirmation, then don't read this book. But if you want to be confronted and stirred up, then you can't afford you pass up Barefoot Tribe. Let's get back to heart of the gospel. Let's take pieces of heaven to places of hell on earth. Let's join the tribe!”

– Preston M. Sprinkle, author of Fight, Charis, and Erasing Hell; director of Eternity Bible College's Boise extension site

"Palmer helped me to imagine a world where the reality of the kingdom is evident in the followers of the king. He gives examples of where he sees followers of Jesus taking up the call to live selflessly, and he gives countless practical areas for me to do so as well. He does all of this in a way that disarms me of my cynicism and hesitancy to believe in the organized institutions that looked the other way on issues of compassion and justice. This book has helped me to dream again of a day when the righteous rise up from indifference, of a movement that is truly known by love—and after reading it I feel compelled, not by guilt, but by inspiration, to get involved."

– David Zach, Remedy Drive

“I've had the pleasure of calling Palmer a friend for years and can say that he truly lives these words. His passion is authentic and contagious. This manifesto was a game changer for my wife and me. It was as if the things God was impressing on our hearts was put into words. It's a message that we needed to hear and a message that I believe all of us in the church need to hear. I've never been more excited to be a part of the Tribe!”

– Josh Havens, lead singer of The Afters

“If you care about the world we live in, desire to positively impact this world, and have a faith that guides you, Barefoot Tribe is a must read.”

– Jay Feely, NFL Kicker, 2014 NFL Man of the Year Nominee

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