SojoMail - The NBA chaplain whose statement went viral

View this email in your browser By Betsy Shirley Editor in Chief, Sojourners This week I saw a contemporary painting of Jesus that made me stop scrolling. Painted by Matt Moberg, the multi-talented chaplain to the NBA’s Minnesota Timberwolves, the large canvas features Jesus, a young Black man composed of bold, contrasting brushstrokes. He looks genuinely happy. It’s titled “Jesus Laughed.” You can see the painting in a story reported by Mitchell Atencio, who interviewed Moberg after his statement rebuking churches for “posting  prayers for peace and unity today while my city bleeds in the street” went viral last weekend. The story behind that statement is complicated, but I was inspired by Moberg’s consistent Christian witness, whether in his art, through street protests, or with NBA players.   “Intriguing art feeds off of real life,” writes Josiah R. Daniels in his review of 28 Years Later: The Bone Temple. True. It explains why religious art so often depicts Jesus in the agony of death: We want to see a savior who knows suffering, a savior who weeps alongside us in anguish over the forces of death that loop frame-by-frame on our newsfeeds. Art feeds on real life; real life cries out for us to find tangible ways to help. But as much as I need a savior who’s with me in grief, I’m grateful Moberg depicts a savior who also models the fiercest form of resistance: joy. The Chaplain Helping the Timberwolves Stand in Solidarity in Minnesota (by Mitchell Atencio) “God has gifted you with extraordinary abilities, and that’s not a small feat,” Matt Moberg tells NBA players, “but that didn’t remove you from your brother next door or your sister down the road.” Read the full article Advertisement Our Latest Stories To Stop ICE Killings, More Christians Need To Tell the Truth (by Adam Russell Taylor) We follow in the tradition of biblical prophets who interrupted injustice by naming the spiritual lies it feeds upon. Read more How You Can Support Minnesota, According to Local Faith Leaders (by Mitchell Atencio) You do not have to be in Minneapolis to stand in solidarity with those resisting ICE. Read more The Death Cult in ‘The Bone Temple’ Is Scary. Our Real One Is Worse (by Josiah R. Daniels) It’s not the Satanists pushing to end empathy. Read more From the Magazine: Feeling Powerless? Visit a Black-Owned Bookstore (by Courtney Bledsoe) When you do, please keep your shoes on. Read more Advertisements Spirituality and Activism Justice work demands more than urgency—it requires sustainable practices that fuel long-term resistance. Light for the Way shows how contemplation, sabbath rest, and community care aren't distractions from activism but essential tools for it. Tell Corporations: Stop Collaborating with ICE Every deportation flight, corporate contract, and service agreement that keeps Immigration and Customs Enforcement running sends the same message: corporate America is choosing profit over human lives. Donate Subscribe Copyright © 2026 Sojourners. All rights reserved. Email: sojourners@sojo.net | Tel.: 202.328.8842