Our story
In 2005, Shari Thomas and I began Parakaleo, a nonprofit ministry for spouses of church planters (www.parakaleo.us). Born from Shari's research across North America, one key variable for thriving soon proved true across continents and cultures: women who could live out of their identity in Christ — freely embracing the implications of the robust gospel of grace — had footing and freedom no matter what they faced. The disconnect was only the space between knowing and living.
We gathered, created, and taught theological, visual, memorable tools in a reproducible, interactive, multi-voice manner. This practical theology approach continues to resonate with and spread to hearts around the world — in English, Mandarin, Japanese, Spanish, and German. As Parakaleo serves women in church planting, Unpolished Press provides similar gospel-rich resources for all women, everywhere.
It is my joy to help you become fluent and agile in pressing the gospel into your own heart and passing it along to the hearts of others.
Our “press”
Yes, printed materials are found here. But UNPOLISHED PRESS is more about pressing the gospel down and into our leaky, forgetful hearts and minds.
Our “pass along”
Except for the attributed works cited in our content, the resources you’ll find at unpolished are meant to be covered—said, sung, & scribbled in your own voice for your own context.
Our “partner”
My day job is with my husband, Steve, at Alongside U (alongsideu.org) a non-profit where I mentor and train women who walk alongside others. Want personal mentoring or on-site training for yourself or a group of women leaders? Come find me there.
I’d love to help you “pass along” gospel rich resources to the hearts of others.
And hey —while you are here on Unpolished, join The Choir and swing by The Studio. That's where we connect over all things unpolished.
Simple ideas, profound impact.
What would change in my everyday life if I knew a truth well enough to speak it to my own heart, sing it aloud, or even scribble its implications on a - NAPKIN?
We cannot make the gospel of grace more useful, but we can begin to more use-fully live from it!
SAMPLE NAPKIN TEST
In the cross, we see the face of God shining on us — the very blessing prayed over His people for 3,300 years.
NUMBERS 6: 24-26
24 The Lord bless you and keep you;
25 the Lord make his face to shine upon you and be gracious to you;
26 the Lord lift up his countenance upon you and give you peace.
Oh Tami, BEHOLD THE CROSS & SEE:
God’s face
God’s smile
God’s blessing & keeping
God’s grace & peace
… Oh friends, what look on God’s face would awash us with such grace and peace? Ahhh…
What we love…
Unpolished is only a style. Our substance and values are…
…beholding Jesus & giving away joy
Such as I Have…
"Silver and gold have I none; but such as I have give I thee…"
Peter spoke those words to a lame man in the temple courts, not long after Jesus ascended to His throne. Peter had no money to offer—but he had Jesus, and Jesus's healing power. And offer it he did. The man rose, and went "walking and leaping and praising God!"
Unpolished press is an offering of unpretentious, gospel-rich resources to help our lame and leaky hearts go a-walking and a-leaping and praising God.
May "Such As I Have" become "Such As You Have"—receive, adapt, and pass along.