Brian Recker, author of “Hell Bent: How the Fear of Hell Holds Christians Back from a Spirituality of Love,” will speak at the University of Lynchburg’s Snidow Chapel at 7 p.m. on Monday, March 16.
The event, part of the annual Jennie Cutler Shumate Lecture, is presented in partnership with First Christian Church of Lynchburg. Admission is free and the public is welcome.
Recker is the son of a Baptist minister, a Bob Jones University alumnus, and a former Marine Officer. As described on his website, he also “spent eight years as an evangelical pastor before deconstructing his faith to find a more inclusive spirituality.”
Recker has about 30,000 followers on TikTok and more than 371,000 on Instagram. He podcasts at “beloved” on Substack, where he states, “Christian spirituality without the dogma. The whole point is love, or I don’t want it.”
“Hell Bent” was released by Tarcher, a Penguin Random House imprint, in September 2025. Copies will be available for purchase at the lecture.
“Besides being insanely jealous of his mustache and tattoos, what I’m most excited about is Brian’s personal story — one that moved from a very exclusionary and rigid faith to an expansive, inclusive, and wildly open spirituality,” said the Rev. Dr. Nathan Albert, Lynchburg’s assistant vice president for Belonging and Elisha K. Bennett University Chaplain.
“He’s not simply speaking about religion; he’s living it and changing with it. I think Brian’s teaching style … really resonates with young adults who are asking questions about religion, politics, and one’s personal growth.
“I’m excited for the ways he will challenge us and lead us through controversial topics to greater love for all beings.”
For more information about the Shumate Lecture, contact Albert at [email protected] or 434.544.8472.
