John Mark Comer is the pastor of Bridgetown Church in Portland, Oregon. He is the author of several books, including The Ruthless Elimination of Hurry, God Has a Name (2017), and Live No Lies, the latter a New York Times bestseller. Comer grew up in the San Francisco Bay area of California, holds a master’s degree in biblical and theological studies from Western Seminary, and is a doctoral student at Fuller Seminary. In addition to his writing and his pastoral ministry at Bridgetown Church, Comer also serves as the co-host of a podcast called This Cultural Moment, together with Mark Sayers, an author and pastor based in Melbourne, Australia.

Comer’s ministry and thought has been deeply influenced by several major figures in late-20th and early-21st century American evangelicalism, including John Ortberg and Dallas Willard, both of whom focus on the application of biblical Christianity to the practical realities of the spiritual life in contemporary society. Ortberg serves as an occasional mentor to Comer, and their discussions are recounted throughout the book. Willard’s influence comes from his writings, from the fact that Ortberg is a protégé of Willard’s, and from Comer’s own academic study at the Dallas Willard Center as part of his doctorate with Fuller Seminary.