The Listening Road

Do you wish you knew how to talk to people about life’s deepest and most sensitive topics In The Listening Road, you’ll ride along on one man's remarkable 33-day journey cycling 3,000 miles across the United States on a mission to engage with people from all walks of life in real conversations about things that matter most.

As a pastor, Neil Tomba noticed a disturbing trend among people in church: they were finding it increasingly difficult to talk about God to those outside of the church. Neil wanted to practice what he preached, so he set out to bike across the United States, talking—and, more importantly, listening—to strangers from all walks of life about faith, their stories, and matters of the heart.

The Listening Road takes you on Neil’s remarkable journey across the country and straight into its soul—from Route 66 motels to state parks, a lake house, and a railway car; from conversations with Amish farmers to chats with truckers, cowboys, mechanics, and a descendant of Daniel Boone. From one city, farm, and highway to the next, we discover

• practical, actionable ways to change our posture toward others to foster conversation,
• why curiosity, kindness, and respect open up communication about God, and
• how even in a culture of division and antagonism, real connection is possible.

In our polarizing time, Neil models with compassion and curiosity that genuine connection happens only if we are willing to listen in love.

Neil Tomba is a graduate of Dallas Theological Seminary and the senior pastor of Northwest Bible Church in Dallas, Texas, a position he’s held since 2001. This is his first book.

The true story of one man's remarkable journey biking across the United States, engaging with people from all walks of life in conversations about faith, disillusionment, purpose, and Jesus--and his hope-filled discovery that even in the most divisive climate, connection is possible. As a pastor in Dallas, Texas, Neil Tomba noticed a disturbing trend among people in his church--they were finding it increasingly difficult to speak about God to those outside of the church. In 2019 he decided to set an example for his congregation and set out to bike across the United States, speaking--and, more importantly, listening--to strangers from all walks of life about faith, their experiences, and matters of the soul. Along the way, he discovered people were eager to share, largely because they were unaccustomed to anyone wanting to listen. He began to wonder, What if, instead of rushing to judgment, or to provide answers to people's questions, we could approach everyone--family, friends, coworkers, strangers--in a way that was based on our relationship with God? Loved. Invited. Accepted. Welcomed. The Listening Road is a timely journey of what it looks like to meet people precisely where they are, to find meaning and substance by listening to their stories without judgement, and to lead conversation out of curiosity and love. Real conversation and connection is possible, even in this tense and fraught time, when we create spaces of grace and enter in with the intent to listen.

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