AVAILABLE NOW IN PAPERBACK AND EBOOK
About Mend
Are you searching for a meaningful way to respond to the challenges of colonization? Mend: An Invitation from Jesus to Return to Land-Based Repair offers a hands-on pathway for Christians in Canada and beyond to pursue a path of repairing right relations. Centred around the story of Zacchaeus from the Gospel of Luke (Luke 19:1–27), this book serves as a guide, recovering repair as central to discipleship and the restoration of communities to health. Let Mend invite you into a journey of hope, transformation and even joy—discover practical steps to embrace repair and experience the life-changing impact of following Jesus to repair the damage of the colonial project.
Kindle version is now available Amazon.ca
Available in paperback on Amazon.ca
Local orders available for pickup in Vancouver, Saskatoon and the Waterloo region.
For orders of 10+ copies, contact publishing@newleafnetwork.ca for discount details.
Listen to Jodi on Coastal Theology: Mend, Not Fix: Indigenous Invitations to the Church with Jodi Spargur
About the Author
Jodi Spargur
Jodi is a Settler of Nordic/German heritage who lives as a guest on unceded Coast Salish territory on the west coast of Canada. She leads Red Clover Initiatives, which works to heal and restore relationships between Indigenous and non-Indigenous neighbours across Canada. This book grew out of Jodi’s PhD studies with NAIITS, an Indigenous Learning Community exploring Indigenous theology and Christian ethics. In addition to this work, Jodi finds renewal outdoors—fishing, camping, and spending time on the land connecting with the places and people who inspire her work for right-relationship.
COVER ART by RANDALL BEAR BARNETSON
ARTIST STATEMENT
“As the child of colonial settlers and European refugees, I was born into the tension of shame and gratitude for our history. I can relate to the nervous curiosity Jodi Spargur identifies with the Zaccheus story. But I've also been welcomed out of the tree into the world of reconciliation. My Indigenous mentors tell me I need training to become a helpful partner, and that burden can't be all on them. This book will be a critical facet of that training.”
– Bradley Jersak, Principle, St. Stephen’s University
“The whole unfolding of Zacchaeus’ transformation from self-protecting hoarder to generous restorer is such a profound way to couch the challenge/invitation of land back. And it feels promising and affirming a compelling approach versus guilt-laden and crippling one, which does the opposite, as you point out. Thank you!”
– Rena, a Metis grandmother and the Director of the Centre for Reconciliation Studies at St. Stephen's University
“Gather your communities to take next steps on this good path together, this is collective work.”
“Wonderful storytelling that stokes the imagination. Great analogies to help us understand present-day realities. Gather your communities to take next steps on this good path together, this is collective work. Read together and act together. I pray blessing on this holy project. It is good. Jesus, call us like you called Zac, or give us ears to hear that call! Zac, pray for us.”
– Steve Heinrichs, editor of Unsettling the Word
In 2009, when Canada’s Truth & Reconciliation Commission began, many of us were excited. A new story of the relationship between Indigenous peoples and settlers of all generations seemed possible, even imminent. Fast forward 15 years, for many, the excitement has turned to weariness, and often to cynicism. Many feel stuck. Some have given up. As good as the widespread adoption of, say, land acknowledgments has been, or the renunciation of bad ideas such as the Doctrine of Discovery, something is still missing. That something is that Canada’s settlers have largely failed to do justly, especially around the nettlesome issue of land claims. Jodi Spargur’s Mend is the deep wisdom we need now to get us unstuck. Her proposal is wise, attainable, fair for all, and, quite simply, beautiful. I pray this book has wide influence. I pray it restarts a stalled conversation. Above all, I pray it makes us freshly excited that a new story lies just over there, if we keep faith, and if we keep going.
- Cheryl Buchanan, Founder and Director of New Story Community
Mark Buchanan, author of Your Church is Too Safe
For those of us who have been schooled in the story of colonial readings of both our history and the biblical story, Jodi Spargur’s Mend opens up our imagination so that we not only see how Zacchaeus radically engaged in reparations in his community, but we also see visions of what that reparation and repair can look like in our own churches, in our own communities, in our own lives. Deeply informative, and culturally sensitive to the dynamics of both settler and Indigenous communities, this book provides much-needed guidance on where to begin with reparation and repair.
- Sylvia C. Keesmaat, co-author of Romans Disarmed and Colossians Remixed
Join Jodi Spargur around Canada to learn more about Mend.
Upcoming events:
Stay tuned for details on upcoming events in Fall 2026
Launching the book in Vancouver, September 13, 2025.
The New Leaf Press team is planning to host local gatherings that will take a deep dive into the fascinating work of Mend. Interested in participating or hosting? Sign up to stay in the know! Keep an eye on the list on the left for upcoming events.