Radical Solidarity: Jeremy Courtney

“We’re the first in, and the last to leave.”

Jeremy Courtney moved to Turkey with his family to be a missionary. In a prayerful moment, he realized that what he needed to be was a neighbor.

That insight led to the founding of the Preemptive Love Coalition, a nonprofit that works across the Middle East and United States to build bridges among communities in conflict.

In this wide ranging conversation, Courtney talks about his personal story, as well as the stories of his neighbors in Iraq and Syria, who continue to suffer and who need immediate and ongoing help.

For over a decade, Jeremy Courtney has served families who’ve been terrorized by war in Iraq and Syria. Jeremy and his wife Jessica founded Preemptive Love Coalition after moving to Iraq in the middle of the war. A sought-after speaker, Jeremy has appeared on CNN, BBC, NBC, and other news outlets. He’s the author of the book Preemptive Love and is currently working on his second book, Love Anyway. Jeremy lives in Iraq with his wife Jessica and their two children.