2010 Book Selections

January/February: Girl Soldier: A Story of Hope for Northern Uganda’s Children, by Faith J. H. McDonnell and Grace Akallo. Two strong women of faith wrote this book. The first is Ugandan, Grace Akallo who tells the story of her abduction (and ultimate escape) as a child soldier caught up in the genocidal wars of Africa. The second is the American activist, Faith McDonnell, who provides the historical and political context for Grace’s experience. Throughout this book, Grace and Faith remind us that the hope of Africa is also our hope: the living Christ.

March/April: Heaven Is Not My Home: Living in the Now of God’s Creation, by Paul Marshall. Here’s how one Amazon reviewer described this book: “Using very clear language, vivid description, and intriguing personal stories, this book drives home the point that Christians are called to be at home in God's world, and about the King's business, rather than always attempting to escape this world. The impressive endorsements by notable figures such as evangelical theologian J.I.Packer ring true as one reads chapter after surprising and enjoyable chapter. This book will help the church discover a very old and orthodox truth: Christ frees us up to be fully human and radically engaged in realizing in the here and now his age-old purposes for his world.”

May June: Letters Across the Divide, Two Friends Explore Racism, Friendship and Faith, by David Anderson and Brent Zuercher. David Anderson is African American and Brent Zuercher is white. These brothers in Christ became friends through the singles group of the mostly white church in Chicago where David served as a pastoral intern. When David moved to Columbia Maryland to found Bridgeway Church, he and Brent continued their friendship and began a purposeful correspondence to explore issues of race. This book captures their conversation. Study questions and suggested readings on racial reconciliation are included.

July/August: A Short Life of Jonathan Edwards by George M. Marsden. This short biography (just 142 pages) by award-winning historian, George Marsden, is a marvelous, readable introduction to “the most brilliant theologian ever born on American soil.” If the only thing you remember about Edwards from your school days is the phrase, “sinners in the hands of an angry God,” then here is your opportunity to learn more about one of the most influential Americans in the history of Christianity.

September/October: The Seven Faith Tribes: Who They Are, What They Believe, and Why They Matter, by George Barna. Having just immersed ourselves in the 18th Century Great Awakening under the guidance of George Marsden, we now follow George Barna as he reports on what faith communities look like in 21st Century America. Barna’s hope is that as believers better understand the religious diversity in our country, they will better grasp how to work for cultural renewal.

November/December: Come Thou Long Expected Jesus: Experiencing the Peace and Promise of Christmas, by Nancy Guthrie, Ed. With this book in hand, the heart and soul of Christmas won’t be swallowed up in busyness this year. Guthrie has collected 22 reflections drawn from the works and sermons of theologians, both ancient and contemporary, for daily readings during Advent.

Archive Reading List