Tuesday, September 16, 2008

4th District WMS Required Reading 2008-2009

Read, Research, Reflect, Respond!

The following reading list is suggested by Rev. C to guide us on our missionary journey this year. Rev. C says, "The nine books on this list help us to begin to inform ourselves as we pray to become effective Missionaries of the Gospel of Jesus Christ."

She suggests creating Reading Clusters/Circles of 5 people with whom you can dialogue and gain fresh perspective and discussing specific writings at each local, area, conference, and district meeting.

- A Matrix of Meanings: Finding God in Pop Culture by Craig Detweiler and Barry Taylor
- Servant Leadership by Robert K. Greenleaf, Larry Spears & Stephen R. Covey
- Ten Poems to Change Your Life Again and Again by Roger Housden
- The Open Secret: An Introduction to the Theology of Mission by Lesslie Newbigin
- Come Away My Beloved, Devotional Classic by Frances J. Roberts
- Authority in Prayer: Praying with Power and Purpose by Dutch Sheets
- Worldchanging: A User's Guide for the 21st Century - Alex Steffen, editor
- What Matters Most: Ten Lessons in Living Passionately from the Song of Solomon by Renita J. Weems
- Living Water by Brother Yun

Dr. C further advises, "Make Missions meaningful through enlightenment. Enjoy the journey. Let the Holy Spirit guide you. You will know where you should begin. Some may be read together; others a chapter at a time; and then others you will have to read and come back to. Don't have time? Turn off the television, your cell phone or unnecessary chatter. Fifteen minutes here and there will lead to hours of inspiration. 'Trust the process.'"

1 comment:

Orletta E Caldwell said...

You shall not afflict any widow or fatherless child. If you afflict them in any way, and they cry at all to Me, I will surely hear their cry. --Exodus 22:22-23

Everytime I read that scripture I think of the many single parents and children in the United States that have been abandoned of their spouse & parent. They are often left to their own defenses while the non-custodial parent lives a leisure life unencumbered with the daily "dramas" of life. Divorce, like death is painful the ramifications are quite often worse because the "deceased" is very much alive. Please pray for the custodial parents and children left behind.