Marner Saw, one of the Karen leaders present at the Backpack weekend where we handed out about 180 backpacks, also is a journalist for a Karen website that is read by internet-linked Karen throughout the world. He wrote an article about Five Oaks helping the Karen and the backpack drive. Check it out here.
Okay, no library for now, but you can borrow one of three copies we now have of The Hole in Our Gospel. It should be available this week at the Guest Services table at Woodbury and Hudson. Check it out, read it and return it. First come, first serve, no fines.
Here's what I wrote previously about the book and why I want people to read it.
Just finished The Hole in Our Gospel today, by Richard Stearns, President of World Vision. The subtitle is "What Does God Expect of Us? The Answer that Changed my Life and Might Just Change the World." How's that for mouthful.
The Willow Creek Association sent a copy to all WCA churches and Willow Creek handed out 10,000 copies one weekend after their church services. So it comes quite well recommended...and it did not disappoint. If I could recommend only one book to someone to help them get a biblical perspective on compassion ministry in the context of local and global missions (what the P.E.A.C.E. Plan is about), this would be the book.
It's a very personal story, Richard Stearns story (remarkable, inspiring and one that most of us can identify with), but it's also like a comprensive textbook. Maybe too textbookish at times, but worth it if you want to learn and go deeper than normal. Reading this book was like taking all I've learned on this topic my whole adult life (a subject I've devoted tons of time and interest) and pouring it into one book that's filled with great stories. It should be required reading for everyone in our P.E.A.C.E. ministry leadership and in our church leadership. I really can't recommend it enough.
Lois and I both listened it. We were deeply moved and challenged. Some good conversations grew out of it, as well as some soul searching in both of us. I'd recommend listening if you struggle getting through long books. I downloaded it from Audible. Some of the stories he tells will undoubtedly be working their way into my messages over the coming weeks. Please read this book.