As I wrote recently, I get the marvelous privilege to head up my church’s college ministry Service Team. And because we’re brand-new, I want to get us all grounded in the biblical motivations and reasons for service. So I’m hoping to read a book with the students that discusses these very issues!
But the question is… what’s a good book for this?
When with hundreds of college ministers around the U.S., would I ever just “pick a book and see how it goes” without getting input? Hope not! (I hope you wouldn’t, either!)
So that’s what I’ve done (and continue to do, even in this very post). I asked everybody via Twitter and Facebook for suggestions yesterday, and I got some GREAT responses! Thanks, guys!
But, of course, I want to share the wealth.
So in case your ministry, individual students, or you yourself would like to dive into the world of service, here’s the list of suggestions so far. Remember, these are suggestions from others (not from me), so be sure to check ’em out before implementing them (but you would do that anyway, right?).
Finally, I would love for you to add your thoughts in the comments. This is obviously a big issue for college students – your suggestion may help us all work better in this area.
suggested so far…
- Irresistible Revolution by Shane Claiborne (several recommendations)
- Get Uncomfortable by Todd Phillips (a couple of recommendations; this is a Threads workbook study and does offer a free collegiate leader’s guide-sheet)
- Compassion, Justice, and the Christian Life by Robert Lupton
- A Dangerous Act of Worship by Mark Labberton
- The Hole in Our Gospel by Richard Stearns (World Vision CEO)
- Faith Works by Jim Wallis (there seem to be several versions of this?)
- Everyday Justice by Julie Clawson (releasing October 30th)
- Walking with the Poor by Bryant Myers (specifically the first chapter!)
- A couple of people pointed me to International Justice Mission; their resource page is offline but is supposed to back up this week sometime
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also, Interrupted, which is also a Threads study:
http://threadsmedia.com/interrupted/
Thanks, Tiffany!
Meanwhile, somebody else suggested this one: The Justice Project, edited by Brian McLaren, Elisa Padilla, and Ashley Bunting Seeber.