Tuesday, January 3, 2012

2012--Thoughts about Releasing a Book...

This calendar year there are many, many things that need my attention in terms of improvement and development in my life...I've even had the chance to share some of my goals and hopes with my family driving home from our Christmas vacation trip to the great white north...

But tto be honest, this year has one particular desire/goal/passion for me...and that is to actually release the Zambia Project book I have been working on for the past couple years...

I've had a hidden desire to write a book for maybe the last decade or so...and it has been quite the struggle to see that dream realized over the last three years of writing about the experiences and relationships connected to our work and partnership in the African nation of Zambia...

To be honest, there were some moments when I wondered if the book would simply end up being lots of words and pages on a flash drive as I went through a move, new job, and different chapter of ministry from the time when I started this project till right now...but I just couldn't walk away despite life challenges and a lack of interest from some folks I thought would want to drive this project to completion with me....

Yet I am very motivated and really excited to try to get this book published and in print in the spring of 2012...and here are some reasons why:

1. I believe it is a story worth telling because it is the story of God's love for his people in Zambia and Chicago who both longed to know him more deeply and the full life he talks about in the scriptures...

2. I feel a deep responsibility and calling to be an advocate who raises up interest and response among this generation of young believers to be fully engaged in meeting the needs of the global poor and oppressed in today's world...

3. What God did at Wheaton Academy and is doing at CU is something I desperately believe is worth seeking to repeat in other creative and personal responses to relationships God invites communities to develop and experience across cultures and countries...

4. I am such a different person because of the joys and struggles I've had over the course of this project in Africa, and I love the opportunity to,share the first hand spiritual transformation so many friends and students have experienced...and am praying that this book will encourage and inspire others to see what God might have in store for them in the days ahead...

I've still got some work to do and several steps,to,take before I get to hand my former students and Zambian friends in person a copy of the book they made reality with their faith and their lives...but those moments are my dream for this new year...

1 comment:

Brad Rhoads said...

You might consider self-publishing with service like lulu.com.