Book Recommendations

In my own reading, I have discovered two books that offer valuable insight into one of the most pressing issues faced by Shannon Forest Christian School--how to foster the spiritual growth of our students. I encourage each of you to read these books and reflect on the challenges we face as Christian educators, parents and influencers.

 You Lost Me: Why Young Christians Are Leaving Church...and Rethinking Faith by David Kinnaman

From the Inside Flap

More than half of all Christian teens and “twenty-somethings” leave active involvement in church. 

David Kinnaman trains his researcher's eye on these young believers and reveals the factors, which contribute to the dropout problem. You Lost Me shows why Christians ages 18 to 29 are leaving the church and rethinking their commitment to the Faith. Based on new research conducted by the Barna Group, You Lost Me exposes ways the Christian community has failed to equip young adults to live "in but not of" the world--to follow Christ in the midst of profound cultural change. This wide-ranging study debunks persistent myths about young dropouts and examines the likely consequences for young adults and for the church if we maintain the status quo. 

The faith journeys of the next generation are a challenge to the established church, but they can also be a source of hope for the community of faith. Kinnaman, with the help of contributors from across the Christian spectrum, offers ideas for pastors, youth leaders, parents, and educators to pass on a vibrant, lasting faith, and ideas for young adults to find themselves in wholehearted pursuit of Christ.

 The Next Christians: Seven Ways You Can Live the Gospel and Restore the World by Gabe Lyons

From the Inside Flap

Gabe Lyons is optimistic that Christianity’s best days are yet to come.  His best-selling book, UnChristian, revealed the pervasiveness of our culture’s growing disregard for Christians.  Now, in The Next Christians, Lyons shows how a new wave of believers is turning the tide by bringing the truth of the Gospel to bear on our changing, secular society.

“Restorers,” as Lyons calls them, approach culture with a different mentality than generations past.  Informed by truth, yet seasoned with grace and love, these believers engage the world by drawing it to the sensibility and authenticity of the Christian life.

You too can be one of these "next” Christians and change the negative perception of Christianity by living a life that is faithful to the Gospel, yet credible and coherent to your friends and neighbors.  Open this book to learn how.

  

Shannon Forest Students as Communicators

At Shannon Forest, we expect students to graduate with the ability to not only survive college classes, ruthless professors, unforgiving red pens and life post-graduation, but to excel and to lead in both word and action. Shannon Forest alumni will be equipped to clearly express their thoughts and ideas, research and findings, and beliefs and emotions in such a way that sets them apart from their colleagues. It is expected that students graduate with strong writing skills and confident presentation skills, allowing them to articulate both formally and informally, orally and visually, and regarding qualitative and quantitative information. Communication is one of the key elements in the success of a student, employee and leader—the ability to adequately express oneself will without a doubt impact every area of a person’s life.

In order to address the challenges of establishing effective communication, I am reminded of the book of Genesis and the story of the Tower of Babel. This particular story demonstrates the importance of communication and the negative effects of an inefficient means to communicate with one another. The word “babel,” literally means confused noise. This term paints the perfect picture of the result of a group of people attempting to complete a task without strong communication skills. In its absence there is misunderstanding, isolation, disunity and fragmentation. It is impossible for a person to lead and even harder for someone to follow if there is a lack of communication. However, in its presence there is mutual understanding, harmony, collaboration, achievement and unity.

In the world today, there are more mediums to communicate than ever before. Technology is steadily providing countless numbers of outlets for people to express themselves and their “deepest” thoughts and emotions. Social Networking is at an all-time high. We live an age where three-year-olds can operate iPads and thirteen-year-olds run their own publishing companies via their blogs. Almost any one can showcase his artwork on a tumblr, express his likes and dislikes on pinterest, share his life on facebook and outline a running play-by-play on twitter. The result of all this, is a sea of confused noise, changing every moment. Expectedly, it is harder to be heard in the midst of the chaos.

The leadership team at Shannon Forest recognizes the necessity for students to be able to be heard in the “babel.” Therefore, it is crucial that each of the four qualities emphasized in our school (problem-solving, communication, influencers and Godly character) build on one another, so that our students are equipped to solve difficult problems, clearly communicate the solution to others, lead effectively and impact others for Christ. 

graphic credit: todd_fooshee on flickr