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The way we see it, learning enhances action, and quality learning requires the transformation of theory into practice. If you're ready to learn more in order to be a more effective Enthusiastic organizer and a more effective servant-leader-disciple of Jesus Christ, we suggest reading the following...

The Long Haul: An Autobiography by Myles Horton

Myles Horton founded the Highlander School in Tennessee, which was instrumental in both the Labor and Civil Rights movements. He writes about the dynamics of movements, about how they tick. He is a story teller- a good one. He also writes about the importance of experiencial learning when it comes to social justice issues. "Put people in circumstances where they have to make decisions."

He relates this great story about racial prejustices. On this farm, at the well, there is a white dipper and a black dipper for the white and black workers, respectively. When all the workers are away, he takes the white dipper and hides it away. When the white workers come up to the well, first they look around- not finding the white dipper- go back to work. After a couple more hours, they come back — check to make sure nobody's looking, then they quickly take a drink. After a couple of days, everyone is drinking out of the same dipper with no qualms. You see, the white folks had to make a decision. And they decided that their thirst was more important than their preconcieved notions about black people.

No Future without Forgiveness by Desmond Tutu

This book is about the Truth and Reconciliation Commission of South Africa. It tells the story of how South Africa picked itself up and drew together in the aftermath of Apartheid. A deeply moving book about the power of faith, reconciliation and Christian leadership.

Way to Live: Christian Practices for Teens (editted by Dorothy C. Bass and Don C. Richter)

This one's full of suggestions and stories about how to transform one's faith into action. During the writing of the book, a 15-year-old named Martha wrote in to the authors, "I want a way to live that keeps me involved in what God is doing in me and in the world around me. Do you know a way to live that is like that?" Each chapter is written by an adult/youth pair. For example, Mark Yaconelli and Alexx Campbell, 15, write a chapter to "find a practice, a way of dealing with stuff (material possessions), in order to make better our relationship with God and other people." One idea that comes up in this chapter is how a youth pastor challenged his youth to give up one material possession for every day of lent. This is a beautiful book full of faith-practices for Christians ready to express their faith in their everyday life.

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