This year we are sharing the Illustrated Ministry Advent & Christmas series: The Will to Dream! When the authors created this series they referred a number of great books! Check out the book list below:
- The Prophetic Imagination, by Walter Brueggemann – A foundational text that offers the critical-energizing prophetic lens we structured our entire; essential for understanding the roots of prophetic resistance and imaginative hope.
- Prophetic Lament, by Soong-Chan Rah – This book centers lament as an act of justice and resistance, aligning with our emphasis on grief as sacred truth-telling and community formation.
- The Dictionary of Obscure Sorrows, by John Koenig – A poetic exploration of unnamed feelings that helped us shape emotional depth and resonance in the way we tell sacred stories and hold space for mystery.
- Something Speaks to Me, by Michel Chaouli – Helped frame the theological act of noticing, wondering, and interpreting meaning—a practice we encourage through sacred storytelling and reflection.
- How to Tell a Story, The Moth – Provided insight into the structure and emotional arc of stories, informing how we crafted narrative and invited communal storytelling in worship and formation.
- The Science of Storytelling, by Will Storr – Grounded our approach in the neuroscience and psychology of storytelling, affirming why narrative is core to transforming hearts, minds, and communities.
- Shadow Network, by Anne Nelson – Illuminated the systemic forces behind cultural narratives and religious-political alliances, equipping us to better name and disrupt empire in our work.
- On Tyranny, by Timothy Snyder – Offered concise, urgent guidance on resisting authoritarianism, helping us highlight spiritual resistance in both ancient texts and present-day practices.
- The Care Manifesto, The Care Collective – Deepened our vision of interconnectedness and collective care as theological, economic, and political resistance— core to our concept of kin(g)dom.
- Mutual Aid, by Dean Spade – Grounded our advocacy and communal care tools in grassroots justice practices, showing how faith communities can act in solidarity, not charity.
- IntraConnected: MWe (Me + We), by Daniel Siegel – Helped frame belonging as both personal and communal integration—mirroring our invitation into kin(g)dom as both inner healing and outward action.
- I Never Thought of It That Way, by Mónica Guzmán – Supported our commitment to bridge-building and curiosity across difference, especially in divided communities like those our leaders often serve.
- Together, by Vivek H. Murthy – Underscored the public health and spiritual crisis of loneliness and the need for belonging and connection in faith-based spaces of formation.
- The Next Conversation, by Jefferson Fisher – Helped us envision tools for navigating difficult conversations with clarity and compassion, which supports leaders guiding communities through change.