We asked four Cairn University faculty to recommend either a book they are currently reading or a book that they have read previously that they believe all Christians should read. Here are there responses:
Becky Cella, Director of Student Teaching and Field Placement
We Were the Lucky Ones: A Novel by Georgia Hunter
“Georgia Hunter was a young adult living in the United States before she realized the true extent of her family’s history: her grandfather, his siblings, and her great-grandparents were Jews who had lived in Rodam, Poland, and survived the Holocaust. This realization leads Georgia into a ten-year journey around the world to discover and preserve her family history. Meticulously researched, this documentary fiction gripped me from the first page and told the true story of each character’s journey to survival. Their story of resilience and fortitude has stayed with me for months since finishing the last page. With the rise of antisemitism in our current culture, it is more important than ever that we, as believers, preserve the history and suffering of our Jewish brothers and sisters and share the message with the next generation.”
Dr. Jared Bryant, Associate Dean, School of Divinity
Five Theological Orations by Gregory of Nazianzus
“Besides the Bible, most Christians don’t read old books. I mean old books. One of my favorites is Gregory of Nazianzus’s Five Theological Orations. These five sermons were written and delivered in the summer of the year 380, the year before the second ecumenical church council, which was held in Constantinople. Gregory wrote these orations as a defense of the doctrine of the Trinity against the challenges of various forms of Arianism (a false teaching which held that Christ was created by the Father). Gregory’s conclusions formed the backbone of the Christian position of the Trinity, which was solidified at the Council of Constantinople in 381. If you want a firsthand look at how one of the most significant theologians of the church understood the Christian doctrine of the Trinity, this short book is for you.”
Dr. Bryan Maier, Associate Professor of Counseling
Finding God by Larry Crabb
“Finding God by Larry Crabb is an older book, but it is still relevant today. The theme of the book is that we often substitute a search for a way out of pain rather than searching to find God. In our hearts, we fundamentally doubt God’s goodness, and once we do that there is a cascade of bad side effects. However, Crabb also identifies how we can begin to reverse this process. I was a student of Larry Crabb when he published this book, and it has been a blessing to me all these years.”
Kenneth Borrmann, Dean, School of Music
We’ve a Story To Tell: Life and Times at Camp-of-the-Woods by Don Purdy (GLPIII)
“This book was recently published by the grandson of Gordon L. Purdy, the director of Camp-of-the-Woods (COTW) when I served there on the music staff in my late teens. I thoroughly enjoyed my three summers on staff and subsequent vacations, and I was very interested to read the history of COTW and to relive the experience through the eyes of another. The book progresses through the calendar year, beginning with the fall and ending with the wonderful nine-week summer season. If you have ever vacationed there or served on staff, this book will be a trip down memory lane featuring elements that have made COTW so enjoyable. If you have never been there, this book is a great introduction to one of best Christian vacation destinations in the country. From the Sunday morning flag ceremony, during the singing of “We’ve a Story to Tell to the Nations,” to the weekend concerts and everything in between, my interest was held as story after story was conveyed. Some are heartbreaking, many are humorous, but together they give the reader an overview of a ministry blessed by God.”
