Osheta Moore is the founder of Shalom in the City, a community for those who want to be peacemakers. She’s got a new podcast in the works, so find and follow her now—that you won’t miss a beat once that podcast goes live (all links are at the end of this post). I’m happy to feature Osheta here, today. If you’re interested in being featured here, be sure to participate in the link up on Friday’s Forward Book Club posts.
“The Yada Yada Prayer Group” by Neta Jackson, is my all-time favorite book. Y’all. I can’t say enough about this book and series. It’s delightful yet honest about the complexities of doing life with women who are very different from you. Every character is well-rounded and by the end of the book you want to go out and find your own prayer group of diverse women.I loved this series so much, that I used a profound moment of racial reconciliation from book two for a post I wrote for Rachel Held Evan in my response to the overwhelming support of Phil Roberston, after he made some misguided comments about slavery, blacks, and gays.
Neta Jackson, a committed reconciler with years of experience, crafted a book that’s both entertaining and practical. I felt like after reading the first book, I could explore building relationships with women in different socio-economic classes and ethnicities than me with confidence and grace.
Shalom is at the heart of racial reconciliation and I’m so thankful for a book club that “goes there” with race conversations.
I just bought my copy (I have it on audiobook too, but I wanted to have it in paperback to write my notes for my link up contribution in the margins) as I’m planning on linking up every week with the book club with my thoughts about each chapter. Will you join me?
I hope so.
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I, too, bought a copy to mark up. I had a library copy, but I knew the book would be a keeper and I’d want to make notes in the margin. “All-time favorite book”? That’s high praise, but I’m about 1/3-the-way in now and I can see how that could be true. I enjoyed reading your thoughts here today!
I was certain I had a copy of the book. I went to my “stacks” to retrieve it, only to find I had every one of the books in the series…except the first one! I’m sure I gave my copy away at some point. So, I ordered quickly from Amazon and I have the version with the updated cover. This is probably the fourth time reading through the book for me, but I still find myself mesmerized, and asking new questions! I’m glad you’re enjoying the book, Marilyn!
I can’t really relate to a specific character. Maybe I am a few rolled into one.
I’m not sure if this is where we are to post stuff, but I wish so much I could be in a prayer group with women from all sorts of different backgrounds and color. Unfortunately I really do live in the middle of nowhere as my husband works at a camp, and finding such a group would be amazing, but not very likely.
I am passionate about racial reconciliation and can’t wait to follow along and read all the books we decide on.
I couldn’t put the book down. read it in one day. I know, you are supposed to wait, but when part of your job is reading, and you find a terrific book, you just HAVE to keep reading!!!
This is absolutely the place to post stuff. 🙂
So glad you’re enjoying…um…enjoyed the book! Such an easy read, and so much good, too. I’m going to say a prayer that God will make it possible for you to be in a prayer group with more visible diversity. But, I’d also share with you something I read yesterday, by Parker J. Palmer:
“There is no such thing as a ‘homogenous white congregation.’ There are only groups of white people pretending that they have not critical differences among themselves for fear that their ‘community’ would crumble if they opened their real lives to one another…”
When I read that, I wrote in the margin, “I don’t know if I completely agree w/ this.” But, the more I mull it over, the more I think I do agree. And, I don’t think this is exclusive to white churches. I’m not completely done thinking this one through, but I’d love to hear your thoughts.
I have every Yada book and would love to read more!!! Great series.
Have you read the other series, Susan?
The “Where Do I Go?” series? Yes ma’am!!!
I have my copy, I am going strong, ten chapters in and loving it! I can relate to the diversity in such a real way. My upbringing was very diverse, and my adult experiences have been the same too. And in bible studies and book studies I have participated in, led, and taught it’s always been a “Motley Crew” of sorts. My experiences with racial reconciliation have been broadened greatly over the course of my life. I believe that it has also vastly lessened the natural propensity of judgement.
Wow! Sounds as if you’ve had some amazing experiences! Thank so much for joining the conversation!