We have evidence from 1209 about a man of twenty-seven who became famous. We refer to him today as Francis of Assisi. (Assisi was a modest if ambitious city in Umbria, central Italy.) The evidence of 1209 lies in a few words Francis and several companions wrote down. They worded clearly what they intended to do. Their several sentences developed in the following weeks and months, as they kept to their original resolve. The text reached a complete form in 1215. In the following years it too...

Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is something that affects kids and families all over the world. This book can kickstart the journey to a better understanding of autism and those who live with it. It dives into what it's like to live with autism while reminding us that at the core, we're not that different from one another.Core themes in this book:Belonging, Loneliness, Normal, PositivityMeet ...

The Anguish of Adolescence is a timely read for anyone looking to understand and support today’s teenagers, especially those grappling with anxiety, depression, and spiritual disconnect. As mental health issues surge, this highlights the importance of offering the gospel of peace to emerging generations yearning for hope.Teens face overwhelming pressures from social media and rapid cultural changes, often resulting in a growing disconnect from traditional family structures and relig...

Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is something that affects kids and families all over the world. This book can kickstart the journey to a better understanding of autism and those who live with it. It dives into what it's like to live with autism while reminding us that at the core, we're not that different from one another after all.

Privatization and the New Medical Pluralism is the first collection of its kind to explore the contemporary terrain of healthcare in Guatemala through reflective ethnography. This volume offers a nuanced portrait of the effects of healthcare privatization for indigenous Maya people, who have historically endured numerous disparities in health and healthcare access. The collection provides an updated understanding of medical pluralism, which concerns not only the tensions and exchanges betw...

A biography of the saint as both mystic and man: "The single best book about Francis now available in English" ( Commonweal).In this towering work, Andre Vauchez draws on the vast body of scholarship on Francis of Assisi, particularly the important research of recent decades, to create a complete and engaging portrait of the saint. He also explores how the memory of Francis was shaped by contemporaries who recollected him in their writings, and completes t...

You can be a great leader. Here's how.Your job title, education, and training won't make you a great leader—only God can do that. But The Making of a Leader can help you see where you are in the process and what steps you should take next. After examining the lives of hundreds of historical, biblical, and contemporary leaders, Dr. J. Robert Clinton gained perspective on how leaders develop over a lifetime. By studying the six distinct stages he identifies,...

Saint Augustine -- the celebrated theologian who served as Bishop of Hippo from 396 C.E. until his death in 430 C.E. -- is widely regarded as one of the most influential thinkers in the Western world. His autobiography, Confessions, remains among the most important religious writings in the Christian tradition. In this eye-opening and eminently readable biography, renowned historical scholar James J. O'Donnell picks up where Augustine himself left off to offer a fascinating, in-de...

Starting Right: Thinking Theologically About Youth Ministry is the first academic textbook that introduces youth ministry students (whether undergraduate or graduate level) to a marriage of solid research, real life, and accessible design. Whereas most college-level texts may reflect a thorough (though impenetrable) mastery of the field, they tend to expect readers to plow through unnecessarily thick prose and bland design because “it’s good for them.” Youth Specialties doesn’t agree. In t...

Everyone can be a leader—even you! Whether in big or small ways, what matters most is leading with kindness and generosity. This book explores what it means to trust yourself, rely on the support team around you, and highlights that a good leader can come from anywhere and be anyone.

Acclaimed biographer Donald Spoto strips away the legends from the life of Francis of Assisi to reveal the true story of a man who has too often been obscured by pious iconography. Drawing on unprecedented access to unexplored archives, plus Francis's own letters, Spoto places Francis within the context of the multifaceted ecclesiastical, political, and social forces of medieval Italy, casting new light on Francis and showing how his emphasis on charity as the heart of the Gospel's message...

Building on the success of his 1992 collection Foundations of Ministry (over 17,000 sold), Michael Anthony offers Introducing Christian Education to fill the need in the C.E. curriculum for an introductory foundations textbook--one that provides an overview and understanding of the broad range of subjects included in C.E.--for college and seminary use.Thirty-one chapters are offered under the following sections: 1) Foundations of C.E.; 2) Developmental Perspective...