Transforming Neighborhoods Through Literacy Mentoring
A Feature Review of
Read: How God’s People Can Bring Justice Through Literacy
Tony Kriz and Jeff Martin
Hardcover: Aloha Publishing, 2024
Buy Now: [ Amazon ]
Reviewed by Rachel Lonas
The first time I taught language arts in a small high school classroom was 20 years ago. I had my process all ready to show the 10th graders how to outline, gather information, write, revise, and edit a research paper over the course of several weeks. What I discovered was a huge reality check: at least a quarter of the students needed critical literacy intervention long before they came to my class. On the one hand, these students were wickedly funny, knew how to advocate for themselves, and often helped me not take myself so seriously. On the other hand, many of them were facing a slew of systemic barriers in their home and community lives, could not read or use grammar well, and had little or no access to a computer. In essence, this literacy project, near the end of their school careers, made a lot of assumptions about what skills they had previously attained and its basic requirements now outstripped their abilities and resources. I alone had no way to bring them up to speed with the limited time I had each day.
Tony Kriz and Jeff Martin, the authors of READ: How God’s People Can Bring Justice Through Literature, know what my students needed at an early age: a school mentor to come alongside them as they navigated life’s challenges and worked on emergent reading skills. They note that students in 1st through 3rd grade are learning to read and from 4th on children are reading to learn (37). This means they will not receive more direct classroom reading instruction in school past about age 8 (this is especially true in areas that are under-resourced) and in our present world, you cannot survive if you cannot read. The authors see this mission as the biggest way to “disrupt generational poverty” for their communities (29), explaining that “justice always requires disruption…disrupting poverty is not about deifying wealth, it is about equity, opportunity, and esteem” (31). They believe this is the work that God’s people are to be about as outlined in many places in the Scriptures.
Kriz and Martin point out that reading mentors are often sitting in the pews week in and week out, if only the church (whether leaders or lay people) would catch a vision for partnering for literacy intervention. I could not agree more. This book spoke to my heart as a literacy advocate through my local library and my own tutoring program. But also as a Christian who desires for the church community engagement (particularly to the most vulnerable) as an essential part of worship.
READ is structured in a way that anyone, pastoral leadership, teachers, church members could pick it up and be inspired to start small in their church or partner with existing organizations or schools in their communities. The book is broken down into three sections based on who is going to be transformed through the ministry: the children, God’s people, and your church. Each of the chapters within the sections are short, often with big pull quotes and then a unique twist at the end — a QR code for you to watch a short video that helps reinforce what you just read. I enjoyed watching the testimonials from academics, literacy program directors, and ordinary people who are living out the biblical and educational principles set forth in the book. The addition of the videos give a very tangible feel to the mission that sometimes reading about it alone can make it easy to ignore or shelve for a later date. It provides a compassionate, appropriate sense of urgency; simply put, literacy is not an issue that can wait for the next generation to step up and fill in gaps.
The good news is that, the authors describe a literacy ministry as a gateway activity into a lifestyle of justice and compassion. Proximity and an ongoing meaningful relationship with someone who is different is one of the ways that congregants have the opportunity to see past their own biases and assumptions. Mentoring doesn’t require money, a new skill set, or hosting in your home. It just requires an hour a week with a student. Could it turn into more? Of course. But the entry level is possible for many in your church to create a sustainable program or partnership.
Part of what makes this book easy to recommend is that Kriz and Martin understand a fundamental ministry principle: everyone who participates is a recipient. In other words, you don’t just do to or for someone else, but you do with them thereby creating mutual transformation for ALL parties. Marquise, a reading mentor they met in Detroit said it best:
“I know there are a lot of churches that will want to come back and help and give. That is
definitely a good thing. But I think the church people will really be surprised when they
get out here in what I call the trenches. Not only are they going to be helping fix the
problem, but they’re going to get fixed. They’re going to get helped. Because sometimes
in a church there’s a sense of, oh, we got it right and they don’t, which Jesus is not
happy with that. You know what I’m saying?” (179)
One story the authors shared about an older man named Robert was particularly touching. A former high school basketball coach, Robert was resistant to working with young students and felt inadequate for a mentoring position despite his Bible study friend’s constant nudging. He finally agreed and his reading buddy, Christopher, was with him for 3 years until he had to move schools. Robert said: “And so we sat in front of the school there and we just cried as we did. And so he showed me that those three years were worth it, totally” (130). Those were the beautiful tears of mutual transformation—the Gospel at work in the lives of His people.
There is much here that churches can act on right away, but sometimes I wanted a little bit more explanation of the authors’ thesis. Even recognizing the authors meant for it to be a galvanizing text backed with research and anecdotes for people who are often short on time, sometimes the chapters are almost a little too short and inspirational. Because there is so much to consider on this important topic, I found myself wanting to follow a train of thought or statistics only to find more cheerleading. However, the ideas and research are solid and the resources laid out are invaluable. Mostly, I am thankful that these authors are compassionate Christians leading the charge on seeing how “The Word became flesh and moved into the neighborhood” as Eugene Peterson so wonderfully translated John 1:14 (189).
Rachel Lonas
Rachel Lonasis a writer and educator specializing in literature and composition. Several of her pieces can be found at Fathom Magazine. She lives in Chattanooga, Tennessee, with her husband,
Justin, and their four daughters. She enjoys all things creative—watercoloring, nature journaling, landscaping, and being inspired by botanical gardens.
 Reading for the Common Good From ERB Editor Christopher Smith "This book will inspire, motivate and challenge anyone who cares a whit about the written word, the world of ideas, the shape of our communities and the life of the church." -Karen Swallow Prior Enter your email below to sign up for our weekly newsletter & download your FREE copy of this ebook! |
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