Faith and Fiction is a reading group that normally meets on the second Wednesday of the month at 5:30 p.m. at the Green-Meldrim House. Here is the Book list for Season Two Faith + Fiction September 13, 2023 - Murder at the Vicarage (Agatha Christie) October 11, 2023 - Whose Body? (Dorothy Sayers) November 8, 2023 - selections from The Innocence of Father Brown (G. K. Chesterton) December 13, 2023 - The Scarlet Letter (Nathaniel Hawthorne) January 10, 2024 - The Secret Garden (Frances H. Burnett) February 7, 2024 (date to be confirmed) - Charis in the World of Wonders (Marly Youmans) March 13, 2024 - Frankenstein (Mary Shelley) April 10, 2024 - The Tempest (Shakespeare) May 8, 20204 - The Book of the Dun Cow (Walter Wangerin) June 12, 2024- The Towers of Trebizond (Rose Macaulay)

Brandon Wallace writes fantastic and enchanted stories about the true, the good, and the beautiful. Brandon talks about why he writes for young people and the collaborative role his family has played in his artistic process. Brandon writes under the pseudonym "Truest Dunkworth" and his work is available at https://www.truestdunkworthbooks.com/ To hear (and see) the story that Brandon has written for Ukrainian refugees children please visit: https://lilaandthedragon.com/en/index.html

Rick Monroe has been a leader in youth ministry for over 50 years!

Christine Hall talks about her work, art, and mission as a portraiture photographer. https://www.christinehallphotography.com/

Cathy Clevenger is a Christian counselor and licensed clinical social worker who is answering a call to missionary service in Uganda. She uses her experience in mental health and trauma to treat and train others about the healing process that is built on a Christian foundation. The love of Christ compels us to preach the gospel, heal the sick, and care for widows and children, all while continually being Christ’s ambassadors.  This is Cathy’s call.  Cathy sat down with me here in Savannah to discuss her missionary life and work just a few days prior to her return to Uganda. If you are interested in supporting Cathy's community-based mission activities in Uganda click here. To learn more about Bishop George Kasangaki of Masindi-Kitara Diocese in Uganda where Cathy is serving click here.

Dr. Mark Johnson to Savannah in 2015 to serve as the CEO of the Gateway Community Service Board.  Prior to moving to Savannah he spent 17 years in St. Louis serving as a Medical Director for Behavioral Health and providing outpatient care in downtown St Louis.  A few years ago I had the opportunity to hear Mark share his testimony.  I was struck by how little Mark’s testimony was about Mark.  It was more annotated bibliography than autobiography—what Mark labeled at as a collection of bits and pieces of formative content that Mark wanted to share.  His offering bristled authors, artists, movies and scripture —especially scripture.   It’s not that Mark’s life story is not interesting. He has many stories worth telling.  It’s just that Mark chose to use his testimony opportunity to share about the works and words that have formed and discipled him.  He put out some breadcrumbs that — with God’s Providence and the work of the Holy Sprit—could direct other curious people to a life of growth and wisdom in Christ.  Mark’s unique form of testimony reminds of what R.D. Crouse wrote about concerning the communal aspect wisdom within the Church of Christ: “Do not suppose that wisdom is your private possession, your individual achievement; do not think that you are wise just by yourself alone.  We have wisdom only as a common possession.”  In this episode, Mark Johnson shares some of those bits and pieces with us.  Mark offers rich reflections on paintings by Henry Ossawa Tanner and Rembrandt and unpacks scripture passages that have had particular resonance in his approach to psychiatry and family therapy.  God has given Mark has a deeply informed and humble perspective on what it means to be a person, biologically, psychologically, socially and spiritually.  He is also a keen observer and a careful hearer the Word. It is a real gift to hear him share. 

Lisa McCaslin is the Area Director at Promise686 for Southeast Georgia. Promise 686's mission is to fulfill God's promise "to set the lonely in families."  Through her role with Promise 686, Lisa mobilizes local churches and christians to care for vulnerable children through the generous and loving support of families and foster care givers. https://promise686.org/ https://promise686.org/careportal/

Scoggins Berg is the U.S. Senior Regional Organizing Manager & Faith Lead at The ONE Campaign. Scoggins shares about how he got involved with the One Campaign and the global work that he does from his couch in Savannah, Georgia.

Lillis Weeks shares a testimony of service and cross cultural experiences as she makes her way from the DRC to the Ivory Coast, from Duke to Morocco and London, from Nairobi to Johannesburg, and on the her current mission as music teacher at the Habersham School. Lillis also discusses her appreciation of quilting as both a form of art and a means of community.

Perry Brannen, Jr. served Chatham County for over four decades as a Superior Court Judge.  For roughly three of those decades he was the Chief Judge. He has a testimony to share.  Perry’s story is one of steady service and cultural Christianity interrupted by divine intervention.  It is a story of a renewed and lively faith that shares in with his wife Marcia. It is a testimony well worth hearing.