Houston’s newest religion titles to finish your summer reading
Memoirs, fiction and historical accounts offer spiritual guidance
It’s not too late to get your summer reading on. Try these faith-based titles by Houston authors, which include inspiring memoirs, works of fiction and historical accounts. Each provides spiritual guidance and a message of hope.
‘Whatever It Takes: Walking Through God’s Purpose’ by Sheldon Theragood
Sheldon Theragood always wanted to be a star on the basketball court. His new book,
“Whatever It
Takes,” is about what happened when his dream career didn’t pan out.
“I knew God had a bigger purpose for me, and I did whatever it took to figure it out,”
Theragood explained. “Now I live my life in service to my community and the kids in my nonprofit.”
The native Houstonian is the founder of the nonprofit TheraGood Deeds, which provides mentoring, counseling and outreach opportunities aimed at making a positive impact on young lives. He also serves on the homeless-outreach team of the Houston Police Department.
“Today, there are so many opportunities to become successful,” he said. “I wanted to write this book because I discovered that God has a purpose for everyone. And just because things don’t move in the direction you want it to, don’t give up hope.”
‘A Thousand Questions’ by Saadia Faruqi
Saadia Faruqi was inspired by a visit to her homeland of Pakistan to write the young-adult novel “A Thousand Questions.” She noticed how her U.S.-born children connected to and stood out in the land of their ancestors.
“I decided to write a story about immigrant families and what home means to them,”
Faruqi said.
Her book follows two
11-year-old girls — first-generation American Mimi, who visits Pakistan to meet her grandparents, and Sakina, the daughter of the family’s cook.
“A friendship develops that transcends class, culture and language,” Faruqi said. “This story is important for all those who want to learn more about a rich and complicated world outside the borders of the U.S.”
Mimi and Sakina’s adventures take them from mosques to mausoleums.
“There are timely discussions about religion that every family has — and questions about faith that all children ask in their hearts,” Faruqi said.
‘I’m Black. I’m Christian. I’m Methodist.’ by Rudy Rasmus
“I’m Black. I’m Christian. I’m Methodist.” is a collection of essays, compiled and edited by Rudy Rasmus. Along with his wife, Juanita, he co-pastors downtown’s St. John’s United Methodist Church.
Rasmus grew up in a family suspicious of religion and religious people. “Subsequently, I became Methodist by accident,” Rasmus said. “In 1990, after attending (Windsor Village United Methodist) for five years as a solid skeptic, I took the leap and declared my intention on becoming a Christian.”
Now, decades later, the United Methodist Church is on the verge of splitting over LGBTQ inclusion. “But what does that mean to predominantly Black churches?” Rasmus asked. “This is a question that must be answered in light of the developing schism.”
More questions have arisen in current times, following the slayings of Ahmaud Arbery, George Floyd, Breonna Taylor and Nina Pop. The pastor asked himself, “Why am I Christian? What difference is Christianity making in a racially divided world filled with implicit bias? And why is the white church so quiet on the issue of racial equity and equality?”
His recent book provides a response, penned by 10 pastors who are both Black and United Methodist, from across the U.S.
“The overarching theme dealt with each author’s intersection with the validity of the faith and impact of race as a participant in (the) institutional religious complex,” Rasmus said.
‘Let It Be Said We’ve Borne It Well’ by Gregory Funderburk
Gregory Funderburk, minister of pastoral care at Houston’s South Main Baptist Church, was inspired by the pandemic to pen his second book, “Let It Be Said We’ve Borne It Well.”
When everything shut down in 2020, he asked himself: “What should I do now — so that when this is over, I will be able to say I handled it as well as I could have?”
This question became the topic of a series of essays sent each week to parishioners. Later, Funderburk assembled the essays into a collection.
“What comes through thematically, I hope, is that God shows up in our lives in all kinds of different and unexpected ways — not just in the sacred moments but often in the mundane, and sometimes even in the profane as well,” he said.
The book serves as a positive guide, encouraging readers to slow down and see God’s grace.
“The book tries to subtly reframe the obstacles and hurdles in our lives so that we might not only endure them but actually thrive as we face them,” Funderburk said.
‘I Can’t Date Jesus: Love, Sex, Family, Race and Other Reasons I’ve Put my Faith in Beyoncé’ by Michael Arceneaux
Michael Arceneaux set out to write a book he wishes he had when he was growing up — a guide to how queer people can deal with religious parents who do not embrace their sexuality.
A Houston native, he was raised Catholic at a time when being gay equated to damnation.
“This book is about unlearning every damaging thing I’ve seen and heard about my identity and allowing myself the space to figure out who I am and what that means on my terms,” Arceneaux writes in his introduction.
“I Can’t Date Jesus” follows the author’s personal journey.
“I needed to find God on my own terms in order to not totally lose faith,” Arceneaux said.
‘The Forest of Enchantments’ by Chitra Divakaruni
“The Forest of Enchantments” by Chitra Divakaruni is a retelling of the ancient Hindu religious epic, the Ramayana.
What makes her account timely and relevant is its female narrator, Sita.
“I retell this deep, amazing and timeless tale from a woman’s point of view,”
Divakaruni said. “‘Forest of Enchantments’ focuses on a woman’s reality and her experience, and the ways in which one can resist forces that seem invincible. It also asks tough questions about the rules by which society judges women.”
The novel is deeply entrenched in Hindu philosophy, with central themes about the questions of morality, goodness and duty.
“Most importantly, the book is an exploration of the many faces of love, both human and divine,” Divakaruni adds.
‘More Than Pretty’ by Lataya Simpson
Native Houstonian Lataya Simpson, associate pastor at Bellaire United Methodist Church, reveals beauty secrets in her book, “More Than Pretty.” Instead of highlighting the best night cream or lipstick color, she focuses on developing inner beauty.
Simpson’s advice includes developing a positive mindset, becoming grounded in morality and spirituality and spending time helping others.
“How we treat ourselves impacts how we interact with others,” Simpson said. “If we are not careful, we can cause harm to others unknowingly by not working on self-development.”
Her life as a busy mom inspired her to write about being more intentional.
“I needed ‘More Than Pretty,’ and I sensed others needed it as well,” Simpson explained. “Sometimes, we all fall short on personal development and self-care, even when we look great on the outside. It’s important to me that we spend more energy and time on becoming who God wants us to be, to be our best selves and recognizing it will take work.”
‘Faces: A Love Story’ by Roger Hutchison
Roger Hutchison, director of Christian formation and parish life at the Museum District’s Palmer Memorial Episcopal Church, explores diversity, humanity and faith in his book, “Faces: A Love Story,” which he wrote during the pandemic.
“While working from my home during quarantine, I began to miss faces,” Hutchison said. “I missed smiles. I observed such beauty in the diversity of faces I would see in the faces of my neighbors and the people walking through our neighborhood.”
He decided to start painting those faces.
“Then something incredible happened,” Hutchison said. “Neighbors saw me painting and wanted to know more. I met my neighbors for the first time.”
He hopes his portraits will take readers on a journey through the neighborhood, office, school, grocery store or the playground. Ultimately, he said, the diversity of people reflects God and serves to “remind us that we are never alone.”