Two Roanoke College alumni have recently released books while another Roanoke alumni is in the process of publishing a memoir.
Corbin M. Wright, a 1954 Roanoke College alumnus and now a Stephen Minister at an English-speaking church in Argentina, recently released “The Church Library on Christian Concerns and Solutions.” Published by Authorhouse, the book sets out to address many of the concerns facing Christians today.
Wright addresses issues including communicating the Christian faith, careers, divorce, euthanasia and sexuality. He combines his own experiences with those of others to answer the most frustrating questions facing Christians today. The book is billed as a guide for Christians to learn how to live more fully.
Dr. T. David Gordon, ‘77, professor of religion at Grove City College in Pennsylvania, released “Why Johnny Cant Preach: The Media Have Shaped the Messengers,” published by P & R Publishing. Gordon analyzes the shifts in media forms and the profound, often unfortunate effects on preaching.
Gordon alleges that when a typographic/reading culture becomes an image-based and electronic culture, significant consequences occur, including composition and the competent use of spoken English.
Gordon’s “Why Johnny Cant Sing Hymns: How Pop Culture Re-wrote the Hymnal,” is scheduled for release at the end of the year.
Allen Jones ‘76, a manager for foreign currency exchange at Dexia Banque Internationale of Luxembourg, along with Mark Naison, wrote the “The Rat That Got Away: A Bronx Memoir.” The book is a look at the history of the Bronx and story of the rise of Jones’s life, from the heroin trade in the Bronx, to basketball stardom and banking in Europe.
The book includes notes about his former Roanoke basketball coach, Charlie Moir, who Jones describes as a class guy who treated his players well. The book also mentions former teammates Hal Johnston, ’72, and Jay Piccola, ’74. The book is set to publish in September 2009 by Fordham University Press.