Brenda Salter-McNeil Archives

PathLight and Becoming Brave

I’m going to be interviewing my friend Brenda Salter McNeil in an online forum on October 30. It’s completely free, and I’d love for you to join. Here’s a bit of background about how this came about and why Brenda is my guest.

Most of the readers of this blog know that I’m a co-founder of PathLight International, and I currently serve as board chair for the organization. PathLight provides educational opportunities for at-risk youth in Belize.

Every year I organize what we call PathLight Conversations. This is typically a luncheon with a fascinating guest speaker, like Bob Goff or …

Becoming Brave

My friend Brenda Salter-McNeil has a new book being released so I asked her to give us a sneak preview. Trust me when I say you will want to read this one. Brenda writes with passion and transparency while always keeping truth at the center of her message.

Sometimes her words are challenging. They push me to see things through her heart and to understand life from the perspective of an African-American woman. That has not always been comfortable for me, but it has always been a way to grow and learn. And, ultimately, to better understand how to love …

So What Are People Saying About Junkyard Wisdom?

I’m way too lazy to do a real book tour. But a blog tour sounds doable!

Maybe you remember the days when authors would go on book tours. They’d show up at the local bookstore to talk or read from their book, sign a few copies, and then head on to the next town. Some still do that.

But the more efficient way is to do a blog tour — a combination of interviews, reviews, conversations, even podcasts, all from the comfort of my computer screen. I get fewer frequent flyer miles, but it’s far easier!

Below are several blogs …

Book Release!

It’s book release week! Four years in the making, Junkyard Wisdom will be officially released on Saturday. Have you ordered yours yet?

If you’re willing to help me promote the book, here are three easy things you can do: Follow, Review, and Share.

You can Follow on Facebook and Twitter. You can also engage on those platforms — ask a question, invite others to follow, or post your thoughts. Keep it lively and fun!

If you like the book, you can write a Review on Amazon. The more reviews, the more credibility — which is especially important for …

Thankful for Book Endorsements

I’m in the midst of collecting endorsements for my book and one word keeps coming to mind.

Thankful.

I’m truly thankful for the people who have taken the time to read the draft, reflect on the content, and write a few words of support. I’m thankful my life is filled with such generous people. People who enrich my life with their ideas, their energy, their love. I am blessed, and I am thankful.

The first official endorsement came from Tony Campolo, who has always been there to support me. Then one from Bob Goff, a friend since elementary school. And …

Roadmap to Reconciliation

My friend Brenda Salter-McNeil is a blessing to me and D’Aun. So it is a joy to announce her new book, Roadmap to Reconciliation: Moving Communities into Unity, Wholeness and Justice. I loved this book so much I’m making it the twelfth in my Journey of Hope series.

In our hearts, all of us want reconciliation. With our spouses, kids, parents, coworkers, neighbors. Especially in light of recent events where we have seen tragedy upon tragedy. But few of us know how to be proactive about reconciliation. We simply do not have a roadmap to reconciliation we can get …

PathLight Diversity Weekend

Two years ago I convinced my friend Brenda Salter McNeil that she should visit Belize with me and see the great things happening through the PathLight ministry. Even though she’s a city girl, she agreed to go. Even more surprising, she agreed to come back and work with the students on racial identity issues!

So this past weekend we hosted Brenda and her colleague Rosanne at the PathLight conference center in Belize. About fifty students, from first year high school students to college students, came to learn about how much God values them. Brenda and Rosanne did a wonderful job …

What I Learned On A Belize Vision Trip

Twice a year I lead people on a whirlwind trip to Belize. They are meant to teach others about the mission of PathLight, but they teach me as well. I knew I would learn a lot on my trip last week because I was going to be surrounded by so many people who could teach me! I would be there during PathLight’s Teacher Training Conference, so there would be a dozen or more North American teachers and dozens more Belizean teachers (turns out there were 89). Plus I had four great traveling companions.

And I did learn. Of the …