Nigerian Jesuit Uvem Akpan's Say You're One of Them, which features one of the most harrowing short stories I have every read, is Oprah's latest pick, announced in the last 24 hours. Of course, this is yet another example that literature written by a believer can receive wide publicacceptance and awards.
There's no reason why Pentecostal literature (as opposed to fiction) can't do the same -- if there are writers willing to declare writing as their primary calling by dedicating their time to create books (instead of investing in other, more traditional ministries(. Yes, I know that's heresy, but Akpan reminds us, "Don’t forget that Jesus was a priest and a poet."
Here's the crazy part -- I don't think Pentecostal literature is too far away from being of sufficient quality to get noticed. There are a small coterie of writers (that I know of) that are trying to create something fresh for the 21st Century. Whether they get noticed or win prizes is another issue. Whether they have the will to follow God's calling to write is their choice alone.
More Father Uwem
Akpan was first published in a 2005 issue of (*sigh*) The New Yorker.
My brush with Akpan was slight. At Calvin College's Festival of Faith and Writing 2008, he was a featured speaker. I'd never heard of him and skipped his session. A few months later I read the book of short stories and instantly realized I'd blown it. *Sigh* again. That's why you need to attend 2010's Festival -- you just might run into the faith-filled literary stars of 2011 early.
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