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Page 2
Fifty-eight percent of adults never read a book after high school. (That one speaks for itself.)
Fourteen percent of adults go to bookstores and walk out with a book; only 10 percent of that number read past the first chapter. (My favorite thing to do is to browse the bookstores, find the books I like, then see if the local library is carrying them yet. If it is, and about eighty-five percent of the time it is, I check it out. If not, I may go back to Powell's and buy it. But with new hard cover books priced at $25 and up, checking the library before buying just makes good sense.) Forty-four percent of adults read below 7th grade level. Fifty percent of high school grads cannot read their own diplomas or fill out a simple employment application. (Could that be why so many people clamor for the government to take care of them? Just guessing. . .) Without meaning to sound preachy (and being a minister, that is sometimes not so easy!), if you have trouble with your reading skills, consider this: the most impoverished nations on earth are those whose populations have the lowest to no reading skills. The more a nation reads, the better it positions itself in the world. And what goes for a nation goes for its individuals as well. Oh, sure, there are those in the US, Canada, and other countries who are not such good readers and have still amassed fortunes. But consider this: those nations that do not emphasize reading do not produce nearly as many successful citizens as the reading nations do. You find many more millionaires in the US than in India or China. Bottom line? If you or someone you know struggles with reading skills, or reading desire, make a conscious choice to improve. There are many avenues available. Check with your local library. They can put you in touch with reading programs to suit your level. So what does all this have to do with New Thought? Everything. As the Scriptures tell us, "In the beginning was the Word. . ." Reading is the way to everything. It opens up worlds that cannot exist in any other way. Ministry is about opening new avenues. And helping people understand the need to increase reading power is ministry, indeed.
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