It's an ugly little secret in our country that 18 million adults in America can't read this sentence. Thirty million American adults can't read at an 8th-grade level. Sixty-two percent of prison inmates can't read at all. Imagine getting out of jail and trying to make a new life for yourself when you can't even fill out a job application. We take this basic life skill for granted, while millions of struggle in secrecy and shame.

Illiteracy is linked to just about every evil under the sun: child abuse, spousal abuse, violent crime, poverty, HIV/AIDS. I believe it is our duty as followers of Christ—a rabbi Himself and the Word of God—to effect good in the world. And supporting literacy is one of the few, simple things we can do that can actually make an enormous difference. It touches every area of life—including spiritual life.

For these reasons, I've decided to launch a campaign to support adult literacy in America: I Told Two Friends (www.itoldtwofriends.com) . Readers are invited to join the effort to raise $100,000 by purchasing two copies of my latest Dylan Foster thriller, My Soul To Keep, giving each to a friend and encouraging their two friends do the same. One-hundred percent of my profits will go to ProLiteracy (www.proliteracy.org), an international nonprofit whose mission is to end adult illiteracy worldwide.

You can help an eager adult learn to read this sentence. And they can walk away from crime, get good jobs, lead productive lives, pull themselves and their families out of poverty, help their kids with their homework, read John 3:16 and so on. Please join us and be part of the solution.

Melanie Wells

Author, When the Day of Evil Comes,

The Soul Hunter and My Soul to Keep

(The Waterbrook Multnomah Publishing Group, a division of Random House)

The editorial "Measuring Ourselves Down" from the Aug. 24 edition was the best I have read this year. The part about the "classic slap down of a rival" made me pause and recognize how much emotion we as an industry have wasted over defense of our own turf. I count myself as having made that miss-take. Humility is truly virtuous.

To your comments about authors and artists and their signing sessions, I'm reminded of Dr. Gary Chapman and Dr. Mel Cheatham, both 'gentle' men who set the example of humility always. They know who to give the glory, praise and honor to .. .and it's God.

Most importantly, this editorial showed me a "condition of the heart" that has changed. I have always looked up to you as a brainy, opinionated person, but now I look at you as a sage....but don't get too prideful. After all..."do not think of yourself more highly than you ought."

Rick Tocquigny

CEO of Gracefully Yours Greeting Cards

A division of Artbeat of America

What do you think?

Share your opinions on these and other industry issues by writing to:
Andy Butcher, editor, Christian Retailing,
600 Rinehart Road, Lake Mary, FL 32746.
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