Welcome to APOOO, Dr. Weary!

In 140 words or less, tell us a little about yourself.

I grew up in a small rural community near Mendenhall, MS, in a three room house with seven brothers and sisters.  I understood what poverty and the many barriers of racism felt like even at a young age.  I learned how to pour myself into my studies and basketball because I wanted to break free from my circumstances.  I became a Christian under the ministry of Dr. John Perkins.  I received a basketball scholarship to attend L.A. Baptist College in California and all my dreams of getting seemed to be coming true! God brought me back to my hometown during the summers of 1968 and 1969.  In 1970, I traveled with a Christian basketball team that toured the Orient.  It was there where I was convicted in my heart that I was ‘running away from the problems of rural Mississippi and that God wanted me to return to be a part of the solution for rural poverty. 

In 140 words or less, tell us why Crossing the Tracks would make a great addition to our personal library.

Crossing the Tracks Hope for the Hopeless and Help for the Poor in Mississippi and Your Community would make a great addition to any personal library.  From my own personal experience of wanting to run away from the problem of my circumstances, acting out my faith, helped me to understand why God brought me back for almost 30 years to work directly with those who are trapped on the other side of the tracks.  God used me further while working thirteen years to help the black church and the white church in Mississippi to model out the importance of eliminating racism. I further discovered that each of us are guilty of living our lives based on what we have been taught, one community on one side of the tracks and the other community on the other side of the tracks —Christians judging each other at a distance.  This book will cause all [Christians] to rethink what we have been taught, including the stereotypes we have of each other.  This book will also cause all of us to face up to some voids in our thinking.  It is always easier to judge someone at a distance than to get to know people up close.    

How did you come up with the premise for Crossing the Tracks?

The original manuscript was to be a sequel to my first book, I Ain’t Comin’ Back. Initially it was to be titled:  “I Can’t Never Leave”!  Mississippi with its many challenges was a place I never wanted to return to, however after working for almost 40 years making a difference, I wanted to shout “I Can’t Never Leave”.  During the many dialogues with my publishing team, it was concluded that the title Crossing the Tracks Hope for the Hopeless and Help for the Poor in Mississippi and Your Community would reach a broader audience, not just those who had read my first book.  There are so many Christians who struggle with staying in their comfort zone of race, class, socioeconomics, education, denomination, etc… and it is hard to get any real work done in some communities in this country. 

What are some of the main themes you portray in Crossing the Tracks?

Some of the main themes in Crossing the Tracks Hope for the Hopeless and Help for the Poor in Mississippi and Your Community are captured in the chapter titles.  The chapter titled – The Sin of Silence will help Christians to understand that we have been silent too long, that we have still not learned how to talk about tough issues because we generally hold these conversations to convince someone to join your stance.  Learning how to engage the Christian community and having honest dialogue especially across racial and political lines is extremely difficult.  We want Christians to understand that we need to be intentional about building bridges of reconciliation.  We need to be intentional about the way we talk to each other and the way we listen to each other.  Christians need to be able to talk about tough issues. 

 What makes Crossing the Tracks different from other books in the marketplace?

I’m not sure what will make Crossing the Tracks Hope for the Hopeless and Help for the Poor in Mississippi and Your Community different from other books in the marketplace, however,  it does present a look at the past and a realistic look at the future,  using nearly forty years of intentional experience which is being shared openly and honestly. It represents a call to do something, to intentionally step out of your world and build a relationship.  Our hope is the Christian community will intentionally commit to move from rhetoric to action, from prejudging to seeking ways to understand. 

What genre is Crossing the Tracks and who is the target audience?

Racial Relations, Mississippi race relations, Church work with the poor, community development are a few genres Crossing the Tracks Hope for the Hopeless and Help for the Poor in Mississippi and Your Community would fall in. The targeted audience in a broad sense would be Christians who have a heart not to allow barriers to hinder the gospel message.  It’s a book for those in the age range of 50-70, that historically have allowed things like race to prevent them from crossing the tracks, for those who are below 50 who may want to cross the tracks but don’t know how and for those who will cross the track to do it honestly and genuinely!  Crossing the tracks is a long term process not a quick fix.  The separation, the division, the blame game, has gone on for so long that it will take long term intentional efforts to reverse some of the damage.   

What lessons have you learned about the publishing industry?

I am happy and grateful for all the assistance Kregel Publishing provided in putting my experience and views into a book that can bless and challenge others!  Past, publishing experiences have been challenging.  We live in an instantaneous, quick fix society that is looking for five ways to wipe out years of racism, discrimination, bigotry and injustice with a simple formula. Trying to communicate a hard truth to a generation that wants to fix things right now has not been easy. 

What can readers expect from you in the future?

Readers can expect to see us (my wife Rosie and I) continue to live out our lives in practical ways on crossing the tracks.  Our vision is to sell “Crossing the Tracks, Hope for the Hopeless and Help for the Poor in Mississippi and Your Community”, I Ain’t Comin’ Back” (my first book), and Rosie’s book, “Stepping Out From the Shadows”, to increase Rural Education and Leadership (R.E.A.L.) Christian Foundation.  R.E.A.L.’s, mission is to connect resources, provide grants and technical assistance for Christian-based organizations in rural Mississippi in order to enable them to enrich the lives of underserved children, youth and families.  Historically there has not been a unique entity like R.E.A.L. on the poor side of the track which provides these type resources to change conditions on this side of the tracks.  One day, readers can expect to see a book on how this side of the track is being empowered to create change!  

 Is there anything else you would like to share with APOOO readers?

I would like the APOOO readers to remember Hope for the Hopeless and Help for the Poor in Mississippi and Your Community, is our desire to see creative change take place within the Body of Christ in the rural communities of Mississippi, so that Christ is glorified not our differences magnified- Change the way you think about people who live on the other side of the track. 

 For More Information 

Visit the author online at:  R.E.A.L. Christian Foundation at http://realchristianfoundation.info/ 

 View the blog tour schedule at:  http://www.tywebbin.com/blog-tours/authors-on-tour/2012-tours/

Purchase the Book Online at:

Amazon.com

BarnesandNoble.com