Articles by Chris Johnson, PhD

  • “Why It’s Important for You to Be Who You Are,” Word and World Vol 43 No. 3, Summer 2023, Vocation and Wellness – Word and World (luthersem.edu)
  • “On Transitions and Ellipses,” North American Review Open Space, April 24, 2019, Nonfiction | Chris Johnson | North American Review
  • “Making Life Matter,” North American Review Vol 302, No. 4, Fall 2017
  • “Deep M-Pact: Mentoring Gustavus Men for Masculinities of Meaning and Making a Difference Engaging College Men: Discovering What Works and Why” (Harriman, TN: Men’s Studies Press, 2010)
  • “Holden Village as a Mentoring Community” (co-investigator & -author). Lilly Endowment-funded research project for Holden Village Retreat Center, Chelan, WA, 2009
  • “Vocation, Leadership Formation, and College as a Mentoring Community.” Spirituality in Higher Education, Higher Education Research Institute, 2007
  • “Deep Learning and the Big Questions: Reflection in Service-Learning,” The Spirit of Service: Exploring Faith, Service, and Social Justice in Higher Education (Bolton, MA: Anker, 2006)
  • “An Interdisciplinary Study of Service-Learning Predictors and Outcomes Among College Students” (co- author), Service-Learning Through Multidisciplinary Lens, (Greenwich, CT: Information Age, 2002)
  • “God and Human Suffering’ as a Service-Learning Course,” From Cloister to Commons: Concepts and Models for Service-Learning in Religious Studies (Washington, DC: American Association for Higher Education, 2002).
  • “Identifying Successes in Model Service-Learning Courses Across Iowa,” co-author. Iowa College Foundation, 2000

Related Organizations

Further reading

Especially helpful for students / young adults / general audiences:

  • Parker Palmer, 
    • Let Your Life Speak: Listening for the Voice of Vocation;
    • The Active Life: Toward a Spirituality of Work, Creativity, and Caring; 
    • A Hidden Wholness: The Journey toward an Undivided Life, 
    • Healing the Heart of Democracy: The Courage to Create a Politics Worthy of the Human Spirit
    • Clearness Committee Introduction
  • Mark Schwehn and Dorothy Bass, Leading Lives that Matter: What We Should Do and Who We Should Be
  • Brian Mahan, Forgetting Ourselves on Purpose: Vocation and the Ethics of Ambition
  • Douglas Schuurman, Vocation: Discerning Our Callings In Life
  • Gregg Levoy, Callings: Finding and Following an Authentic Life
  • Po Bronson, What Should I Do with My Life?
  • Suzanne Farnham, et al, Listening Hearts: Discerning Call in Community
  • David Whyte, Crossing the Unknown Sea: Work as a Pilgrimage of Identity
  • John Neafsey, A Sacred Voice Is Calling: Personal Vocation and Social Conscience
  • John Schuster, Answering Your Call
  • Richard Leider, The Power of Purpose
  • Mary Rose O’Reilley, Radical Presence: Teaching as Contemplative Practice; The Barn at the End of the World; The Love of Impermanent Things
  • Matthew Fox, The Reinvention of Work: A New Vision of Livelihood for Our Time
  • Joanna Macy & Chris Johnstone, Active Hope: How to Face the Mess We’re in without Going Crazy
  • David Korten, The Great Turning: From Empire to Earth Community
  • John DeGraaf, et al, Affluenza: The All-Consuming Epidemic; Take Back Your Time
  • Anthony Weston, How to Reimagine the World
  • John Irving, A Prayer for Owen Meany
  • Lois Lowry, The Giver
  • Wendell Berry, Jayber Crow

Especially helpful for faculty/staff/mentors/advisors:

  • Sharon Parks, Big Questions, Worthy Dreams: Mentoring Young Adults in Their Search for Meaning, Purpose, and Faith
  • Sharon Parks, Larry Daloz, Cheryl Keen and James Keen, Common Fire: Leading Lives of Commitment in a Complex World
  • Parker Palmer, The Courage To Teach: Exploring the Inner Landscape of a Teacher’s Life
  • Parker Palmer & Arthur Zajonc, The Heart of Higher Education: A Call to Renewal
  • Robert Nash & Michele Murray, Helping College Students Find Purpose
  • Arthur Chickering, Jon Dalton, and Leisa Stamm, Encouraging Authenticity and Spirituality in Higher Education
  • Alexander Astin and Helen Astin and Jennifer Lindholm, Cultivating the Spirit: How College Can Enhance Students’ Inner Lives
  • Brian Johnson & Carolyn O’Grady, eds., The Spirit of Service
  • Richard Leider, Repacking Your Bags; Something to Live For; Claiming Your Place by the Fire; Life Re-Imagined
  • Gar Kellom & Miles Groth, eds., Engaging College Men: Discovering What Works and Why