This month’s issue is dedicated to the men and women who use their expertise to serve their communities. When I think of service, Winston Churchil and Martin Luther King Jr. come to mind. Sir Winston Leonard Spencer Churchill was a British statesman, soldier and writer. He served as Prime Minister of the United Kingdom from 1940 to 1945, during the Second World War, and again from 1951 to 1955.

One of my favourite quotes by Churchill is ““We make a living by what we get, but we make a life by what we give.” And this inspires me as I see sixteen men and women make a life for themselves serving as content judges in the ACABA award program for 2022. That they can curve out time to read 150 books every year from 75 nominee authors, is absolutely a blessing to the African continent.

Everybody Can Be Great. Because Anybody Can Serve…

My hope is that this issue will inspire writers, authors, readers, partners and the world at large to serve their communities in their small or big ways. As Martin Luther King Jr., an American Baptist minister and activist who became the most visible spokesman and leader in the civil rights movement from 1955 until his assassination in 1968 said, “Everybody can be great. Because anybody can serve. You don’t have to have a college degree to serve. You don’t have to make your subject and your verb agree to serve…. You don’t have to know the second theory of thermodynamics in physics to serve. You only need a heart full of grace. A soul generated by love.”

I express my sincerest and heartfelt gratitude to the ACABA 2022 Judges. And we charge you, our readers to start or continue with service in your community.

Here’s to all of us making a life for ourselves…

Muthoni Omukhango. Convener, African Christian Authors Book Award – ACABA | National Director, CLC Kenya