When I was an election judge at the Ramsey County Elections 2020 Absentee Ballot Board processing absentee ballots I would discuss books with my DFL and MNGOP Team members. There was one book that everyone thought we should read and that’s this book by the late Nabeel Qureshi, “Seeking Allah Finding Jesus.” It’s his conversion story from Ahmadi Islam to Christianity.
The first part of the book presents Islam in a clear respectful manner as Nabeel lived most of his life as a Muslim in America, and the second half of the book shows his conversion to Christianity. Some of the concepts he examines will help Christians see their faith in a new light.
The book can be found as an an e-book, and in paperback at all major booksellers.
Tom Polachek, HD 66B Republicans Chair
What: 66Books Book Club Discussion of “Seeking Allah Finding Jesus” by Nabeel Qureshi
When: January 30, 2021, 2:00 pm to 3:30 pm
Where: Zoom Link
Cost: Free.
(at will donation)
66Books Book Club Participation
For many years I was a “regular” at the Books and Bars Book Club moderated by Jeff Kamin. Just like it sounds, it was a book club that met in a bar. It was expected members were to read the book for the month, but it wasn’t mandatory for the discussion.
There will be no fee to join the 66Books Book Club, but the HD 66B Republicans will have to employ a beyond the basic Zoom account so it will cost something per month on our end. If you feel you want to give an “at will donation” anything under $20 will be accepted by our Treasurer without paperwork. Anything above $20 the Treasurer will need to annotate your name, occupation, address, and how much the donation was (MN Campaign Finance Rules).
As stated you don’t have to read the book to participate, but there is a section of the book for group discussion and you might want to read up on it. Also for those who just can’t find the time to read it, I’ve found a video resource in which the late Nabeel Qureshi talks about his conversion story. It is just short of 2 hours (in the beginning Lee Strobel mentions an election which was the 2016 General Election).
Sign Up For 66Books Book Club
Since we don’t currently have a list to send out to notify Book Club Members of the upcoming book, you’ll need to send an email to mnhd66brepublicans@gmail.com with the subject line of “66Books Sign Up List.” When we get a couple of days out from January 30th, an email will be sent out to those who sign up to confirm, and a link will be sent.
Next Book: “Start With Why,” by Simon Sinek
If you get done with the book for January early (I read it in a week, including writing copious notes on it for later reference) you might want to start reading the next book, “Start With Why: How great leaders inspire action.” Simon Sinek helps you find your “Why statement.” There is a TED talk about this concept, so you can use DuckDuckGo to find it under his name and “Start with Why” (there is a long version and an edited version).
I was thinking the last Saturday of each month for 66Books Club, but February is a short month and BPOU Conventions are mostly on Saturdays in February, so the date may be moved to March, but look to the last Saturday of the month.
Why 66Books?
Our Neighborhood Party Unit, aka BPOU, needs to start discussions on topics that arise in current affairs. We need to be able to discuss solutions to problems in a clear and concise manner that is respectful to all in the discussion. We also need to do some outreach to find people with solutions. We need to do a better job of educating the people around us as to what a Republican is and how we think. What better outreach vehicle than a Book Club.
A note on the name 66Books, is not a reference to the 66 Books in the Bible. It is merely a coincidence our House District is 66B and the first book is a Christian Conversion story. I was looking for a name of the Book Club that is catchy and has our designation in the title, and thus 66Books. If this club continues to the point of doing 66 books, that will be indeed a day to celebrate.
Tom Polachek, HD 66B Republicans Chair
Minnesota House District 66B Republicans 