Biola University professor, Joanne Jung guides readers on how to nurture meaningful, authentic and life-changing relationships in her new book, The Lost Discipline of Conversation: Surprising Lessons in Spiritual Formation Drawn from the English Puritans. To be released on June 12, the book will unpack the wisdom of the English Puritans and create an avenue for readers to follow their Christian faith more profoundly through the discipline of “conferencing.”

In a society accustomed to the age of social media, where conversations are instant and brief, this book comes at a critical time. Meaningful and transformative dialogue, especially those of a spiritual nature, take time, according to Jung, associate professor of biblical and theological studies and associate dean of online education and faculty development at Talbot School of Theology, Biola University. She hopes her research of the English Puritans, specifically their spiritual practices and community, will continue to ignite her reader’s passion to keep growing in their knowledge of the Bible and care for one another’s souls.

“Conversations with trusted and caring others, those who are attentive to one another’s hearts and souls, are transformative,” said Jung. “My hope is that the practical tools found in The Lost Discipline of Conversation would deepen and strengthen relationships, one conversation at a time.”

Jung teaches Biblical Interpretation and Spiritual Formation classes and a Puritan Theology course at Talbot. In the past years, she received the Biola’s Priscilla Ruby Award for Excellence in Teaching and Mentoring, the Biola University Faculty Excellence Award and in 2010 she received the Award for Faculty Excellence by the graduating senior class.

She has also authored Character Formation in Online Education: A Guide for Instructors, Administrators, and Accrediting Agencies, Knowing Grace: Cultivating a Lifestyle of Godliness and Godly Conversation.

Published by Zondervan, The Lost Discipline of Conversation is available for pre-order on amazon.com.

Written by Alisa Ohara, media relations coordinator. For more information, contact Media Relations at media.relations@biola.edu.