Enuma Okoro is an award-winning author of three books on the call and challenge to the spiritual life. She understands that our spiritual journeys are fraught with dips and turns through unlikely sanctuaries. Enuma discovers the divine in art museums and on New York street corners, as well as in opulent Cathedrals and community gymnasiums.
Enuma is a widely sought-after speaker invited to colleges, universities, non-profit organizations, religious institutions, and conferences across the United States, Europe, Africa, and Australia. She was most recently listed as one of seven top Young Influencers of the next generation by Catalyst. In June, 2012 Okoro had the honor of being the first woman of African descent to speak at the historic American Church in Paris. (Martin Luther King Jr. was the first man of African descent to speak there in October 1965)
An American citizen born in New York, Enuma Okoro was raised in four countries on five continents. Her academic background and training is in Psychology, Communications, Theology and Counseling. She is a certified Spiritual Director in the Ignatian tradition, and she holds a Master of Divinity from Duke University Divinity School, of which she is former director for the Center for Theological Writing.
Embracing the classic spiritual traditions, the contemporary arts, and her uniquely diverse global and cultural background, Enuma writes and speaks on numerous issues based off of three key areas:
1) Spiritual formation, growth and holistic wellness
2) Women and the transformative power of personal narratives
3) Identity and Belonging in a diverse world.
Her first book, The Reluctant Pilgrim: A Moody Somewhat Self-Indulgent Introvert’s Search for Spiritual Community, was recognized by USA Book News as a 2010 Best Books Award-Winning Finalist in “Religion-Christianity.”
In 2011, Reluctant Pilgrim received the 2011 National Indie Excellent Book Awards Winning Finalist in “Spirituality and African-American Non-Fiction”
Her second book is co-authored with Shane Claiborne and Jonathan Wilson-Hartgrove (December 2010): Common Prayer: Liturgy for Ordinary Radicals, Zondervan Publishers.
Her third book, Silence, will be released in September 2012.
Enuma’s poetry is featured in At the Still Point: A Literary Guide to Prayer in Ordinary Time compiled by Sarah Arthur (Paraclete Press, 2011)
In addition to publishing books and speaking, Enuma is a regular contributing writer to online magazines and print resources.
She is the new spiritual wellness columnist for Tonya Lee Lewis’s HealthyYouNow magazine for women.
In recognition of being bi-cultural, Enuma writes a monthly column for the web magazine AYAKA, a literary catalyst that promotes and stimulates discourse and knowledge about Nigeria.
She also contributes monthly to SheLoves magazine, an online community committed to empowering women to use their voices for the health and healing of women around the world.
Enuma’s work has been featured on ABC’s Good Morning America, NPR, The Michael Eric Dyson Show, The Huffington Post , Weavings Journal of the Spiritual Life, Sojourners, Burnside Writer’s Collective, Faith and Leadership, Neue, The Christian Century, Red Letter Christians (Tony Campolo and Friends), and more.
She blogs regularly at Reluctant Pilgrim hosted on the Patheos website.
You can sign up for Enuma’s newsletter on her website. www.enumaokoro.com
Why Margaret Feinberg Bypasses the ‘Gender Wars’ | The popular writer and Bible teacher says her personality informs her spirituality ‘more than gender ever could.’ (April 3, 2012)
We’re Just Friends. No, Really. | Our culture – and church’s – obsession with romance has crowded out the chance for real friendship between men and women. (October 24, 2011)
Obama’s Visit Challenges ‘African Woman’ Stereotype | The Young African Women Leaders Forum demonstrated that not all African women are victims and in need of Western help. (July 13, 2011)
Should Christians Pursue External Beauty? | A controversial Psychology Today article arguing that black women are less attractive than others got me thinking about real beauty. (June 24, 2011)
Why ‘Happy’ Isn’t a Christian Word | How to practice hope during the happiest season of the Christian year. (June 1, 2011)
