In The African American Culture What Makes Preachers And Or Pastors Great

In the African-American Culture, What Makes Preachers and/or Pastors Great? By: J. William Poole What makes preachers and/or pastors in the African American culture great is that they lead by example. Utilizing the talents of others through challenging, inspiring, not enabling, modeling and encouraging. To illustrate these leadership techniques, J. William Poole’s In the African-American Culture, What Makes Preachers and/or Pastors Great? examines the characteristics of “great pastors and/or preachers.” Thus, John provides a section were the lives and work of four renowned Afro-American preachers and/or pastors are presented. The lives of the four exemplify personal integrity and flexibility, great team builders with a sense of direction with great faith, commitment and great joy in ministry. Through the Holy Spirit, they found and followed God’s Plan for their lives. The four are Dr. Benjamin E. Mays, Dr. L. Venchael Booth, Dr. Edward Victor Hill and Dr. Gardner C. Taylor. Thus, preaching the faith, for many the faithful is exemplified.

Enduring Truth argues that faithfulness to Scripture is the solution to a “crisis” among African American preaching. Though misinterpreting God’s Word is not restricted to one race or culture, author Aaron Lavender identifies three factors that have precipitated the decline of black preaching specifically: racial segregation, black liberation theology, and prosperity theology. The book’s first chapter recounts the history of the crisis, noting how discrimination in theological education led black ministers to liberal colleges and seminaries that prophetically confronted Jim Crow but taught the social gospel and other forms of theological error. Such schools ultimately were harmful to the spiritual health of black churches. Subsequent chapters discuss the role of biblical exegesis in preaching, develop a theology of preaching, and suggest preaching methods for the postmodern world. Every biblical text has one meaning, according to Lavender. The preacher’s job is to determine and communicate that meaning, then show its relevance in the cultural context of his hearers. Proof-texting and relativism, Lavender writes, are two great enemies of biblical preaching. While focused on the African American context, this volume addresses topics relevant to all preachers. Enduring Truth is suited both for ministry practitioners and preaching courses. It will help readers elevate the Word of God over the worldly allures of any ministry setting.

Four centuries of African American preaching has provided hope, healing, and heaven for people from every walk of life. Many notable men and women of African American lineage have contributed, through the art of preaching, to the biblical emancipation and spiritual liberation of their parishioners. In African American Preaching: The Contribution of Dr. Gardner C. Taylor, Gerald Lamont Thomas offers a historical overview of African American preaching and its effect on the cultural legacy of black people, noting the various styles and genius of pulpit orators. The book's focus is on the life, ministry, and preaching methodology of one of this era's most prolific voices, Dr. Gardner C. Taylor, and should be read by everyone who takes the task of preaching seriously.

The Journey and Promise of African American Preaching is a constructive effort to examine the historical contributions of African American preaching, the challenges it faces today, and how it might become a renewed source of healing and strength for at-risk communities and churches. --from publisher description

Dr. Moyd surveys the African American preaching tradition and shows that it has been the vehicle by which practical theology has been conveyed to the people in African American congregations. Preachers have proclaimed and interpreted the Word of God, and their preaching has been 'the hallmark of hope and the pivot of promise for a pilgrim people.' The Author has gathered examples from a number of master African American preachers as illustrations of the way practical theology has provided the content of much of the classic African American preaching of the past and present.

Henry H. Mitchell has completely revised and integrated his popular books The Recovery of Preaching and Black Preaching for seminarians and pastors--both Black and White--who are seeking to add power and vision to their sermons. Mitchell persuasively demonstrates that Black culture and preaching style are vital for the empowerment of Black congregations and have much to offer the preaching method of all preachers. By focusing on the use of storytelling, imagination, and style of preaching rooted in African-American culture, Mitchell spotlights effective techniques for lively preaching.

Say It! A Celebration of Expository Preaching in the African American Tradition argues that Biblical Exposition is most dynamic when coupled with the African American preaching tradition. Charlie Dates, Romell Williams, George Parks, Jr., Terry D. Streeter and a cast of pastors and preaching professors collaborate to demonstrate the power of exposition in the cradle of the Black pulpit. The contributors in this volume give examples of African American Biblical exposition in every section of the Old Testament and New Testament. They also explain how to preach from narrative, poetical, prophetic, epistolary, and apocalyptic genres throughout the Scriptures. This important and powerful resource celebrates the faithful, biblical preaching of African Americans that is so often overlooked because it's stylistically different than the style of most white preachers. Appropriate for training associate ministers or use as a textbook in homiletics, Say It! will give the preacher what is needed to speak to real life from every page of the Book!