Throughout our nation, hundreds of vibrant African-American churches are leading people to deep, life-changing spiritual transformations. With visionary leadership, powerful worship, challenging faith formation strategies, and a strong sense of community and mission, these churches form the backbone of American spirituality. What generates this vitality? And how can you bring that same passion, energy, and impact to your church? In High-Impact African-American Churches, researcher George Barna and Bishop Harry Jackson Jr. combine their research, knowledge, and experience to describe what these churches do that is changing lives.

"A faith in the God of the Bible and an association with the institutional church have had a positive influence on the African American community, and were key in the survival of the slave experience in America," says psychologist and professor Dr. Lee June. This book traces the history of Christianity among African Americans and the development of the "Black Church"-those denominations created by, created for, and stewarded by African Americans. He examines the role the church has played politically and psychologically as well as spiritually in the lives of African Americans. This comprehensive psychological and spiritual look at an historic institution will be a valuable tool for both pastors and seminary professors.

Beginning with a conversation prompted by African American scholars like Dr. Alvin Poussaint of Harvard Medical School in 2007, to the current Black Lives Matter movement, there has been much debate about what led to the deaths of Trayvon Martin and Michael Brown, among others, as well as other systemic challenges that undermine black thriving. Anthony Bradley has assembled a team of scholars and religious leaders to provide a distinctly Christian perspective on what is needed for black communities to thrive from within. In addition to the social and structural issues that must be addressed, within black communities there are opportunities for social change based on God’s vision for human flourishing. Covering topics like the black family, hip-hop, mental health, mentoring women, masculinity, and the church, this book will open your eyes to fresh ways to participate in solutions that will truly set black America free. Although the Black Lives Matter movement keeps the church on the margins, the authors in this volume believe that enduring change cannot happen unless God speaks directly to these issues in light of the gospel. This is a revised edition of an earlier book, Keeping Your Head Up. With contributions from: Vincent Bacote Bruce Fields Rev. Howard Brown Ralph C. Watkins Rev. Eric M. Mason Rev. Lance Lewis Rev. Anthony Carter Ken Jones Natalie Haslem Rev. Ken Jones Rihana Mason Yvonne RB-Banks

Two decades ago a groundbreaking book called "The Frog in the Kettle" changed what we believe about the evangelical Church and its influence in America. Subsequent books by George Barna have become must-reading for church leaders and concerned Christians everywhere. Now Barna takes a fresh look at the Church--where we stand and where we are headed--at the dawn of the new millennium. With revealing statistics from cutting-edge research that illustrate the changing beliefs and attitudes in our society today, this book clearly shows the Church is at a crucial juncture in history--a time of rapid change in which we must begin to anticipate the world's needs in order to meet them.

DIVAs we are bombarded almost daily with the latest news on the presidential candidates or the newest political scandal, we lose focus on the important, far-reaching platforms that we as Christians should be whole-heartedly a part of. Pastor Jackson believes/div

In his book, The Church Made Flesh, Alan takes the spiritual pulse of the Pentecostal/Apostolic Church and lays bare its true condition. Tapping into a rich spiritual repertoire of experiences, both anecdotal and other erudite sources, this book is a tour de force that revisits bedrock issues such as the cost of discipleship, church-planting and church order, among others. Employing a fruitful dialectic of tension, these issues are explored in the intersection between the nascent Apostolic Church of the first century AD and its contemporary incarnation. The denouement is an incisive, accessible, candid and profound exposition that is a must in every discerning minister and laypersons library. Paul Thomas, PhD (Education, Kings College, London) Lecturer, University of Olso, Norway Institute for Pedagogy Comparative and International Education Give yourself this book and then help God solve the next vexing problem in the North American Apostolic church. Sorry this book is not designed to grace the shelf of your library. You should really read it on your knees. Embark on your journey with tears in your eyes. Bishop Paul Reynolds International Honorary General Presbyter United Pentecostal Church International The Church Made Flesh challenges todays commonly adopted church system of attraction by comparing it the 1st centurys church model which exercised Apostolic authority by going out to the world. Without apology Alan combats the readers thinking on how well todays church is executing the Great Commission and touching the lives of people of all nations. For those that are ready to effect change in this world the biblical way, this is a book that you must not only have but study and wrestle with. Michael Whitton, Minister of Operations, Global Apostolic Ministries Toronto, Canada

No one can deny our culture is opposed to Christian values, and the influences bombarding our children's moral development are difficult to contend with. But few parents and church leaders realize that a child's moral development is set by the age of nine. It is therefore critical to start developing a child's biblical worldview from the very earliest years of life. The problem is complex: parents who themselves did not receive early spiritual training leave their children's training to the church. Yet the church often focuses on older children. The answer is for churches to come alongside parents to provide them biblical worldview training, parenting information, and counseling that will equip them to help their children become the spiritually mature church of tomorrow. This helpful and hopeful book unpacks just how to develop this kind of dynamic church/parent relationship and includes profiles of churches that are effectively ministering to children and winning the war for their hearts and minds.

Drawing on his experience as a member of the clergy and the questions and concerns that arose in the course of ministering to congregants, Robert London Smith, Jr. explores exactly what function the black church performs and, importantly, why. In this provocative work, he argues that much black church praxis is less authentic, relevant, and constructive today because it continues to be implicated by certain values and meanings that are themselves rooted in a historical black thematic universe that is fading and being replaced by a new set of values and meanings located within a contemporary black thematic universe. Using a practical theology method, Smith develops a theological framework (context-praxis) to create an approach to understanding and creating an informed praxis for the black church. He then sets forth a bold project that calls for the critical engagement of black church praxis and what he calls the black thematic universe in its historical and contemporary manifestations. The goal is to transform this praxis so that it remains authentic to the Gospel and the religious traditions and history of those who come to interpret and live out its message in the world, while being relevant to the issues and challenges of the present historical context in which the black church lives out its meaning and purpose, and constructive for the building up and equipping of the Body of Christ. Smith's creation of a black existential and theological hermeneutic is an approach that moves toward the realization of this ambitious goal. This book challenges many traditional views of black church praxis, including pastoral care, worship, and fellowship, and creates a space for a renewed and much-needed dialogue about the acts of the black church within contemporary America. As such, it is an important text for students of practical theology and African American religion as well as those interested in developing a critical understanding of the implications of the intersection of faith and culture.

Award-winning Author Reveals 6 Powerful Steps to Transforming Your World Whenever good news is slow in coming, when circumstances don't seem to change, and when the heavens are as brass, we long for answers. In these pages, Bishop Harry R. Jackson Jr., from the forge of his own experience, offers a six-step pathway for restoration and transformation that has been proven time and again, based on unfailing principles set down in God's Word. He also reveals how to •open the floodgates of divine grace •draw closer to Christ •grow in trust, love, endurance, faithfulness, and purity •experience the favor of God Life will always throw obstacles in the way. Believers can draw on the transforming power of God's mercy and grace to rise above their circumstances, discover their destiny, and achieve lasting change.