VALLEY FORGE, PA (ABNS 2/5/13)—Just in time for Black History Month, Judson Press has released a powerful new resource for the African American church. To Serve This Present Age: Social Justice Ministries in the Black Church is coauthored by veteran ministry practitioners, Min. Danielle L. Ayers and Rev. Reginald W. Williams Jr.
At a time when the twenty-first century African American church is increasingly associated with the controversial prosperity gospel, Ayers and Williams remind black church leaders of the historic and prophetic call to “do justice.”
Within these pages, readers will discover the transforming impact the church can have on society, culture, and community through
- Understanding the history of the black church’s social justice contributions and leadership
- Recognizing today’s need for justice ministries in the congregation and community
- Learning from real-life ministries and initiatives
- Using sample training manual materials, “Doing Justice” and “Our Vote”
Dr. Iva E. Carruthers, General Secretary of the Samuel DeWitt Proctor Conference says, “Ayers and Williams have creatively woven and penned their personal convictions, theological reflections, and ministry experiences into an educational and practical resource for clergy and lay leaders.”
The new release is among the featured African American titles currently on sale at judsonpress.com during the month of February. This resource makes an excellent complement to Judson Press’s 2012 release by Rev. Dr. Debra J. Mumford, Exploring Prosperity Preaching: Biblical Health, Wealth, and Wisdom.
Danielle L. Ayers is Minister of Social Justice at Friendship-West Baptist Church in Dallas, Texas, where she has mobilized more than 1,000 individuals in the Dallas community around Jena 6 and served as lead on the Annual Faith Summit on Poverty. Ayers is currently pursuing a Master of Arts in Urban Affairs and a certificate in Law and Public Policy from the University of Texas at Arlington.
Reginald W. Williams Jr. is Pastor of First Baptist Church, University Park, Illinois. Previously, he served as Associate Pastor for Justice Ministries at Trinity United Church of Christ in Chicago. Rev. Williams holds a Master of Divinity from the Samuel DeWitt Proctor School of Theology at Virginia Union University, and a law degree from the University of Wisconsin Law School.
American Baptist Churches USA is one of the most diverse Christian denominations today, with over 5,200 local congregations comprised of 1.3 million members, across the United States and Puerto Rico, all engaged in God’s mission around the world.