This is not about race but about a comment and some emails and looking at what people searched and landed them here. Originally when we started this blog it was to point people to good African American Reformed resources. Though this blog has evolved over the last year or so I want to also help people who was where I was, coming out of unhealthy churches and looking for what has helped me along my journey as an African American believer. Thus here is a list for those looking for such preachers. I may end up making this a page due to the name of the blog (or URL) being black and reformed ministries. So this list is not exhaustive, just wanted to use that “look no further” in the title! Please note this is in no paticular order.
2. Lance Lewis who also blogs at www.blaquetulip.blogspot.com
5. Eric Redmond
6. Ken Jones who also is a speaker at the White Horse Inn
7. Thabiti Anyabwile blogs at Pure Church
8. Eric Mason
9. John E. Coleman
10. Michael Leach
11. Roger Skepple
12. Louis Love
13. Conrad Mbewe blogs at A Letter from Kabwata
I think this should be a start and through searching these gentleman others should arise. I can not forget to add Elder D.J Ward who recently passed but will be missed greatly by us young bucks.
Lionel,
Awesome list of brothers! They have been encouraging to me because I no longer have the “Am I the only one?” thought.
I took my family to Voddie’s Family Camp this past summer and it was very rewarding.
Phillip
How ironic! I was just thinking when I was on my way to your blog…wondering how familiar you might be with Voddie B. I hope to hear him speak at the True Church Conference in Muscle Shoals, AL, on Feb. 19-22.
I’d hope to look into some of the others on this list. Another popular speaker is Conrad Mbewe. They call him the African Spugeon. I hope to hear him at the TCC as well.
Phillip and Charlie,
I had an opportunity to hear him speak and First Baptist Dallas back a few years ago when they were doing the week of easter preaching at lunch. I said wow and still to this day, though we may disagree on homeschooling and the like he is a very intense and dynamic preacher.
Charlie,
Man I forgot about Conrad! Yes indeed! I am modifying the list now.
Brother Woods,
Wonderful list. I know and have been edified by at least six of the brothers you mentioned. On your list, who (besides Elder Ward) ministers in a “traditional” Black church and preaches with a “traditional” black homiletic?
Again, thanks for sharing these brothers with your readers.
I’m asking because I think the “Black Church” is in a moment of generational shift. The brothers you listed have/should gain great traction with younger, more-discipleship-focused, followers of Jesus.
Oh, have you ever heard Robert Smith, preaching professor at Beeson Divinity School in Birmingham?
Hey Brother,
I think Mason may be the closest in a traditional sense Jones and Lewis gets it going also at times. Voddie can bring an African American style also.
Got a link for Mr. Smith? Hey we have been chopping it up for a while give me some info on yourself if you could
Voddie is an excellent orator, a well versed cultural critic too. Have you heard of Robert Smith Jr, professor of Christian preaching at Beeson Divinity School? He’s a good expositor. He wrote “Doctrine that Dances: Bringing Doctrinal Preaching and Teaching to Life.” It’s a good piece. If I have time i will post a review. Dr. Smith used to be a Dean at Southern Seminary then he relocated to Alabama.
how could you forget Crefelo A. Dollar and T. D. Jakes?
Just kidding
Blessings,
Lou
Are all of these ministers reformed? And do you only highlight those ministers you consider good, as coming from the reformed category?
I hope black folks who are christian, don’t get so caught up in modern styles of contemporary church worship, to where they forsake their african-american cultural roots. And I’m not necessarily talking about jumping, shouting and running the aisles.
I feel that there’s more to the black church experience than these displays which have always been their, but have become mainstream within the last 10 years, because of the neo-pentecostal moves within black church denominations within recent years.
In other words, don’t make folks feel as if they’re in the wrong, or sinning, because they attend a church with an emphasis on african american traditional church aesthetics, by labeling it as frivolous traditions. Why? Because the new thing you institute, which you may view as vibrant, radical, and fully righteous energy, will one day become a tradition too.
Hey Seekerman,
These men happen to be Reformed, but I couldn’t think of any who were not paticularly reformed whom I enjoy. I still have a Reformed Bent so I highlighted those I enjoy.
To your second comment, I have no problem with the traditional African American experiential preaching as long as the scriptures are faithfully handled and preached. My experience however, has been quite the opposite. I forgot to add though Bishop Patterson, Rev E.K Bailey and Dr. Evans should all make the list but I believe most people know who they are.
LIONEL
I can give you one good(bald headed) Nigerian preacher,for free- Pastor Tunde Bakare of Latter Rain Assembly,Ikeja,Lagos.
TUNJI