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Free Download: Will the Rest of the Church Listen to the Spirit’s Work Among Black Evangelicals?

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Esau McCaulley and Natasha Sistrunk Robinson talk from Awakenings is this week’s featured resource, free from 8/11 to 8/17. This talk discusses a fresh expression of Christianity in the United States the speakers have called “Black Evangelicalism.”
 

 

About the Resource

In the last 10–15 years, we have witnessed the growth of what seems to be a fresh expression of Christianity in the United States. We have given that expression the title of Black Evangelicalism.

This group can loosely be identified by three characteristics. First, they betray some connection to wider evangelism either through evangelical seminaries, parachurch organizations, or Christian Hip Hop. Second, this group for the most part is not directly connected to the historic black denominations.

Third, and related to the first, they have nonetheless adopted many of the characteristics of the Black Christian tradition including preaching and music. They are neither fully integrated into the black church nor are they fully immersed in evangelicalism.

They are a third thing with a startling coherence of the theological program that is emerging from this corner of the church. We consider their program a work of the Spirit in our day. It seems that they are calling for a union of orthodox theology and a demand for justice, particularly as it relates to the historic concerns of black folks in the United States. This stands in some contrast to the more justice oriented white evangelicals which, overall, tend to be slightly more progressive.

They are Orthodox and woke and may point towards a brighter future for the church if we will listen.

About Natasha Sistrunk Robinson

Natasha Sistrunk Robinson is the author of Mentor for Life: Finding Purpose Through Intentional Discipleship (Zondervan, 2016). As the Founder and President of Leadership LINKS, Inc., her vision is to holistically develop transformative and redemptive servant leaders who are united in community and committed to invest in long-term generational and cultural change.

She is a gifted writer, speaker, leadership and mentoring consultant, anti-human trafficking advocate and community organizer. Natasha graduated cum laude (M.A. in Christian Leadership) from Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary Charlotte, where she also received the Redemptive Leadership Award. Natasha is a graduate of the U.S. Naval Academy and a former Marine Corps officer.

She has over 15 years of leadership and mentoring experience. She serves her community on the board of directors for the AbolitionNC, an anti-human trafficking organization, and Hope Academy, and is a member at Grace Community Church, a nondenominational, multi-ethnic church that is committed to making disciples across racial, ethnic, and socioeconomic lines. She is a member of the Redbud Writers Guild, and a regular contributor to Christianity Today’s Gifted for Leadership and Leadership Journal.

About Esau McCaulley

Rev. Esau McCaulley has served across many professional and cultural contexts throughout his ministerial career and theological study. These experiences include rector at All Souls Episcopal/Anglican Church in Okinawa, Japan, assistant to the rector, St. John’s Episcopal Church, Portsmouth, VA, and spiritual life director at Norfolk Christian High School, Norfolk, VA. Rev. McCaulley’s recent areas of research have focused on Paul’s letters in Galatians and Romans, and Second Temple Judaism and Greco-Roman background to the New Testament. Rev. McCaulley has dedicated his work in Christian higher education to instructing students on the proper interpretation and application of biblical texts.

Additional Resources

Natasha’s Missio Alliance Author Page

Mentor for Life

EsauMcCaulley.com