February is Black History Month. In its eight-year history, Influence has published numerous articles, podcasts, and book reviews on topics related to race, racism, and reconciliation. The editors have curated the following items from the magazine’s archives. Their goal is to resource pastors, lay leaders, churches, and ministries with sound biblical theology, good historical understanding, and best ministry practices.

Bible and Theology

The Bible is God’s inspired, infallible revelation. What it says should shape our perspective on all issues related to race and ethnicity. The following articles attempt to articulate a faithful, biblical theology for a racially and ethnically diverse church.

• “Which Lives Matter?” by George O. Wood
• “A Church Like Heaven on Earth” by Chris Beard
• “Adam, Abraham, and the Apocalypse” by Rodolfo Galvan Estrada III
• “Twelve Bible Verses About Race and Ethnicity” by George P. Wood
• “Is Diversity a Biblical Value?” by Rodolfo Galvan Estrada III

Seymour and Azusa Street

Pentecostal Christianity owes an incalculable debt to the ministry of William J. Seymour at the Azusa Street Mission in Los Angeles. The revival that took place there under his leadership was the central and most influential node on the emerging social network of early Pentecostalism. The following items focus on Seymour and Azusa Street.

• “The Azusa Street Revival”: Influence Podcast Episode 106 with Cecil M. Robeck Jr.
• “How William J. Seymour Led Azusa Street”: Influence Podcast Episode 274 with Cecil M. Robeck Jr.
• “Five Leadership Lessons of William J. Seymour” by Doug Clay
• “Lessons from Azusa’s Pastor” by Ruthie Oberg

National Black Fellowship

The National Black Fellowship (NBF) of the Assemblies of God describes itself as  “ a Movement of Hope transforming communities by developing and deploying African American leaders, planting and revitalizing churches, advancing biblical justice and restoring families.” The following articles feature the voices of executive officers of NBF.

• “Where We Stand Shapes What We See” by George P. Wood, Walter Harvey, Darnell K. Williams Sr., Darrell Geddes, and Gerard Ruff
• “With: You Can’t Impact Your Community If You Ignore Its Pain” by Walter Harvey
• “A Place Called Sherman Park” by Walter Harvey
• “Celebrating the National Black Fellowship of the Assemblies of God”: Influence Podcast Episode 242 with Walter Harvey

Best Ministry Practices

Pastors and other church leaders often lead the work of racial reconciliation in their congregations and communities. The following articles address best ministry practices Christian leaders should employ.

• “Preaching in Living Color” by Matthew D. Kim
• “Crossing the Lines that Divide”: An interview with Sam Huddleston and George Westlake III
• “The Multiethnic Church as a Solution to Racism”: Influence Podcast Episode 224 with Mark DeYmaz
• “Four Ways Church Leaders Can Inspire Racial Healing” by Paul A. Hoffman and Matthew D. Kim
• “Racial Healing Begins By Acknowledging Wounds” by Gavin Brown
• “Leading the Way Toward Racial Reconciliation” by Alex Bryant
• “Diversity Matters” by Sarah Jackson
• “Stop Playing Favorites” by Kayla Pierce

Book Reviews

One of the best ways to understand the fraught issues of race, ethnicity, and racism is to read books. Over the years, Influence has published reviews of a number of important books on those topics. The following reviews by Executive Editor George P. Wood highlight books well worth reading.

• “Frederick Douglass: America’s Prophet”: Review of Frederick Douglass by D. H. Dilbeck
• “In Search of the Beloved Community”: Review of Welcoming Justice by Charles Marsh and John M. Perkins, Woke Church by Eric Mason, and The Color of Compromise by Jemar Tisby
• “Reconciliation in a Racially Divided Country”: Review of One Blood by John M. Perkins
• “The ARC of Racial Justice”: Review of How to Fight Racism by Jemar Tisby
• “Restoring Black Dignity with the Gospel”: Review of Urban Apologetics, edited by Eric Mason
• “Healing Racial Wounds One Friend at a Time”: Review of Life-Changing Cross-Cultural Friendships by Gary Chapman and Clarence Shuler