Some time back, Pastor Kevin Barnes, of the Abyssinian Baptist Church in Oakland, California, picked up a copy of my book, Letters to Young Black Men, from a Walgreens store, near his church. He contacted me and told me he read the book in one setting, with tears in his eyes. Later, he invited me to do a major book-signing in his city. When I met him and his family, I was impressed with the fact that his three sons (two of which are grown) were serving the Lord with alacrity. These young men were not being forced to work in the ministry with their father; they wanted to serve in the ministry with their father. This totally blessed my heart, because it is so rare in this day and time, to see grown, young black men who have a loving and warm relationship with their parents and who actually want to serve the Lord.

Some time back, Pastor Kevin Barnes, of the Abyssinian Baptist Church in Oakland, California, picked up a copy of my book, Letters to Young Black Men, from a Walgreens store, near his church. He contacted me and told me he read the book in one setting, with tears in his eyes. Later, he invited me to do a major book-signing in his city. When I met him and his family, I was impressed with the fact that his three sons (two of which are grown) were serving the Lord with alacrity. These young men were not being forced to work in the ministry with their father; they wanted to serve in the ministry with their father. This totally blessed my heart, because it is so rare in this day and time, to see grown, young black men who have a loving and warm relationship with their parents and who actually want to serve the Lord.

I said to myself, apparently, Bro. Barnes and Sis. Barnes have done some things right in raising these young men for the glory of God. It is one thing to raise a child, and the child turns out okay, and does not get into trouble. But it is another thing, in this day and time, when you see black parents raise children, who not only turn out okay, but actually are excited about serving the Lord. This is easily said, but not easily done. If it were easy, we would have many more parents today, both black and white, doing it.

After some prayer, I encouraged Pastor Barnes to write this book, not because Pastor Barnes is necessarily a writer, but because Pastor Barnes and Mrs. Barnes have actually raised three young black men successfully. Today, we have many people who write books, but they have not done what they are writing about. Well, Pastor Barnes and his wife have done what they are writing about, and I want you to hear what they have to say and take heed to it.

—Daniel Whyte III
Glasgow, Scotland

Successfully Raising Young Black Men is available now on Amazon and Amazon Kindle.