Reviving the Black Church: New Life for a Sacred Institution

by Thabiti M. Anyabwile

Is the Black Church dying?  The picture is mixed and there are many challenges. The church needs spiritual revival. But reviving and strengthening the Black Church will require great wisdom and courage.   Reviving the Black Church  calls us back to another time, borrowing the wisdom of earlier faithful Christians. But more importantly, it calls us back to the Bible itself. For there we find the divine wisdom needed to see all quarters of the Black Church live again, thriving in the Spirit of God. It’s pastor and church planter Thabiti Anyabwile's humble prayer that this book might be useful to pastors and faithful lay members in reviving at least some quarters of the Black Church, and churches of  every  ethnicity and context— all for the glory of God.

Genres: Church, African American, Christianity, Ecclesiology, Theology, Christian, Spirituality

288 pages, Paperback

First published October 1, 2015

About the author

Thabiti Anyabwile (MS, North Carolina State University) is a pastor at Anacostia River Church in southeast Washington, DC. He serves as a council member of the Gospel Coalition, is a lead writer for 9Marks Ministries, and regularly blogs at The Front Porch and Pure Church. He and his wife, Kristie, have three children.

Reviews

[Jeremy Mueller · Rating 5 out of 5]

Read this book while researching the historic roots of the black church in America and its founding, and I found Thabiti's book to be a helpful volume in aiding that study. Particular, his critique of social gospel movements balanced with his praise for the unique contributions and roots of the black church tradition are a needed conversation for today's American evangelical church.

[Rev. Kareem · Rating 5 out of 5]

Reviving the Black Church is a must read book for any church that's serious about kingdom building. My only con for the book is Thabiti's use of the word "Black Church" instead of just using the word "church"...

[Tyler Brown · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wonderful work explaining the central ideas that will revitalize any church or denomination. I thoroughly appreciated Anyabwile's heart for the black church and her strengths as well as weaknesses. He offers a refreshing balance of critiquing social gospel movements while pointing out the historic strengths of the black church's connection to the needs of her community. I found his frequent citations to African American scholars and pastors massively helpful for evangelicals that may not be familiar with non-white theologians. His treatments of the history of the black church are evidence of Anyabwile's extensive research and time put into this volume.

[Sylvia Torrey · Rating 3 out of 5]

I read this book in 2021 when it was first purchased. It did not meet my expectations as I got further into the reading. though not overtly stated, an undertone of the author's chauvinism was apparent from the beginning. He did speak of some issues within the Black church that are blatantly obvious. Theologically he only skimmed the surface of the scripture. There were no inciteful exegetical statements in the entire writing. His early Baptist indoctrination is evident throughout. I hoped for objective, contrasting views of the Black Church with insightful suggestions of revival. Anyabwile does not follow through with suggestions of revival techniques.

[Seth Woodley · Rating 4 out of 5]

Many points of application for every church. Some illuminating details on cultural practices and differences that can be appreciated. There is much to learn from Anyabwile and from the black church.