High Impact African-American Churches: Leadership Concepts From Some of Today's Most Effective Churches

High Impact African-American Churches: Leadership Concepts From Some of Today's Most Effective Churches by George Barna and Harry Jackson Jr., Regal Books July 2004, $14, ISBN 0-830-73265-9

This book opens with a simple question: Is there really anything white churches can learn from black churches? From there, the authors seek to discover how high-impact African American churches have been able to recruit so many zealots for Christ and gain such prominence not only in the spiritual lives of its members, but also in the social, political and economic dimensions. The text is coauthored by Barna, head of the Barna Group, who provides Christian ministry resources in Ventura, California, and Harry R. Jackson, Jr., African-American pastor of Hope Christian Center in Washington, D.C.

Despite its stated agenda and intended audience--white churches--the book should be read by anyone who has ever contemplated leadership in an African American church and any activist dedicated to improving black America. It is also for any open-minded reader of any race, who is already sold on the all-encompassing nature of Christianity. The text provides a remarkable guidebook for winning converts, improving church leadership, enhancing the worship experience, evangelizing in the family, building a social service agenda and encouraging holistic stewardship.

Kristin Henning is a freelance writer and a professor at Georgetown Law Center in Washington, D.C.

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