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    Sisters in Faith Bible: A new journey through The Good Book for African-American women

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    Sister in Faith Bible
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    Sister in Faith Bible

    Sisters in Faith Bible: A new journey through The Good Book for African-American women

        “The Sisters in Faith Bible is the perfect Bible for a Divinely Inspired Victoriously Anointed DIVA woman who desires a closer relationship with God and a better under-standing of how faith relates to every area of life. It represents a sisterhood I want to be a part of!” — Sheryl Lee Ralph, actress

         NASHVILLE, TN (BlackNews.com) — Thomas Nelson, a world leading Christian publisher, is preparing to release a new Bible that will provide African-American women with an important and inspiring new tool to help bring their Sunday morning experience into their everyday lives. The Sisters in Faith Holy Bible: Encouraging and Empowering African-American Women with God’s Truth is expected to address the concerns of today’s Christian women who are seeking God’s wisdom and guidance in every area of their busy and complex lives. The Bible will be available Jan. 1, 2013 in stores and online.

        This beautifully designed Bible will have a unique African-American perspective, thanks to executive editors Michele Clark Jenkins and Stephanie Perry Moore. Jenkins and Moore are the co-founders of Sisters in Faith, an entity established to create meaningful products that encourage and empower African-American women with God’s truth, and address the needs and concerns of life that are particularly challenging to the women in this culture.

        “African-American women have a different history and a different presence from any other demographic,” said Jenkins. “Their history is characterized by strength in the face of instability; making a way out of no way and self-definition in the face of a lost identity. A substantial number of African-American women are working mothers and often-times single mothers. Most are looking to cut a new path. The Sisters in Faith Bible is de-signed to speak directly to the specific needs of this group of women.”

        “African-American women have long suffered and long loved the Lord in such a way that being Christian and being an African-American woman is synonymous,” adds Moore. “But very few Christian pro-ducts reveal the African-American woman’s voice to the body of Christ and almost none have been created to speak directly to her in a way that relates to her life and her struggle. This will be a journey to awaken a new and dynamic spirit for these women.”

        Jenkins is the senior director of the Public Policy Consulting Group for Griffin & Strong, P.C. and also specializes in entertainment contracts and business development. She is the author of numerous faith-based books and co-editor of several Bible projects. Moore has also served as co-editor for several Bible projects and is the author of over 50 young adult, inspirational fiction books and four adult titles.

       Together, they have gathered 12 women — who live in different areas of the country, and are experiencing different ages and stages of their lives, relationships and careers — to contribute to this project. Joann Rosario Condrey, a recording artist, worship leader and ordained evangelist; Helen Delaney, co-pastor at Liberty Church in Marietta, Ga.; Vanessa Davis Griggs, a motivational speaker and author of more than 13 novels; Keren Heath, a writer, entrepreneur and worship leader; Tiffani-MiShelle Johnson, a poet, actor, screenwriter and director; Jennifer Keitt, author, host of Today’s Black Woman radio show, and founder of Zakar magazine and the Jennifer Keitt Life Institute for Women; Jamell Meeks, Director of Women’s Ministries for the Salem Baptist Church of Chicago; Brenda Noel, an award-winning freelance publishing professional and partner in ECHO Creative Media; Dawn Sherill, M. Div., co-founder and partner in ECHO Creative Media; Kim Cash Tate, an author, attorney and co-founder of the nonprofit ministry, Colored in Christ; Karen Waddles, assistant to the publisher of Moody Publishers, the publishing arm of Moody Bible Institute; and Lakeba Hibbler Williams, a licensed counselor, speaker, trainer, and educator.

        The Sisters in Faith Bible is a sister-to-sister guide through the Word of God that demonstrates how the Word is active and practical for every part of life, including a sister’s interaction with God, herself, her family members, her career and co-workers and others.

    Featured sections will include:

        The Heart – an enriching overview of each book of the Bible, which describes its content and theme, and includes personal insight from one of the contributors, telling how each book specifically spoke to her heart.

        Arise! – devotionals that have been developed by women to share their understanding of God’s Word in ways that directly address women’s issues and concerns. These 50 devotionals address topics such as church, prayer life, parents, marriage, divorce, children, accountability, forgiveness, jealousy, friendship, trust, leadership, stress management, money, organization, work ethic and many more.

        Quest and Discovery – questions and answers that address some of life’s most difficult situations head-on and the truth in the Scripture that makes rising above the challenges of life seem attainable.

        She Speaks – inviting, first-person accounts that allow the reader to look at life through the eyes of the women in the Bible, as they relate to the joys, sorrows, victories, and defeats of these sisters from long ago.

        Notes to Self – fifty snippets of wisdom that include Biblical insight, the supporting Scripture, and a personal resolution to challenge and encourage the reader.

        A Place of Honor – lessons of faith gained through the lives of 10 Biblical women of African descent.

        Lyrical Expressions – five poems that address real-life dilemmas and the resulting drama. Each poem will lead the reader to the realization that the only true help for these situations is through God.

        Empowered Faith – motivational articles to help readers find the trust and confidence we are called to place in God and the people He has given us to enhance our lives, and also to help readers understand that through the Word of God, we are empowered to live fruitful, abundant lives, fully engaged in the pursuit of healthy relationships with God and others.

        Thomas Nelson, Inc., part of the HarperCollins Christian Publishing division, is a world leading provider of Christian content, and has been providing readers with quality inspirational product for more than 200 years. The Company publishes and provides multiple formats of award-winning Bibles, books, cookbooks and digital content, with distribution of its products in more than 100 countries. The company’s live events division is the leading producer of the nation’s largest Christian live events. Thomas Nelson is headquartered in Nashville, TN with additional offices in Plano, TX. For additional information, please visit www.thomasnelsoncorporate.com.

        For more info about the Sisters in Faith Bible, visit www.SistersinFaithBible.com

     

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    Carma Lynn Henry Westside Gazette Newspaper 545 N.W. 7th Terrace, Fort Lauderdale, Florida 33311 Office: (954) 525-1489 Fax: (954) 525-1861

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He has grown his flock from the 25 or so students who showed up at his first services to more than 200 each Sunday. Sometimes, it’s standing room only. “We’ve been trying to figure out what to do next because on Easter Sunday we had 342 people, and some were standing in the back,” he said. Word In Black talked to Lockett about the secrets of his success: how his adjustment of Sunday ser-vices got people into the pews, why his philosophy for guiding students on their spiritual journey centers on independent thought, and how his “Spin the Block” initiative is shaking things up on campus. The in-terview has been edited for length and clarity. Word in Black: The first thing we want to know is, how do you get so many young people to chapel every Sunday?. Lawrence Lockett: Well, first of all, I changed the time of service from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. I realized a lot of the students like to sleep in late. It gives them time to do whatever they need to do. I’m sure many of them still like to party hearty over the weekend. So they have a good chance just to kind of refocus, recali-brate, get themselves lunch, and then come over to the chapel for service. When I started in November, maybe 20-25 students came, but now it’s over 200 that come every Sun-day, and it’s pretty cool. So now we’re repositioning ourselves to go after the freshman class this year. If we have the same success as last year, there’s definitely not going to be any room. Word in Black: Tell me about pastoring on a college campus. Lawrence Lockett: Morgan actually started as a biblical institute, so the Christian traditions have al-ways been here. As a pastor or shepherd, I’m walking students through their questions, not always just trying to preach answers to them. It’s about being vulnerable. I tell them I was in their same position, just trying to figure it out. And it’s not me just trying to give them answers. Having been there helps me really walk with them and anchor them in the storm of life that’s going to come. I want them to understand that their soul really matters. A lot of students focus on mental health, but they really need to focus on spiritual health as well. It should be one and the same. So I’ve been trying to preach that, if anything, spiritual health is just as important as your mental health. But we do encour-age the use of the counseling center, for sure, if there is a mental health crisis. WIB: What does Monday through Friday look like for you? LL: Mondays, we are usually off because of Sundays. On Tuesdays, we have Bible studies, so I’ll host a Bible study at noon along with my colleagues that work in the chapel. And then, I’m teaching a class called Hip-hop and the Gospel on Tuesdays at 2:30 p.m., dealing with mixing culture and religion. 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