"Marshall Keeble, the premier evangelist in Churches of Christ in the twentieth century, died in April 1968, the same month as Martin Luther King Jr. Keeble spent fifty-five years as a full-time evangelist using his remarkable gifts, steadfastness, toughness, and tactical navigation of the Black/White divide to baptize as many as forty thousand people. He planted and raised over three hundred congregations and mentored powerful sons and grandsons in the faith, including Fred Gray, the famous civil rights attorney.
Keeble's message was simple, but his life is more complicated than many have thought. Even his closest admirers disagreed with him and were baffled by his unflinching silence on the topic of race. Never in his life did Keeble openly defy segregation although he did confront the innumerable racist attacks and humiliations he experienced. His commitment to evangelism was unwavering; he wanted nothing to get in the way of it. He championed self-help and personal morality and thought broader politics were of little value.
Faithful Defiance recounts the remarkable story of Keeble's life, revealing fresh insights into how his legacy continues to challenge and inform the present day."
"'Sad, honest, hopeful, funny, instructive. . . . the very best of a memoir' (Mike Cope, author of Megan's Secrets)
When we grow up Christian, it is always in a small place. At first, we don't even know it is a small place. It's just our place, and it feels like home. We launch out from this small place, and we discover that the Christian way is longer and richer than we ever knew.
Noted theologian Leonard Allen's story begins at age eight in his father's bookroom—and with an emerging cluster of questions about the faith he inherited. The search for answers led him on a long journey, including a harrowing desert season, then a season of newness he had not imagined.
You will recognize the characters in this story. You will smile, laugh, and feel some of the grief along the way. You'll get glimpses into the rich texture of our lives—the power of memory, the struggles with selfhood, the need for forgiveness, the surprises of grace."
Join our community for the latest bookish news, reading recommendations, exclusive opening extracts, author events and competitions. It\'s all free. And enter a monthly draw to win a £50 Gift Card. See past winners here
