Messengers: Portraits of African American Ministers, Evangelists, Gospel Singers, and Other Messengers of "the Word"

Award-winning music writer Ritz (whose credits include a biography of Marvin Gaye and a coauthored autobiography of Ray Charles) grew up Jewish—but in his 60s, he "finally embrace[d] Jesus." Looking back, he sees that he had been getting to know Jesus for decades, and that he learned about him most powerfully from African-American musicians and ministers. This heartwarming book profiles 25 of Ritz's heroes, including well-known figures, like the Rev. Calvin Butts and gospel musician Kirk Franklin, and less famous people, like pastor Jackie McCullough. Each entry comprises a brief reflection by the musician or minister and several stunning portraits by photographer Goode. Some of the selections are quite vivid—we can almost hear these saints preaching. When California bishop Noel Jones promises that we can be renewed and revivified like Lazarus, it's as though we are in the room with him. Still, Ritz's failure to provide even a paragraph of introduction about each of the 25 luminaries in this book will limit the audience to those in the know. And that would be a shame, because both the words and images that Ritz has pulled together are inspiring. (Mar. 21)