Grace to Overcome - by Bryan C Loritts (Hardcover)

Book Synopsis

Empowering Your Journey, One Story at A Time.

Grace to Overcome invites you on a spiritual and historical journey, interweaving the rich tapestry of Black history with the profound narratives of the Bible. Crafted by Pastor Bryan C. Loritts, an influential voice in multiethnic church movements, Grace to Overcome is a powerful collection of 31 devotions that bring to life the stories of both renowned and lesser-known figures who have help shaped society. From the soulful notes of Miles Davis and Billie Holiday to the groundbreaking inventions of Jerry Lawson and Alice H. Parker, each story is an inspiring testament to resilience and faith.

Through these reflections, Loritts not only shines a light on the triumphs and trials of Black history across various arenas including sports, politics, and technology, but also challenges readers to see their personal journeys within God's grand design. In a world where the importance of learning Black history often faces scrutiny, Grace to Overcome stands as a poignant reminder of the enduring power of heritage and the gospel's call to live with grace and purpose. Embark on this devotional path and discover how each story, including your own, contributes to the divine narrative.

Review Quotes

"I read these devotionals and remember who I am, who we are, and who God is. Grace to Overcome connects us to God's grace throughout history and proves our miracle is not over or waiting to unfold. It is now."

--Renée Elise Goldsberry, Tony Award- and Grammy Award-winning artist

"Grace to Overcome is a must-read that should be in every household! Bryan Loritts does a magnificent job interweaving the story of black people throughout history with Scripture and further helps the reader develop an appreciation for black history and the deep roots of Christianity within the black community. Bryan writes in a way that engulfs the reader in story and history just as he's always done as a preacher. Bryan has been influencing the hearts of people since the beginning of his ministry, and this work only further provides the evidence of the gift he has been to many, including me!"

--Derrick Puckett, senior pastor of Renewal Church of Chicago and president of The Chicago Partnership

"Bryan Loritts invites you on a daily experience at the crossroads of the presence and power of God and the historic journey of people of color. Seldom is there such a spiritual synthesis of holy revelation and historic affirmation of the sovereign presence of God in the earthly journey of people of faith. In the tone and tenor of the sovereignty of God in the lives of the displaced and often despised heroes of Israel, Dr. Loritts has sensitively and intentionally woven the revelation of the hand of God and the history of his sons and daughters of ebony hue into a daily call to gather at the junction of the display of the love of God in the lives of those often labeled the least, the last, and the lost."

--Kenneth C. Ulmer, senior advisor to the president at Biola University

"Bryan Loritts's writing is both endearing and in-depth, comprehensive and clear. His personal vulnerability, historical scholarship, and theological precision shimmer in each devotional. Every page of this work will draw the reader into the deeper story of history and the thread of God's boundless grace that runs through it. This book may help you to understand humanity more fully, but it will do something more, something better--it will invite you to see Jesus more clearly. And isn't that the point? In Bryan's writing and preaching, it always is."

--Priscilla Shirer, Bible teacher and author

"Depth, balance, clarity, and creativity are words that come to mind when thinking of this resource. This symphonic resource merges history, story, and the Bible for the mind and the heart all in one. My dear friend Bryan Loritts has graciously kept all of us from separating our sociality from our theology; he doesn't call us to put our sociology before our theology but the other way around. Seeing the redemptive story of God in any history is amazing; however, seeing this metanarrative in black history is a gift for all of us to continue to see it in our lives today."

--Eric Mason, founder and lead pastor of Epiphany Fellowship and author

"Full of snapshots of black history, Brian Loritts's offering has given a tremendous gift to Christians who long to learn and rejoice in God's big story of grace to people from every nation, tribe, and tongue. You'll encounter a wide range of historical figures, some who will encourage you, others who will challenge you. But the story of Jesus and his saving work runs through all of it. Read and be encouraged."

--Matthew J. Hall, provost of Biola University

"Speaking to the heart of our present moment, Bryan Loritts presents a powerfully composed amalgamation of hope and heritage that illuminates the faith, tenacity, and collective contributions of the black diaspora. Encouraged through the lens of Scripture, we are called to remember, to reckon, and to rise. Loritts lifts history from the pages of time and sets it before us as a beautiful living testament to God's sovereign hand at work. This book doesn't merely inform--it provokes, it stirs the soul, and it calls us to action. With these masterfully articulated devotions, Dr. Loritts has done it again."

--Ricky Jenkins, senior pastor of Southwest Church in Indian Wells, California

"This is what Bryan Loritts does best--unearthing stories we haven't heard to reveal lessons we didn't know we needed. With a sharp eye for the overlooked and an innate gift for storytelling, he brings these moments to life in ways that challenge, inspire, and stay with you long after you've finished reading. Bryan is not just a collector of stories; he's a craftsman, weaving them into meaningful insights that resonate deeply. Grace to Overcome is Bryan doing his best work."

--Janetta Oni, author of Toxic Church

"We need these historical narratives from the experience of African American Christ-followers. After all, we have come over a way that with tears has been watered, treading our path through the blood of the slaughtered. The intersection of faith and the unique African American story is perhaps the most timely message for America today. It's not just a story that we read, but a story that reads us. This is the kind of book you will want to offer to your children in years to come."

--Charlie Dates, senior pastor of Salem Baptist Church of Chicago, from the foreword

About the Author

Bryan C. Loritts (DMin, Liberty University) is teaching pastor of the Summit Church in Durham, North Carolina. He has dedicated his life and ministry to seeing the multiethnic church become the new normal in our society. He is also vice president for regions for the Send Network, the church planting arm of the Southern Baptist Convention, where he is responsible for training church planters in multiethnic church planting. He has been a featured speaker at the Global Leadership Summit and Catalyst. His books include Insider Outsider, The Offensive Church, and Enduring Friendship.