One of the many, many good aspects of Be the Bridge are the prayer liturgies at the end of each chapter. It’s so encouraging to see a book on racial reconciliation that highlights the importance of prayer in the work of reconciliation!
Another connection of this book with CTR is that the author, Latasha Morrison, lived here for many years. In fact, her ministry Be the Bridge (same name as the book) was founded here in Austin, based on her experiences as the only black pastor at a well-known church in the city. She tells the story in the first part of the book - how her Austin experience led to the ministry, and how the ministry led to the book.
She published the book in 2019, and it won a Book of the Year award from Christianity Today - which I was so happy to see. Then 2020 happened … and after the George Floyd killing white people all across the nation went looking for books about racial reconciliation. Latasha’s book shot up on the New York Times bestseller list and went out of print! “For such a time as this …” How wonderful for a Godly, honest, well-crafted book to become a national resource in time of crisis.
Be the Bridge is also one of the best books on reconciliation I have read, period. She lays out a map for racial reconciliation that can be applied to many other contexts. For example, she focuses on the importance of shared lament - which we practiced in Wittenberg 2017. She doesn’t skip over the need for repentance, but also doesn’t stop there - moving on to cover how God can heal past wounds and make all things new. No “perpetual white guilt” can be found in this book - it is filled with hope. And practical steps that can be taken, now. And probing questions at the end of each chapter, perfect for a small group meeting or a personal examination of conscience.
If you haven’t read Be the Bridge, prayerfully consider doing it sooner rather than later.
