Grace to Overcome

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.



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 presidentfor 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.







Charlie E. Dates (PhD, Trinity Evangelical Divinity School) is the senior pastor of Salem and Progressive Baptist Churches of Chicago. A sought-after speaker, he is widely invited to preach at churches, conferences, and universities throughout theUnited States and abroad. He is an affiliate professor at Baylor University's George W. Truett Theological Seminary, Anderson University, and Wheaton College. He is a contributing author to the Handbook of Contemporary Preaching and Letters to a Birmingham Jail. He and his wife, Kirstie, and their children Charlie II and Claire live in Chicago.



Foreword by Charlie Dates



Introduction: Cul-de-sacs



Day 1. Jesse Needs a Hug



Day 2. Miles's Back



Day 3. Thank God for a Praying Mama



Day 4. The Godfather of Dignity



Day 5. Olaudah "Oxymoron" Equiano



Day 6. The Dozens



Day 7. The Father of Modern Gaming



Day 8. Billie Holiday and Her "Strange Fruit"



Day 9. Not Today



Day 10. Invaluably Hidden



Day 11. Zipporah's Hot Comb



Day 12. Black Excellence



Day 13. A Moment of Silence for Anarcha, Lucy, and Betsey



Day 14. Edward's Crossover



Day 15. Cookies and Caged Birds



Day 16. Michael Takes on MTV



Day 17. The Black Babe Ruth?



Day 18. Highway Dignity



Day 19. Marvin's Question



Day 20. Don't Waste Your Pain



Day 21. Obama's Crown



Day 22. 90 Seconds to Camelot



Day 23. A Warm Presence



Day 24. I Gotta Be Me



Day 25. Joe Louis . . . the Golfer?



Day 26. How Long, O Lord?



Day 27. Emmit's "Shoes"



Day 28. What's My Name?



Day 29. Whitney's Way



Day 30. The Defiant Mary Lumpkin



Day 31. Leaving Paris



Afterword: Bonhoeffer's Black Jesus



Acknowledgments



Notes