Like Roses Rising from Concrete

About the Book

These fifty-two spiritual reflections cover a variety of topics that will be of interest to the spiritually curious who want to know more about Christ, the Black Church, Urban America, and even, the late rapper, poet, and actor, Tupac Shakur. Some entries are autobiographical testimonies; others are short theological essays. Most offer the reader ways to apply biblical truth to life’s situations; and more than a few include a social critique of the worst elements of American culture, coupled with references to noteworthy people and events in African American history. Each entry will provide food for the mind, heart, and soul. The title of this book was inspired by the powerful metaphor depicted in Shakur’s famous poem about a rose that resiliently grows up above unyielding forces—forces meant to suppress its potential. These essays originally were crafted through the author’s weekly discipline of preparing spiritual reflections for publication in his congregation’s Sunday morning worship bulletin. What is presented here are expanded or modified versions of these weekly entries. Though none were, or are sermons, together, they are presented in the chronology and thematic focus that Pastor Bryant normally lifts up during the cycle of a year of preaching. The themes reflect those liturgical celebrations that are recognized in many African American mainline congregations from January to December: Epiphany, Black History Month, Lent, Easter, Mother’s Day, Pentecost, Father’s Day, Women’s Day, Ordinary Time, Youth Sunday, Stewardship Month, Senior’s Day, Friends and Family Sunday, Men’s Day, Advent, Christmas, Kwanzaa, and Watch Night. It is the author’s hope that these pastoral essays, each one like a rose ascending and pushing upward, will exalt the beauty of Christ, the strength of faith, the power of the Word of God, and the fascinating story of what God has done and is doing in the world, especially through the lives of those who have been, in the words of the Negro Spiritual, “buked and scorned…and talked about as sure as you were born.”

About the Author

Gregory E. Bryant is the Senior Pastor of the United Christian Church of Detroit (Disciples of Christ), in Detroit, Michigan. Prior to receiving the call to serve United, he served several congregations in Indianapolis, Indiana. He is a graduate of Jarvis Christian College, in Hawkins, Texas, where he completed a Bachelor of Science in History. He also is a graduate of Christian Theological Seminary, in Indianapolis, where he earned a Master of Divinity and has completed work toward the Doctor of Ministry Degree. He is the author of another book, previously published by Authorhouse, entitled, The American Church in Black and White: Navigating Minefields to Become God’s Intercultural Community. Reverend Bryant has been a workshop leader, lecturer, preacher for retreats, revivals, and ecumenical gatherings. Reading, music, art, cars, politics, and sports - especially basketball, are his additional interests. But one of the most important joys of his life is his family. His wife, Crystal, is a teacher and a Reading Interventionist for an elementary/middle school, located in Redford, Michigan. He and Crystal have been blessed with three wonderful children: sons, Gregory and Isaiah, both college students; and a daughter, Christiana, a Junior in high school.