God's Amazing Grace: Reconciling Four Centuries of African American Marriages and Families

"God's Amazing Grace: Reconciling Four Centuries of African American Marriages and Families is an insightful study that will be welcomed by thoughtful practitioners and all who ponder the African American family's complexity. Readers familiar with the deep, rich reservoir of African American family literature will recognize many of the black scholars referenced in this work. Readers unfamiliar with these sources will be grateful to discover them and the effective use of disparate literature.

"This work will become a different kind of guide for studying American history through the lens of the African American family. Underneath all the research is the search for answers to the compelling questions: Is there a correlation between slave owners' denial to slaves, God's design for the family, and the familial chaos that has plagued African American families for more than a hundred fifty years? And if there is connection, what is it?

"The author has brought something new to a familiar topic of discussion-the Bible. The unique moral compass that steered this study is solidly anchored in the bedrock of holy scripture. In this work, the history and sociology of African American marriages are examined in light of the questions asked by Holy Scripture. In so doing, Dr. Turner skillfully attempts to help readers make sense of the story of black families in America. May this book mark the beginning to a new reality for African American families" (Dr. Willie Peterson, senior executive advisor, adjunct professor of Pastoral Ministries, Dallas Theological Seminary).

Terry M. Turner holds two master’s degrees in theology and a doctors degree in Christian Education. He has spent a lifetime in ministry counseling couples to live by Christian principles in the hope they achieve marriage and family happiness. After 25 years of pastoral ministry, he realized his life was missing the satisfaction that should have come with the guidance and advice he gave to others. Because of the pain in his marriage, family, and personal life, Turner decided to return to school in search for an answer. While pursuing a doctors’ degree with an emphasis on marriage and family, he discovered that many of the risk factors which plagued the families of his ancestors also existed in his life and family. This discovery led him to research and understand how the traumas of past generations affect the lives of present-day African Americans. 

Turner reveals how knowing the success and suffering of previous ancestors will contribute to achieving stability in marriage and family by working on oneself. Perhaps you will find his story is yours, and as Americans, our stories are all linked in four centuries of marriages and families. He explores how the racial histories of all Americans are one history like two sides of a coin and marriages and families of all people groups benefits from the unity of race relationships. 

Turner’s ministry among Southern Baptist serves as an example of his efforts to bridge the racial gaps in America. Turner served as President of the 2010 Southern Baptist of Texas Convention Bible Conference in Irving, Texas. In 2011 and 2012 he was elected for two consecutive terms to serve as President of the SBTC. As president of the SBTC, he led over 2500 affiliated churches throughout the state of Texas; Turner started the “Look Like Heaven” initiative as a racial reconciliation effort for the convention churches and pastors to improve relationships through various multi-ethnic fellowships as exemplified in Rev. 7:9. From 2012-2014 he was selected to serve on the African American Advisory Council for the Executive Committee President of the Southern Baptist Convention. He currently serves as a trustee for Criswell College and Gateway Seminary of the Southern Baptist Convention.

Know more about author’s other books through the links below:

https://www.mesquitefriendship.com/new-book

https://www.facebook.com/TerryM.Turner400/