Book Review: Thy Kingdom Come: Reflections on Pastoral and Prophetic Ministry

Last updated on: July 29, 2012 at 6:40 pm by Andre E. Johnson

Book Review: Thy Kingdom Come: Reflections on Pastoral and Prophetic Ministry 2012-07-29T18:40:00-05:00 Andre E. Johnson

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Many people upon first meeting me are surprise to find out that I am both a professor and pastor. This surprise comes from the belief many hold that says pastors (read black and for that matter the black church) are somehow lacking in intellectual rigor. Pastors (read black) are behind the times, slow to change, steep in dogmatic tradition. Many take for example the HIV/AIDS epidemic ravishing our community as proof pastors (read black) and churches (read black) are ill equipped to engage problems facing people in a rapidly changing world. What I try to tell anyone who would listen to me that this is not all of the pastors—and certainly not many of the pastors I know. Many pastors are doing great work in their communities because they understanding the times in which we live.

One such young man is Pastor C.J. Rhodes, senior pastor of the oldest historically black church in Mississippi, Mt. Helm Baptist Church located in Jackson, Mississippi. He is the author of “Thy Kingdom Come: Reflections on Pastoral and Prophetic Ministry.” Styled from the writings of his spiritual mentor, Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., the book reflects Rhodes’ vision of Christian and pastoral leadership. Believing that the church is God’s hope for the world, Rhodes seeks to call forth a prophetic ministry, grounded in a contextual reality, which speaks to and addresses problems facing not only the people of his congregation, but indeed the world. Rhodes, a Duke Divinity School graduate, does this with his unique style of writing; blending both an academic and preaching style that flows nicely throughout the book.

He divides the book into three parts; Christian Leadership, The Beloved Community, and Tongues of Angels. The final part is an appendix in which he shares the collective “strategic vision” of the church. In addition, from his first essay, the “Jesus of Justice” to the last, “Keep Moving to the Promised Land,” Rhodes offers a keen insight and prophetic critique of his own beloved Jackson, Mississippi, the church, the community, humankind and the Holy Spirit. At the start of each section, Rhodes offers a reflection through a question and answer segment that engages the reader and gives us an inside look at what makes this pastor the person he is and called to be. An admitted visionary, Rhodes, throughout the book sees the city of Jackson, Mississippi as a place that could embody King’s vision of the Beloved Community.

Rev. C. J. Rhodes sees ministry as a holistic endeavor; engaging body, soul, mind, and spirit. His book, while a reflection of his two years at the helm at Mt. Helm, also will serve as a model of pastoral/theological/reflective writing. Pastors in the 21st century are quickly realizing that they are more than preachers or Bible study teachers. The call is to engage the community, becoming the resident public theologian. One must be open for that call and we are all glad that Rev. Rhodes not only is open, but through his writings, we read of a person who has accepted the call.

Andre E. Johnson is the Senior pastor of Gifts of Life Ministries in Memphis, Tennessee and the Dr. James L. Netters Professor of Rhetoric and Religion and African American Studies at Memphis Theological Seminary. In addition he is the editor of Rhetoric Race and Religion blog

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