“Francis Grimké has long deserved the kind of well-researched and carefully presented book Drew Martin has written. Grimké’s half-century career at one of the leading Black churches in Washington, DC, was marked by unusual commitment to the gospel message combined with unusual discernment in addressing the social, domestic, and racial realities faced by his congregation. Martin’s accessible account of Grimké’s ‘holistic, yet differentiated, vision of the Christian life’ also shows that some important historical figures knew how to promote both faith in the private sphere and responsible Christianity in public. For historical and contemporary purposes, this is a timely and important book.”
Mark Noll, Research Professor of History, Regent College; author, America’s Book: The Rise and Decline of a Bible Civilization, 1794–1911

“I have long awaited this book—a thorough exploration of Francis Grimké’s theological, ethical, and pastoral commitments. Drew Martin has sifted a range of materials in a compelling fashion to produce a readable, engaging, and thought-provoking treatment of this great Black Presbyterian pastor-theologian. In doing so, he demonstrates that Grimké was thoroughly committed to the whole counsel of God, which was why he preached racial justice. Martin’s book is not just an examination of the past but also a word for the present. Buy a copy for yourself, and a second for your pastor!”
Sean Michael Lucas, Chancellor’s Professor of Church History, Reformed Theological Seminary

“Drew Martin’s Grimké on the Christian Life is a book for all times, but an especially welcome one in ours. Bearing the name of his enslaver-father, the resilient and brilliant Francis Grimké served as a faithful pastor of the Fifteenth Street Church in Washington, DC, cofounded the NAACP, and consistently offered an embodied rebuke of racism in the northern Presbyterian church. All the while, he insisted on the truth of the gospel and its power to transform hearts and society. Martin combines Grimké’s personal story and theological teachings to create a text that’s historically important and devotionally rich. In a time when many see American Christianity as hopelessly compromised and unconstrained, Grimké’s ministry continues to exemplify both bold witness and patient reform work within institutions. This book’s portrayal of his life and thought is a valuable resource to the Presbyterian tradition and the Christian church.”
Ansley L. Quiros, Associate Professor of History, University of North Alabama; author, God with Us: Lived Theology and the Freedom Struggle in Americus, Georgia, 1942–1976