Why the Black Voices Collection?

Why is the Black Voices Collection an essential addition to Logos? On this episode of Logos Live, Kirk E. Miller and Chauncey Allmond discover the importance of highlighting Black theological voices and the challenges confronted in curating this assortment.

Whereas all believers are united in Christ, cultural backgrounds form views, experiences, and expressions of religion. They focus on why this useful resource isn’t only for Black Christians however for anybody looking for a deeper understanding of the wealthy variety inside the church.

Plus, hear about upcoming Logos Digital Occasions designed to equip and encourage believers.

Observe the present on YouTube, Spotify, and extra.

Episode transcript

Introduction

Kirk E. Miller: Hey, everybody. You might be listening to an episode of Logos Live, a present introduced to you by Logos, bringing you participating conversations.

My identify is Kirk Miller, your your host as we speak, and I’m joined by our very personal Chauncey Allmond. Welcome to Logos Stay, Chauncey.

Chauncey Allmond: Hey, thanks, Kirk. Glad to be right here.

KM: As we speak we’re going to be discussing what’s the Black Voices Collection. This can be a useful resource that now we have accessible that we wish to spotlight for you.

However earlier than we get into that too shortly, first, Chauncey, would you thoughts introducing your self to us, telling us a bit about your self, what your position is at Logos, how lengthy you’ve been right here?

CA: Yeah, completely. So I’ve been with Logos for seven years. The entire time of these seven years has been as a nationwide presenter. And for individuals who could not know, a nationwide presenter is an worker of Logos who speaks at conferences throughout the nation giving Logos demonstrations—sometimes fairly fast, , ten, fifteen minutes tops and getting folks enthusiastic about—not simply Logos—however finding out the Bible.

So once more, I simply hit my seventh yr in December. Nevertheless, as of January of 2025, I’m now within the advertising and marketing division. And so I’ll nonetheless be talking, however not simply giving Logos demos. I’ll be, internet hosting a collection of digital occasions that speak about numerous subjects, talking to varied folks from pastors to put folks and so forth.

I dwell right here in Frisco, Texas, which is a suburb of Dallas. I’ve been right here since 2006. I’m married to my pretty spouse, Takeia, and now we have 5 youngsters—sure, 5. That’s a complete lot. Be happy to borrow some in the event you would like to. I’d be very happy to oblige. In order that’s a bit bit about me.

KM: I don’t assume I’ve launched myself, however my identify is Kirk Miller. I’m one of many editors of our Word by Word weblog in addition to the host of our present, What in the Word? And Chauncey and I really are on the identical crew working collectively.

You’re, as you stated, round Dallas. I’m in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, and we’re getting hit with a ton of snow proper now. So I’m a bit jealous of your climate presently of the yr. I’m assuming it’s a bit bit hotter there.

CA: Just a bit bit, not a lot proper now. We get some robust climate possibly twice a yr and we’re in the midst of that. So I feel tonight’s speculated to be within the twenties, so we’ll be fairly near you guys.

KM: Alright. Effectively, in Milwaukee we love the summers right here. However we simply should endure the winters to get there.

What’s the Black Voices Assortment?

KM: To our matter as we speak, we’re speaking concerning the Black Voices Assortment. And it’s Black Historical past Month (February), and so it’s a well timed time to be having this dialog. Let me start by simply asking you, Chauncey, for individuals who aren’t acquainted, what’s the Black Voices Assortment?

CA: Yeah, nice query. And I feel that, earlier than I get into particularly what the Black Voices Assortment is, I additionally wish to level out that at Logos now we have a whole bunch of sources by and about African Individuals or the Black voices. And the Black Voices Assortment is simply that: it’s a set of these sources bundled collectively. And as you’re exhibiting there on the display screen, for Black Historical past Month now we have a set of these sources there the place it’s also possible to discover this particular assortment bundled collectively.

Yearly now we have a Black Historical past Month web page at Logos devoted to those authors which have supplied invaluable details about the gospel. And we, yearly, take a second to focus on these authors and subjects. However we’ve now expanded that past simply Black Historical past Month. So transferring ahead, you’ll have the ability to get these sources in a single concise location on the web site for individuals who are concerned with listening to the Black voices in theology.

KM: So, as you had been mentioning, presently I can go below our offers part within the menu and go to Black Historical past Month. That brings me to this web page the place now we have a great deal of totally different sources by Black authors. But additionally this Black Voices Assortment is what we’re speaking about particularly right here, and that brings us to a set of sources.

Inform us a bit bit about this assortment then. What’s the Black Voices Assortment?

CA: Yeah, so it’s a assortment of devotional kind supplies, theological books, commentaries. And we’re so excited that now we have some actually sensible of us and a few nice names who’ve contributed to this to the tune of

And so that is the place you possibly can go to study—whether or not or not it’s totally different preaching kinds, whether or not or not it’s, once more, commentaries. We even have the Tony Evans commentary included in there as nicely. So it’s a spot to go the place you’re going to listen to totally different voices speaking concerning the gospel and theological subjects and evangelism and discipleship, and so on. from authors that contribute with their Black voices.

Why have a particular library of Black voices?

KM: And a few could surprise, simply even approaching this dialog, why have a bunch of sources separated out, as if wanted? Why is it essential to have a library particularly devoted to Black voices, Chauncey?

CA: Thanks for asking that query, Kirk. That’s an awesome query. And I get that lots. You realize, there’s one gospel; there’s one Bible. So why separate that out?

Effectively, I’ll reply that this fashion: Though as believers, we’re one in Christ and there’s just one gospel of Jesus, there’s sure points of individuals’s lives which are inherently totally different. I imply, we come from totally different again backgrounds, totally different geographies, totally different cultures, and we could even have totally different theological views. However with the Black Voices Assortment, we’re celebrating and recognizing these variations within the voices of Black folks.

I’ll offer you an analogy. So let’s say you have a look at center faculty and highschool college students, proper? The center faculty and highschool pupil faces challenges that as adults we don’t face essentially. As a center schooler they could be coping with being bullied or what faculty ought to I attend, in the event you’re a excessive schooler. These are issues which are essential to them. Their struggles are totally different than we could have as an grownup.

And so, sure, the gospel is identical it doesn’t matter what, however relying on an individual’s circumstances or background or cultural variations, I feel it’s essential to attempt to perceive the variations of individuals in order that we are able to relate higher and we are able to turn out to be extra educated.

When the Black Voices Assortment was marketed on—I feel it was on— Fb, and I checked out a few of the feedback, there was a little bit of an uproar about what you simply requested: why we must always have a separate assortment. And really I feel that’s sort of puzzling to me. And I say that as a result of, as a fellow believer,, I’d assume that we might wish to have an interest within the distinctive experiences of people that could also be totally different than I, who could have totally different experiences from I.

My thought is, my perception is, that after an individual understands the place an individual is coming from by way of the challenges that they’re dealing with, as soon as they study, they’ll know find out how to pray. And in addition, as soon as they study, they’ll rejoice when there’s time to rejoice. And when there’s instances of lament, you possibly can lament with them. You realize, Romans 12:15 tells us to weep with those that weep. And I feel that’s why having a Black Voices Assortment so essential so you are able to do simply that.

Until somebody is working their lives in a small bubble, you’ll encounter people who find themselves totally different. And I feel we ought to be educated and ready to work together with folks, even from an evangelistic standpoint, from a discipleship standpoint. The higher somebody the higher you’re ready to try this, which in fact comes below the umbrella of the Nice Fee. And I simply assume it places everybody in a greater place to try this.

KM: It’s acknowledging that we, now we have one thing to study from others. And I feel, even when we don’t all the time acknowledge that we do that, most individuals already are doing this form of factor the place we study from different believers from totally different views and totally different experiences.

So, for example, it’s not unusual, in the event you’re part of a church—possibly that church invitations a missionary who’s visiting to return and communicate at your church. And if they’ve a Q&A possibly afterwards, what oftentimes occurs is folks ask for that missionary’s insights given their cross-cultural expertise.

Perhaps they’re from a distinct tradition, and they also’re in a position to present a singular lens on ministry and the gospel. Not that now we have totally different gospels, however that, at the same time as we see inside our New Testomony, Paul is turning into all issues to all folks (1 Cor 9:19-23). The gospel contextualizes, even when it doesn’t change. We would change how we minister the gospel.

And so we’re in a position to ask that missionary, what insights do you might have from your context that possibly now we have blind spots to? Or are there distinctive insights that you’ve got into our context that now we have blind spots to given the totally different perspective that you just’re in a position to carry along with your expertise?

And if we perceive that Black communities, particularly inside the US, have had unique experiences given our unique history in this country, and that it formed a singular custom much like how now we have an Anglican, a Lutheran, and a Baptist custom—and although now we have our totally different theologies, we oftentimes acknowledged we are able to study from each other—so too the Black church custom has a singular contribution to make. And particularly if we think about ourselves one in Christ, somewhat than saying, I don’t wish to pay attention to those different voices and seeing that as divisive, it’s really an expression of our unity, not an expression of division.

And so even from a perspective of somebody who’s not Black myself, I’m intrigued. When the sale got here out, I used to be intrigued to go have a look at it as a result of there’s issues that I can study.

Particularly if a bunch has been marginalized too traditionally, and possibly we haven’t given their voice the identical form of consideration that we must have prior to now, it’s price being intentional about that.

Is the gathering simply for individuals who are Black?

KM: And in order that does increase one of many questions: If a person isn’t Black, ought to they discover worth in a set such because the Black Voices Assortment, or is that this only for prospects who themselves are Black?

CA: Nice. Once more, one other nice query. This assortment is for everybody.

As I discussed earlier than, until you’re working in a bubble, you’ll encounter people who find themselves totally different. And it doesn’t imply higher than, or better than, or lower than—that that has nothing to do with it. It’s a approach for—let’s say a pastor who pastors a multiethnic church. I’d assume that these pastors would run to get a set like this as they attempt to finest serve their flock within the church as a result of, once more, all of us carry these totally different backgrounds. We carry the totally different cultural experiences. And so in the event you aren’t outfitted to narrate to folks like that, chances are you’ll lose them otherwise you simply gained’t have that relatability issue.

For instance, my sister attends a church in East St. Louis, and my church is, as I discussed, in Frisco, Texas. So we’re in a suburb of Dallas. She’s in an space in East St. Louis. I. Her church is anyway, which isn’t let’s say the perfect of neighborhoods, let’s say. And I bear in mind we had been having a dialog lately speaking about small teams, and I used to be telling her about how small teams work in my church. So my spouse and I lead a small group right here in Frisco at our church. And each different week households come over. We most likely have about fifteen households. They arrive over, we share a meal, we join, we pray for each other, after which now we have discussions concerning the sermon from the earlier Sunday.

I used to be telling her about that. And he or she’s like, Chauncey, that’s nice, however that wouldn’t work in East St. Louis. The thought of inviting folks into your house, it simply wouldn’t fly. So if I used to be writing a e book about small teams and she or he was as nicely, our books would look completely totally different as a result of she wouldn’t face the identical challenges that I do and vice versa, whether or not or not it’s there’s a price for offering meals and a few folks could not have the ability to do this.

And so, sure, the gospel is the gospel is the gospel. However on the identical time, there’s totally different and distinctive challenges that everybody faces. So If I’m a non-Black or non-African American believer or pastor, I’d wish to study different folks’s experiences to higher equip me as a disciple of Christ.

KM: And also you talked about, until somebody is, possibly, has a really slender context— I’d say, even when somebody has that slender context, it could be all of the extra motive to have the ability to broaden your horizon and your perspective and study from others.

And it’s much like—like I’ve sources in Logos, examine bibles or commentaries which are church historical past commentaries, commentaries from folks prior to now or that compile feedback from the Reformers or the church fathers, as a result of that point interval, that that distance in time, additionally presents some perspective. Or I’ve sources which are a examine bible with contributors from the worldwide church as a result of that form of cross-cultural perspective is useful. This can be a related form of comparability right here.

CA: Yeah, that’s an awesome instance. Should you have a look at the the commentary part in Logos and how one can search by creator, you possibly can search by commentary kind, after which you possibly can search by period by which it was written. I imply, clearly that’s beneficial data to see how the textual content was considered, evaluating totally different eras by which it was written. And so an awesome analogy.

What had been a few of the challenges in composing this assortment?

KM: Let me ask, Chauncey, what had been a few of the challenges that you just confronted when placing collectively a set like this?

CA: There have been many. First, let’s simply say that the gathering is rising. It’s not a performed deal. We’re repeatedly rising that.

One of many challenges was that the Black group or the African American group, identical to others, isn’t a monolith. There’s totally different theological bins, if you’ll. Some are extra Pentecostal and Baptist and so forth. So the most important problem was attempting to place collectively a set the place nobody would really feel not noted. It’s like, why didn’t you embody books from x, y, and z? And in order that’s a problem as a result of one assortment can’t be all issues to all folks. In order that was a problem. Realizing that some teams or some sects inside the Black or African American group could not like X, Y, or Z creator, and in order that’s the problem. And hopefully folks will acknowledge that we are able to’t be all issues for all folks, however we did at the very least wish to have an excellent start line the place the totally different contributions are added.

One other problem that we confronted was— I want all of those may very well be in only one good bundle. You realize, you go to your cart, let’s say at logos.com, click on a button, and all of them would routinely are available in. However sadly we did run into some challenges from a publishing standpoint, the place sure titles couldn’t be bundled. And that’s why we put them in as particular person titles.

So once more, it’s a piece in progress. We’re simply eager to serve the wants of many. Tust know that the gathering will likely be rising. I’ll be looking out for brand spanking new titles as they arrive out and get these into Logos us as quickly as potential.

KM: And I’ll point out too for listeners or viewers right here, in the event you’re concerned with a quick primer on the Black church in America, Malcolm Foley has written a helpful piece for us over on our Phrase by Phrase weblog (which in the event you’re not subscribed, you’ll want to do this). However he supplies a very useful, temporary articulation of a variety of the stuff that we’ve been speaking about right here and the worth of getting sources from the Black voice,

What are some upcoming digital occasions?

KM: Chauncey, every other plugs you’d prefer to make for a few of our upcoming digital occasions? I do know you do lots with these. So be happy to let listeners know what they’ll stay up for.

CA: Yeah. So transferring ahead, be looking out for extra digital occasions coming. What I’m actually enthusiastic about is, as I discussed, I used to be on the street for seven years talking at conferences—all several types of conferences—and to find a way now to carry totally different occasions to the viewers that speaks to their particular person wants. Whether or not or not you’re a pastor otherwise you’re a a girl and there’s particular girls points that you’d wish to hear about, I’ll be doing digital occasions that will tackle that. As a result of I’m gonna take what I’ve heard over the previous seven years and convert these into occasions. So whether or not or not it’s,

Hey, I’m a pastor who’s 70 years previous, and the way do I pastor to Gen-Z or how do I pastor to millennials? These are questions that lots of people are coping with proper now.
Or if I’m a girl in ministry and I’m scuffling with numerous points, we’re gonna be speaking to some girls in ministry.
We’re gonna speak to folks within the tutorial area and speak about what challenges and successes that they’re having at seminaries. You realize, is a seminary pupil who graduates—are they prepared for the true world now that seminary is over?

So these forms of subjects we’ll be concerning, and I’m excited for these to start out. So, keep tuned within the subsequent 30 to 60 days and also you’ll have the ability to log in and hopefully seize some actually good content material.

KM: Nice. Effectively, thanks a lot for becoming a member of us, Chauncey, and sharing these items with us.

CA: Thanks, Kirk. I respect it.