Church Folk

CHURCH FOLK [Review 1]
by Michele Andrea Bowen
Walk Worth Press (Time Warner) - 2001
ISBN: 044652799 - Hardcover
Contemporary, Inspirational

Reviewed by Jo Rogers, MyShelf.com
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CHURCH FOLK is the story of the Gospel United Church, a denomination of Negro churches in the segregated south of the early 1960s. It was formed so that Negroes could gather together to praise and serve their God, and their Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, just as their Christian brothers and sisters of all races do. At this time, the denomination struggled with discrimination in their own race as well as from without. It seemed those with lighter skin thought themselves better than their darker brethren. But these same "high yellow" folks, leaders in the church, were also corrupt, indulging in womanizing, bribery and outright theft. They had succumbed to the temptation of sex, greed and power available for the taking.

Reverend Theophilus Simmons knew the temptations all too well. He had been taught by Glodean Benson that some women will do anything to marry a preacher, especially one that has as much promise as Theophilus. But the only woman he wanted in his life was Essie Lee Lane, and he wasn't about to let being pastor of Glodean's church get in his way, even if her wealthy aunt did withhold her generous contributions. Glodean was in the past, and Theophilus wanted her to stay there. Looming over his personal problems was the corruption in the leadership of the denomination. How could they change things at the top?

CHURCH FOLK is a must-read for every Christian. None of us can fail to see our own denomination here, no matter what it is. But it doesn't have to be that way if the people of the church stand up for what is right. It is time to give Satan the boot, and it is not impossible to do. Read CHURCH FOLK and see for yourselves.