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Carol Howard Merritt's favorite books for ministry

What are the best books for ministry written in the 21st century? We asked seven pastors to pick their favorites. — Ed.

As Christians, we portray Jesus in stained glass, sermons, Sunday school, and sitcoms. The Color of Christ: The Son of God and the Saga of Race in America, by Edward J. Blum and Paul Harvey (University of North Carolina Press), takes a perceptive look at the ways we depict the Son of God in the context of our racial history. It has thoroughly changed my perspective.