Born just as the Civil War began, Lewis Sheafe grew to manhood at a pivotal moment in American history. But instead of racial equality, the nation offered its freed slaves further oppression and injustice. Sheafestrong-willed, dynamic, and seemingly tirelesshad but two main objectives: uplift his people spiritually and socially, and consistently adhere to biblical principle in all aspects of life. In this gripping biography Douglas Morgan pieces together the life of this forgotten leader whose story sheds light on the reason that no lasting, separate Black Adventist denomination ever formed.

More than 25 years ago society was introduced to William Ellis Foy. Foy was an African-American minister of the nineteenth century whom historical records had generally overlooked. The popular book The Unknown Prophet demonstrated that Foy received powerful revelations from God about coming tribulation, judgment, and heaven awaiting those who were faithful to God. Foy’s message was straightforward—be faithful, because Jesus is coming again! The groundbreaking research in The Unknown Prophet did much to clear up misconceptions and set the record straight about William Foy. It told the largely unknown story of this sensitive young man of color. Furthermore, he faced incredible trials and struggles yet faithfully fulfilled his time-specific prophetic commission during the height of the Millerite movement and went on to maintain a quiet and productive ministry until his death in the late 1800s. William Foy’s story, his ministry and message, still speaks today. This second edition is the response to a desire for an updated version, providing hope and encouragement for the twenty-first-century reader. It contains new and valuable documents and images, including the only known photo of William Foy’s son. Your faith will be enriched as you read these pages.

Seventh-day Adventists and the Civil Rights Movement is the first in-depth study of the denomination's participation in civil rights politics. It considers the extent to which the denomination's theology influenced how its members responded. This book explores why a brave few Adventists became social and political activists, and why a majority of the faithful eschewed the movement. Samuel G. London, Jr., provides a clear, yet critical understanding of the history and theology of the Seventh-day Adventist Church while highlighting the contributions of its members to political reform. Community awareness, the example of early Adventist pioneers, liberationist interpretations of the Bible, as well as various intellectual and theological justifications motivated the civil rights activities of some Adventists. For those who participated in the civil rights movement, these factors superseded the conservative ideology and theology that came to dominate the church after the passing of its founders. Covering the end of the 1800s through the 1970s, the book discusses how Christian fundamentalism, the curse of Ham, the philosophy of Booker T. Washington, pragmatism, the aversion to ecumenism and the Social Gospel, belief in the separation of church and state, and American individualism converged to impact Adventist sociopolitical thought.