Latasha Morrison - Be the Bridge: Pursuing Gods Heart for Racial Reconciliation

Praise for

Be the Bridge

Be the Bridge catalyzes a truth-filled vision of courage and hope! Drawing from a deep well of spiritual practices, historical narratives, and personal experiences, Latasha Morrison engages readers on a critical journey toward Gods heart for humanity, one that promises to enlighten and unsettle us. With refreshing vulnerability and insight, this book unearths our racial brokenness and offers a communal salve of justice and restoration. Its a timely resource for a world in need of healing.

J ONATHAN E NG , justice advocate and campus pastor at Gateway Church, Austin

When it comes to the intersection of race, privilege, justice, and the church, Tasha is without question my best teacher. Be the Bridge is the tool I wish to put in every set of hands. Put frankly, if we followed the path she writes aboutthe path of humility and repentance, courage and actionwe would see the end of racism. It really is that simple. Tasha is one of the most important leaders in my generation.

J EN H ATMAKER , New York Times best-selling author of For the Love and Of Mess and Moxie

A must-read primer for anyone seeking to be a peacemaker rather than just a peacekeeper. For those wanting to understand and embody the deeply woven fabric of racial reconciliation and antiracism work, this book will expose, educate, elucidate, and ultimately make you an intentionally conscientious neighbor.

D ARRYL F ORD , lead pastor of Ikon Community Church

When I want to know how to do the hard work of reconciliation and peacemaking, Latasha Morrison is one of the first people I go to. Shes introduced me to a new way of thinking while bringing together people of different perspectives, opinions, and histories. When she calls us to be a bridge to connect people to people, her challenge is more powerful, because shes already been the bridge that has gotten us this far.

R EGGIE J OINER , founder and CEO of Orange

Through Be the Bridge, Latasha Morrison offers a feast to the body of Christ. Vivid storytelling combines with sharp exegesis to draw readers onto the bridge of racial healing and justice.

L ISA S HARON H ARPER , president and founder of freedomroad.us and author of The Very Good Gospel

I have known Latasha Morrison for more than a decade. Her commitment to racial healing, reconciliation, and unity is unparalleled. Her extraordinary new book, Be the Bridge, is the blueprint the Christian church has been waiting for.

L EE A LLEN J ENKINS , author, speaker, and senior pastor of Eagles Nest Church

Tackling issues of race can seem daunting and overwhelming, but by providing us practical steps to engage, laced in grace, truth, and mutuality, Tasha Morrison meets us where we are and helps us become better-formed disciples of Jesus to pursue a more holistic vision of the good news for all people.

J ENNY Y ANG , vice president of policy and advocacy at World Relief

Tasha Morrison has been an encourager, a trustworthy friend, and a profound teacher to me over the past few years. Through this book, she can be that to you as well. Her words are full of truth and love, and they will cause you to stop and wrestle with your own biased ideas and perspectives that may otherwise go unchallenged. Im adding this book to my everyone who loves Jesus should read this list!

J AMIE I VEY , best-selling author of If You Only Knew and host of The Happy Hour with Jamie Ivey podcast

Be the Bridge is essential reading for everyone. Responding to racism and racial divisionin our schools, businesses, communities, politics, and, yes, even our churchesis something that we all desperately need to do. Our future depends on it. This phenomenal book is a message, a model, and a mentor for exploring how to pursue justice and racial unity in the light of the gospel. It has the potential to change your life and transform your community.

J O S AXTON , co-host of Lead Stories podcast and author of The Dream of You

The practical lessons laid out in Be the Bridge, along with the personal and corporate action steps, can bring about the change needed to see true, lasting kingdom restoration. Latasha Morrison is a leader of integrity who lives out the values and principles she presents. In a beautiful blend of history and personal experience, she fills the pages with both the whys and hows surrounding racial reconciliation. I highly, highly recommend this book.

V IVIAN M ABUNI , speaker and author of Open Hands, Willing Heart

As an original member of her first, unofficial Be the Bridge group, I know that no one can build bridges like Tasha Morrison. But with this book as our guide, we can certainly learn how to witness humanity, love, and empathy in a whole different light.

J ESSICA H ONEGGER , founder and co-CEO of Noonday Collection

Theres much talk about reconciliation, both in our larger culture and in the church. This is good, but if were not careful, well end up with much more talking, analyzing, and self-righteous finger-pointing. Certainly, words matter but they seem empty without a deep commitment and embodiment. This is why Im grateful for Latasha Morrisons Be the Bridge, an incredibly timely and necessary book thats pastoral, prophetic, and practical.

R EV . E UGENE C HO , founder of One Days Wages

Through her words and her life, Latasha Morrison exemplifies why we must face the hard truths of history in order to effect change in the present and build a better future. Allow Latashas words to challenge you, encourage you to question, and inspire you to be a bridge builder.

A MENA B ROWN , author of How to Fix a Broken Record and host of HER with Amena Brown podcast

Tasha Morrison has the remarkable ability to listen with compassion and cast vision about the preferred future. Her thoughtful, insightful, and practical book can help us make progress toward the multiethnic kingdom of God.

D R . E RIC B RYANT , campus pastor at Gateway Church, South Austin, and author of Not Like Me

B E THE B RIDGE

All Scripture quotations, unless otherwise indicated, are taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version, NIV. Copyright 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide. Scripture quotations marked ( ESV ) are taken from the Holy Bible, English Standard Version, ESV Text Edition (2016), copyright 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. All rights reserved. Scripture quotations marked ( GNT ) are taken from the Good News Translation in Todays English VersionSecond Edition. Copyright 1992 by American Bible Society. Used by permission. Scripture quotations marked ( NASB ) are taken from the New American Standard Bible. Copyright 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by the Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. (www.Lockman.org). Scripture quotations marked ( NLT ) are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright 1996, 2004, 2007, 2013, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.

Trade Paperback ISBN9780525652885

Ebook ISBN9780525652892

Copyright 2019 by Latasha Morrison

Cover design by Kristopher K. Orr