The Influence Library

Rev. Dr. Tony L. Lewis was a pastor, scholar, and prophetic preacher whose ministry bridged the pulpit, the academy, and the public square. His preaching wove rigorous biblical exposition with kingdom theology, pastoral compassion, and a prophetic voice for justice. His legacy work — including the manuscript The Other Side of God — continues to shape preachers who long for sermons that are scripturally grounded, theologically serious, and pastorally honest.

Legacy preaching, prophetic proclamation, kingdom-centered ministry.

Dr. Samuel DeWitt Proctor (1921–1997) was a Baptist preacher, university president, and one of the most influential homileticians of the twentieth century, serving as senior pastor of Abyssinian Baptist Church in Harlem. He developed the widely taught Proctor sermon design — a structured, narrative approach that fuses ethical seriousness with cultural relevance. His preaching and scholarship continue to shape generations of Black Church pastors, seminarians, and civic leaders.

Narrative preaching, leadership, ethics, Black Church scholarship.

Dr. James Henry Harris is a pastor, homiletician, and theologian whose writing brings prophetic urgency and intellectual depth to the craft of preaching. His work on the preaching life, hermeneutics, and the Black Church engages literature, philosophy, and theology to confront racism, suffering, and hope. He is widely read for showing how sermons can be both deeply scholarly and pastorally formative.

Prophetic theology, cultural engagement, homiletics.

Dr. Gardner C. Taylor (1918–2015), often called the dean of American preaching, served Concord Baptist Church of Christ in Brooklyn for over four decades. His sermons are celebrated for their lyrical cadence, biblical imagination, and ability to hold theological grandeur and pastoral tenderness in the same breath. His preaching remains a touchstone for any minister seeking to recover beauty, dignity, and weight in the proclaimed word.

Classical preaching, biblical imagination, sermonic excellence.

Dr. E.K. Bailey (1945–2003) was the founding pastor of Concord Church in Dallas and the visionary behind the E.K. Bailey International Expository Preaching Conference, the premier gathering for African American expositors. He championed faithful, text-driven preaching that honored the biblical author's intent while speaking directly to the lived realities of the congregation. His ministry helped recover expository preaching as a central craft within the Black Church tradition.

Expository preaching, biblical application, pastoral leadership.

Rev. Dr. Phillip L. Pointer, Sr. is a nationally respected pastor, theologian, and fourth-generation Baptist minister who has served as Senior Pastor of Saint Mark Baptist Church in Little Rock, Arkansas since 2012. He earned his M.Div. with honors from the Samuel DeWitt Proctor School of Theology at Virginia Union University and his D.Min. from United Theological Seminary, where he serves as a doctoral cohort leader. A former Chair of the Department of Philosophy and Religion at Philander Smith University, Dr. Pointer combines careful exegesis with pastoral warmth and prophetic conviction, equipping believers for spiritual maturity, faithful discipleship, and Kingdom living.

Biblically faithful, intellectually rich, pastorally practical preaching.

Rev. Dr. John E. Guns is a pastor, preacher, theologian, and educator recognized for thoughtful biblical exposition and a sustained commitment to developing Christian leaders. His preaching joins careful interpretation of Scripture with theological reflection, historical context, and practical Kingdom application, equipping congregations to grow in discipleship and faithfully embody the Gospel in their homes, churches, and communities. His ministry is especially valued by pastors seeking sermons that balance theological rigor with pastoral encouragement and Christ-centered transformation.

Biblical exposition, theological depth, Kingdom discipleship, leadership development.