Joy to the World: Inspirational Christmas Messages from America's Best Preachers »

The Reverend Olivia M. Cloud, editor of this groundbreaking book, has worked with a number of ministers, turning sermons into books. The daughter of a minister, she has devoted more than two decades to the ministry of Christian education through publishing. Her varied work in Christian publishing includes a decade as product development coordinator for the world's largest denominational publishing house, LifeWay Christian Resources. Her company, Guardian Angel Communications Services, provides editorial and publishing services to Christian authors and businesses.

Before she began her ministry as a writer, editor, and publisher, she served as executive director of Capitol Area Ministries, an ecumenical ministry serving children and adults in downtown Atlanta.

She is associate minister at Berean Baptist Church in Nashville, where she was licensed and ordained as a minister of the Gospel. She is also a certified volunteer chaplain with the Metropolitan Nashville Police Department. A popular speaker at conferences, she is Tennessee state chaplain for Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc.

She earned a bachelor of arts degree in journalism from the University of Kentucky (Lexington) and a master's in religious education from the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary (Louisville, Kentucky).

Reverend Cloud is the author of six books and currently serves as director of publishing for the National Baptist Convention, USA, Inc.

"Is there an idea or a dream that is lingering in the back of your mind this Christmas season?" asks the Reverend Robert H. Schuller in Joy to the World: Inspirational Christmas Messages from America's Preachers.

"Is there some long-lost hope that you just cannot forget? God often comes through these thoughts. It is God at work in you."

"Track what we call our good fortune and we shall see God clearly in our lives," says the Reverend Gardner C. Taylor in his message. He asked the question "Did you ever sit among your family and, strangely, feel a thankfulness which made you somewhat shamefacedly brush a tear away? You heard the angels sing!"

"Christmas is a time of establishing and celebrating many traditions," begins the Reverend Paula White in her reflection.

This is but a sampling of dozens of messages on the true meaning of Christmas included in this first book to celebrate the spirituality of Christmas by bringing together a diverse collection of messages from Christian leaders from across the country.

Contributors to this collection represent congregations from Hawaii to New York to Atlanta and all the regions surrounding and in between. These inspirational words are from men and women who minister to and console young and old from all walks of life and who reflect the range of ethnicities and Christian religious traditions that characterizes America today.

This timeless treasure trove of inspiration and teaching has something for everyone and is the perfect gift for the season of giving. Joy to the World shares the spirit of Christmas throughout the year.

Contents

PREFACE

DANIEL AKIN THE KING WITH FOUR NAMES

MELVIN BANKS SR. KEEPING CHRIST CENTRAL TO CHRISTMAS

NATHAN D. BAXTER HONORING GIFTS FROM THE EAST

A. R. BERNARD VISION IS A PROCESS

GEORGE G. BLOOMER ALL THE CHRISTMASES TO COME

CHARLES E. BOOTH THE FORGOTTEN MAN AT CHRISTMAS

MARK G. BOYER CHRISTMAS PAST, PRESENT, AND FUTURE

CECELIA WILLIAMS BRYANT WE HAVE SOMETHING TO GIVE

JOHN R. BRYANT HAVE YOU SEEN JESUS?

KEITH A. BUTLER GIVING IS THE MARK OF GREATNESS

ANTHONY CAMPOLO THE FULLNESS OF CHRIST REVEALED

JOSEPH CHAMPLIN CHRIST'S CONCERN FOR CURRENT CONCERNS

DAN CHUN THE KING HAS ONE MORE MOVE

EMANUEL CLEAVER IN PRAISE OF NAZARETH

SUZAN JOHNSON COOK GOD IS WITH US

KEVIN W. COSBY A NIGHT AT THE HOLY DAY INN

MICHAEL ERIC DYSON MAKE ROOM FOR GOD

WILLIAM S. EPPS SACRED WONDER

KEN FONG AN UNCOMFORTABLE CHRISTMAS

BILLY GRAHAMUNTO US A CHILD IS BORN

JOEL C. GREGORY OBEDIENCE HAS ITS CONSEQUENCES

FORREST E. HARRIS SR. LIVING WITH DEFERRED HOPE

MARILYN HICKEY UNWRAP THE GIFT OF RIGHTEOUSNESS

DONALD HILLIARD JR. POWER TO THE PEOPLE

BARBARA KING CHRIST IN YOU

JACQUELINE E. MCCULLOUGH THE GREATEST CHRISTMAS GIFT

VASHTI MURPHY MCKENZIE NO LONGER BUSINESS AS USUAL

BERTRAM MELBOURNE THE JOURNEY OF JOY

ELLA PEARSON MITCHELL A TESTIMONY AT CHRISTMAS

HENRY H. MITCHELL A VIEW FROM THE BOTTOM

OTIS B. MOSS III RAISING ANOTHER MAN'S BABY

MYLES MUNROE THE GLORY OF CHRISTMAS

WILLIAM (BILL) E. PANNELL JOY TO THE WORLD

VICTOR D. PENTZ DRAW NEAR

W. FRANKLYN RICHARDSON EMMANUEL: GOD WITH US

ROBERT H. SCHULLER CHRISTMAS HONORS THE COMMON PERSON

ROBERT SMITH JR. PREGNANT WITH POSSIBILITY

WALLACE CHARLES SMITH PREPARE THE WAY OF THE LORD

DAVE STONE JOSEPH: THE PORTRAIT OF OBEDIENCE

GARDNER C. TAYLOR CHRISTMAS! SO WHAT!

FRANK A. THOMAS A CREATIVE CHRISTMAS

KENNETH C. ULMER A GOOD PLACE TO STOP

WILLIAM D. WATLEY GOD'S TIMING AND OUR TIMING

STEVE WENDE ACCEPT THE GIFT

PAULA WHITE THE VALUE OF CREATING FAMILY TRADITIONS

MARCOS WITT AN AMAZING CONTRAST

JEREMIAH A. WRIGHT JR. GOD'S GIFT TO US

ED YOUNG SHOPPING FOR A SAVIOR

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES OF CONTRIBUTING PREACHERS

PERMISSIONS ACKNOWLEDGMENTS