Faithful Defiance
Marshall Keeble's Life and Legacy
by C. Leonard Allen
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Pub Date 8 Apr 2025 | Archive Date Not set
Abilene Christian University Press & Leafwood Publishers | Abilene Christian University Press
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Description
Marshall Keeble, the premier evangelist in Churches of Christ in the twentieth century, died in April 1968, the same month as Martin Luther King Jr.
Keeble spent fifty-five years as a full-time evangelist using his remarkable gifts, steadfastness, toughness, and tactical navigation of the Black/White divide to baptize as many as forty thousand people. He planted and raised over three hundred congregations and mentored powerful sons and grandsons in the faith, including Fred Gray, the famous civil rights attorney.
Keeble's message was simple, but his life is more complicated than many have thought. Even his closest admirers disagreed with him and were baffled by his unflinching silence on the topic of race. Never in his life did Keeble openly defy segregation although he did confront the innumerable racist attacks and humiliations he experienced. His commitment to evangelism was unwavering; he wanted nothing to get in the way of it. He championed self-help and personal morality and thought broader politics were of little value.
Faithful Defiance recounts the remarkable story of Keeble's life, revealing fresh insights into how his legacy continues to challenge and inform the present day.
Advance Praise
"We best understand our times and ourselves by looking to history and giants of the faith. We learn how they navigated their troubled times, modeling how to serve faithfully. We learn from their victories and their mistakes. This volume is a shining example of high-impact historical analysis and biography informing our current, divisive, times. Be inspired by Marshall Keeble's life and faith. Be challenged. Consider how to apply the lessons of this fascinating volume in your life. You will be thrilled you did."
-Michael O. Emerson, Chavanne fellow in Religion and Public Policy, the Baker Institute for Public Policy, Rice University; coauthor of Divided by Faith and The Religion of Whiteness
"In this engaging and impactful book, Leonard Allen sets the historical context for fresh perspective on Marshall Keeble as a powerful evangelist, prolific church planter, and dedicated educator."
-John Allen Chalk, Whitaker Chalk Swindle & Schwartz; Herald of Truth radio speaker (1966-71)
"Keeble left an indelible mark on Churches of Christ. He presented as a docile, meek, almost subservient preacher before White philanthropists. But he was indefatigable in his pursuit of the building of the Lord's church and the saving of souls. While his pragmatism enabled him to endure unspeakable insults and abuse, his 'fruit' has sprung forth to challenge racial injustices in and out of the Churches of Christ."
-Tanya Smith Brice, editor of Reconciliation Reconsidered: Advancing the National Conversation on Race in Churches of Christ
"The common image of Marshall Keeble is worthy of a scholarly deconstruction. Thanks to the contributions in this volume, we gain a deeper understanding of the complexity of Keeble's work, ideology, and practice. It will please some and likely displease some; either way it draws us into the crucible of race for these times."
-Lawrence W. Rodgers, author of Inward Revolution: A Journey of Radical Transformation
"What an encompassing and engulfing look into the legacy of an historical figure whose influence continues to shape our brotherhood today! Walking through Marshall Keeble's life using various contextual lenses is insightful, inspirational, and impactful."
-Jonathan Morrison, minister, Cedar Church of Christ, Dallas, Texas
Available Editions
| EDITION | Paperback |
| ISBN | 9781684262144 |
| PRICE | US$18.99 (USD) |
| PAGES | 160 |
Available on NetGalley
Featured Reviews
Jean M, Reviewer
I highly recommend “Faithful Defiance, Marshall Keebler’s Life and Legacy”, edited by C. Leonard Allen. What a powerful story of faith in action.
Marshall Keeble was a key shaper of Black preachers among Churches of Christ.
He was the premier evangelist in African American Churches. His preaching life consisted of “sacrifice, selflessness, and suffering”, including physical abuse and racial violence. He was born on December 7, 1878 in Tennessee and he died in 1968. What a beautiful life!
Pastor Keeble desired to preach the gospel in “destitute places.” He also saw the need for a “trained ministry.” He baptized at least 30,000 people. into the Christian faith. Through the years, and a variety of circumstances, he stayed strong because of his favorite hymn, “Hold onto God’s Unchanging Hand.”
Pastor Keeble knew “the power was in the Word, not in the man.” He remained true to his commitment. This is the story of a faithful servant of Christ.
I learned a lot from this book and I encourage people to learn more about the faith of Marshall Keeble. Thanks to NetGalley and Abilene Christian University Press for an advance review copy. This is my honest review.
