Preaching While Bleeding: Is There A Prophet in the House?

African-American preaching must always be relevant to one’s social condition and always available to speak truth to power. It is the only Word that can lift us from the “Underground” to “Higher Ground.” Upon this ground, the whole of Preaching While Bleeding stands.

“This book challenges and chastises in the way that only H. Beecher Hicks can. I treasure his body of work and celebrate his contribution to the church and the Kingdom. This book is a “must read” for every called out, set apart preacher—whether you started today or decades ago.” —Bishop Vashti McKenzie, 10th District, African Methodist Episcopal Church, Texas

“Dr. Hicks wrote Preaching While Bleeding as an experienced “bleeder”; therefore, I offer this word of caution—please be careful when reading this book because the blood of the author’s passion may spill on you.” —Dr. Maurice Watson, Senior Pastor, Metropolitan Baptist Church, Largo, MD

“If you want to become a real preacher of the Word, this book will be of great value, and it will cost you everything.” —David McAllister Wilson, President, Wesley Theological Seminary, Washington, DC.

A native of Baton Rouge, Louisiana, H. Beecher Hicks, Jr. is the progeny of a family of educators, preachers, preaching and the Lord's Church. Licensed and ordained by the Mount Olivet Church of Columbus, Ohio, Dr. Hicks diligently honed his skills in homiletics at Colgate Rochester Divinity School, Rochester, NY (D. Min.) and his leadership and business skills at the George Washington University School of Business in the District of Columbia (MBA). Hicks' ministry has spanned over fifty years and includes the pastorate of four congregations - Mumford, New York, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, Houston, Texas, and for thirty-seven years, Metropolitan Baptist Church in Washington D. C.

As to work in the academy, Dr. Hicks has served as Adjunct Professor of homiletics at several notable schools, including Howard University School of Divinity, United Theological Seminary, University of Chicago, and Colgate Rochester Divinity School. In 2015 the Wesley Theological Seminary designated Dr. Hicks as Distinguished Visiting Professor of Homiletics.

As to preaching, his voice has been heard in storefronts, chapels, college campuses, churches and Cathedrals across the globe. In the year 2000, the Baptist World Alliance selected this preacher to deliver the keynote address for its conference in Melbourne, Australia, an audience from nations around the globe. In 2010 the E. K Bailey Expository Preaching Conference honored Dr. Hicks as a Living Legend among preachers of this generation. Selected by his peers, Dr. Hicks was honored as Conference Preacher for the Hampton University Ministers' Conference, an annual conference of over ten thousand delegates. Annually, Dr. Hicks has been invited to preach for the Services at Rankin Chapel, Howard Divinity School. Most recently Dr. Hicks has been invested with the honorary doctor of Humane Letters from Morehouse College of Atlanta, Georgia.

Among his writings, Images of the Black Preacher (Dissertation: Judson Press 1977) and Preaching Through a Storm (Zondervan 1985) are classic representations of his ministry in print. He is married to the former Elizabeth Harrison (Selma, Alabama 1965) and together they are the parents of H. Beecher, III., Ivan Douglas Hicks, and Kristin Elizabeth. For more information, please visit hbeecherhicksministries.com.