Strength for the Struggle

In "Strength for the Struggle," Ellwanger shares his experiences and wisdom as a pastor in times of great social struggle, both in 1960s Birmingham and in more than three decades of ministry in Milwaukee's inner city. This book will support and inspire seminary students, pastors, and congregational members to connect across cultural boundaries and to live and act courageously, knowing that they are called by God and surrounded by a great cloud of witnesses.

"Seldom will one find a more straightforward and natural telling of the story of a contemporary pastor, his parishioners, and the people they serve," according to emeritus professor, Martin Marty

Author Joseph W. Ellwanger is a retired Evangelical Lutheran Church in America pastor. He served nine years as pastor of an African American congregation, St. Paul Lutheran, 1958-67, in Birmingham, Alabama. From 1967 through 2001, he was pastor of Cross Lutheran, Milwaukee, Wisconsin, in the central-city African American community, leading the congregation from 95 percent white in 1967 to 75 percent black by 2001. The author's deep hope is that this book will feed the faith and stoke the fire of courage for that holy struggle, which never ends while we are on this earth.