Book by NBTS Professors Explores Scripture in the Context of Pastoral Care for Black Churches

February 23, 2026

New Brunswick Theological Seminary (NBTS) celebrates the work of Rev. Dr. Terry Ann Smith, Associate Dean of Certificate Studies and Associate Professor of Biblical Studies, and Rev. Dr. Raynard D. Smith, Associate Professor of Pastoral Care and Theology, their co-edited volume of essays, God Help Us! The Bible and Pastoral Care Concerns for Black Churches. This volume, to which they are also major contributors, brings Scripture into conversation with the pastoral realities facing Black churches and communities.

Drawing on six biblical narratives, the book addresses critical concerns including depression among Black women, cultural melancholia among African immigrants, systemic grief and trauma, belonging and identity for Black boys, empowerment of Black girls, and the generational impact of incarceration. Essays from five scholars in pastoral theology, biblical studies, and community leadership bridge rigorous biblical interpretation with practical pastoral insight, offering resources for ministers, scholars, and faith leaders.

“God Help Us! is a powerful example of faculty scholarship in action,” said Dr. Charles Rix, Dean and Vice President of Academic Affairs and Professor of Biblical Studies. “Rev. Dr. Terry Ann Smith and Rev. Dr. Raynard D. Smith connect Scripture to the real challenges facing Black churches, offering practical insights that equip ministers, leaders, and communities to care deeply and act faithfully.”

The Rev. Dr. Terry Ann Smith is an ordained Baptist minister and serves alongside her husband, Bishop Elijah L. Williams Jr., in Newark, New Jersey. She is Associate Dean of Certificate Studies and Associate Professor of Biblical Studies at NBTS, where she oversees program assessment and reporting and designs courses in online and hybrid formats. Dr. Smith’s scholarship includes articles on Genesis, Daniel, Nehemiah, Ezekiel, and Isaiah. She holds a Ph.D. and M.Phil. from Drew University, an M.Div. from NBTS, and B.S. and M.S. degrees from Roosevelt University. 

Dr. Raynard Smith is an ordained minister of the Church of God in Christ.  At NBTS, Dr. Smith is the Associate Professor of Pastoral Care and Pastoral Theology and directs the Master of Arts in Pastoral Counseling.  Dr. Smith’s scholarship focuses on a wide range of subjects related to pastoral care in the Black church.  He holds a Ph.D. and M.Phil. from Drew University, a Th.M. and M.Div. from Princeton Theological Seminary, and a B.S. from Springfield College.

Order Your Copy: God Help Us! The Bible and Pastoral Care Concerns for Black Churches, published by The Pilgrim Press.

For more information about faculty scholarship at New Brunswick Theological Seminary, visit nbts.edu.