Throughout the history of the African American people there has been no stronger resource for overcoming adversity than the black church. From their role in leading a group of free Blacks to form a colony in Sierra Leone in the 1790s to helping ex-slaves after the Civil War, and from playing major roles in the Civil Rights Movement to offering community outreach programs in American cities today, black churches have been the focal point of social change in thier communities. Based on extensive research over several years, Mighty Like A River is the first comprehensive account of how black churches have helped shape American society.