The Rev. Dr. Carlton R. Caldwell will sign copies of his latest book Little by Little Sunday, June 1 at Galilee M.B. Church, 4300 Delmar Blvd. The book signing will be held from 1:00 p.m. until 6:00 p.m.
Caldwell said Little by Little reveals important truths he discovered throughout his life (in bad times as well as in good), and he hopes readers will be inspired and find humor in his story. The book seamlessly weaves personal narrative with Biblical passages. He was inspired by the text of Deuteronomy 7:22, “in which God says that He will remove the obstacles in front of His chosen people ‘little by little.’
“The Lord was present in all of his life’s experiences and ‘little by little’ God developed him in inches, in increments, and in degrees from a past seedling into a present day giant oak,” said Dr. Harold J. Butler, pastor of Northern M.B. Church and assistant dean of the National Baptist Congress of Christian Education.
Caldwell is a native of Little Rock, Ark. who was reared in a strict Christian household. Little by Little tells of his early years as a young black boy dealing with segregation in the Jim Crow era. He left home his junior year in high school, searching for “an opportunity to flap his wings in the world,” he said. His “wild partying” led him astray, much like the Parable of the Prodigal Son in Luke 15:11-32. He also ran from the ministry and grew up wanting to be a disc jockey or the next Calvin Murphy in the NBA. Murphy was, at that time, the shortest player to be drafted in the NBA.
He was singing in the choir at Mt. Pleasant M.B. in Kansas City, Mo when his pastor stopped him and inquired ‘What are you going to do with your life?’” He later submitted to God’s will by accepting the call to join the ministry in the early 1970s. He earned a bachelor’s degree from Westminster College, a master’s of divinity from Covenant Theological Seminary and a doctorate of ministry from Southern Baptist Seminary.
His first full-time pastoral role was at Second Baptist Church in Mexico, Mo. He moved to St. Louis in 1990; and two years later, he became pastor of Galilee M.B. Church.
Little by Little is Caldwell’s second book. He also authored We Are All Ministers – Moving Members from Pews to Purpose. Caldwell describes Little by Little as a ‘spiritual autobiography’— a step-by-step account of his journey towards understanding, obedience, and spiritual maturity.
“There are no easy steps to maturity,” Caldwell said. “Be patient with God’s plan for your growth.’”
Little By Little is available for sale online at Amazon.com and other channels.
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