Christian author, radio host, and pastor Dr. Tony Evans recently released “#WeCanDoBetter: Healing the Racial Divide,” a book addressing racial reconciliation in light of our nation’s “Racially charged climate.”

The Senior Pastor of Oak Cliff Bible Fellowship in Dallas, Texas is known for his Biblical intellect and passionate pursuit of the Lord. Evans had previously written “Oneness Embraced: Through the Eyes of Tony Evans” about racial tension in 2011. In his books, Dr. Evans highlights the need for forgiveness and healing in our nation and in our churches.

The death of Trayvon Martin brought racial tension in America to the forefront earlier this year, a social peril that has persisted for hundreds of years in our country. Dr. Evans believes that “the failure to understand and execute righteousness and justice from God’s perspective” is the core reason for racial disunity.

Churches in America – and particularly in the south – are still largely segregated by race. According to CharismaNews, Dr. Evans was once told during his seminary years that he was not welcome to worship in a prominent Dallas congregation. To add to insult, his radio ministry, “The Alternative with Dr. Tony Evans” was not originally picked up by several Christian radio stations that catered to white audiences.

Dr. Evans encourages churches to address this matter so that people will see their need to repent from their sin and take steps toward reconciliation with one another. Evans believes that one way for Christians to instigate unity is to intentionally develop relationships with believers from different racial backgrounds. Well-known Christian author and former pastor, John Piper, believes that racial disunity is a massive issue in the church and culture as well. He released “Bloodlines: Race, Cross, and the Christian” in 2011.

In his book, Dr. Evans challenges believers to “be intentional about embracing God’s desire for oneness.” In John 17:20-26, Jesus prayed:

“I do not ask for these only, but also for those who will believe in Me through their word, that they may all be one, just as You, Father, are in Me, and I in You, that they also may be in Us, so that the world may believe that You have sent Me. The glory that You have given Me I have given to them, that they may be one even as We are one, I in them and You in Me, that they may become perfectly one, so that the world may know that You sent Me and loved them even as You loved Me. Father, I desire that they also, whom You have given Me, may be with Me where I am, to see My glory that You have given Me because You loved Me before the foundation of the world. O righteous Father, even though the world does not know You, I know You, and these know that You have sent Me. I made known to them Your name, and I will continue to make it known, that the love with which You have loved Me may be in them, and I in them.”