Practical Virtues

As pastor of a church of more than fifteen thousand congregants, a former congressman, and president of one of the country's most respected black colleges, the Reverend Floyd Flake is frequently sought after by those in need of guidance. Now, with Practical Virtues, he and his wife, A.M.E. co-pastor Elaine McCollins Flake, have gathered their favorite stories, letters, hymns, narratives, and poems into a single, indispensable collection and paired them with spiritual exercises for the soul.

Beautifully designed, with each of the twelve chapters devoted to a single virtue — Courage, Diligence, Faith, Forbearance, Forgiveness, Honesty, Love, Loyalty, Prudence, Responsibility, Service, and Trustworthiness — Practical Virtues is a heartfelt, inspiring gift the Flakes have given to all African American families.

Rev. Dr. Floyd Flake is the senior pastor of the more than 15,000-member Greater Allen A.M.E. Cathedral of New York in Jamaica, Queens, and is also the president of Wilberforce Univeristy in Ohio. Flake is also the founder of the Allen Christian School, which he established with his wife, Rev. Elaine Flake. From 1986-1997, Flake served in the U.S. Congress, and is currently a commissioner on the President's Commission on Excellence in Special Education and a member of the NYC 2012 Olympic Committee. A native of Houston, Texas, Dr. Flake holds a B.A. from Wilberforce University and a Doctor of Ministry Degree from the United Theological Seminary in Dayton, OH. Author of the best-selling The Way of the Bootstrapper: Nine Action Steps for Achieving Your Dreams (HarperSanFrancisco), Rev. Flake lives in Old Westbury, NY with his wife and four children.

Rev. Dr. Elaine Flake is the co-pastor of the Greater Allen A.M.E. Cathedral with her husband, Rev. Floyd Flake. Born in Memphis, Reverend Elaine, as her church knows her, earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in English from Fisk University in Nashville, a Master of Arts in English from Boston University, and a Master of Divinity degree from Union Theological Seminary in New York City. She was also awarded a Doctor of Ministry degree from United Theological Seminary in Dayton, Ohio. She has contributed articles to the book, Soul of My Sisters: Black Women Break Their Silence, and recently authored her own book, God in Her Midst: Preaching Healing to Hurting Women. Rev. Flake is a member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc. and hosts yearly ministry retreats that attact over 1000 women from across the country. She and her husband live in Old Westbury, NY and are the parents of four children.