Celebrating Men is a book about belief and faith in men. It's written from a female's point of view utilizing lessons learned from various experiences ranging from childhood to adulthood. Throughout the book there's an observation being made as the author advances through different stages of development and relationships in life: some men are predators, some are protectors, and some are confused about their role as men. She makes an appeal and encourages more men, especially African American men, to stand, to lead, and to understand their God-given position, privilege, and responsibilities as men. Although the book directly addresses, applauds and encourages men of all ages, it also sends an underlying message to women appealing to them for understanding, grace, and change. The book subsequently presents the question, "How would our relationships, our families, our communities, and the world around us change if more men understood their role and walked in it and if more women learned to celebrate men?"
About the Author: B. Niles is an author, entrepreneur, and public speaker. She formerly served as an Associate Pastor in Washington, DC area and worked as the director of a community empowerment project for the Silver Spring Youth Services. Ms. Niles was born in Trinidad, West Indies, but has lived most of her life in the United States. Her family migrated to Massachusetts when she was 15 years old. She began ministry as a camp counselor at the age of 18 then became a youth minister at the age 19. After receiving a call to missions, she went to Guatemala to study Spanish. Following her return to the US, Ms. Niles went to Bible School at Bethany College in Bloomington, MN where she obtained an Associates Degree in Biblical Studies. After her graduation from Bethany, Ms. Niles embarked on a two year internship with Washington International Church (WIC) in the DC area, but then remained in service there as a home missionary for ten years. During her tenure there she taught children's church, conducted ESOL programs, served as the Assistant Worship Leader, Youth Pastor, and finally as an Associate Pastor. While in service at Washington International Church, she became involved in community development and empowerment programs through Silver Spring YMCA Youth Services which served the same population as WIC. She began as a volunteer and later became the director of the satellite program in the impoverished multi-ethnic Silver Spring community. The program went from serving 20-30 families to a fully staffed, multi-faceted program serving over 75 families. She and her team developed abstinence programs, mentoring programs for boys and girls, ESOL classes, after school programs, dance initiatives, summer trips for entire families, and a highly successful youth summer entrepreneur program. Overall she has worked with teenagers for over 25 years, has experience in both home and foreign missions, is bilingual, and an entrepreneur. She has identified her greatest challenge, however, to be that of maintaining a life long stand of abstinence in an age of pervasive promiscuity and attributes her fortitude to the power of the Holy Spirit within and the men who've respected and encouraged her stand for purity. Her first book, Celebrating Men, tells the story, gives encouragement to men and helpful insight to women.