Besides serving as a pastor to two congregations and a director of a non-profit, Bruce has been a community activist for much of his time in Marion County. He has founded and/or led community organizations including Community of Gratitude and Bridges Project of Ocala-Marion County. In retirement, he has oriented his focus to writing, speaking, and instructional opportunities.

 

He has been a volunteer instructor for over 10 years with the Xtreme Soulutions prison ministry at Marion Correctional Institution, a maximum security men's prison north of Ocala. He teaches a popular class entitled "Lifemapping."

 

He also gives a presentation about the Marshall Plantation raid twice a year at Master the Possibilities, an extensive adult learning center at the On Top of the World retirement community in Ocala. At Master the Possibilities, he also teaches classes about the historical-critical method of biblical studies.

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Bruce became progressively engrossed by the Marshall Plantation raid after reading the groundbreaking article by journalist Rick Allen, then a reporter for the Ocala Star Banner newspaper. In February 2016, Allen surfaced an extensive letter written by a Sergeant who recorded a first-hand account from a member of the raider team. His article cast a whole new light on the event.

 

By comparing the Union Sergeant's letter with the account provided by Confederate cavalry Captain J. J. Dickison who pursued the raiders, a dynamic story unfolded.

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The narrative about the raid had been corrupted by local Confederacy apologists among others, obscuring the remarkable achievements of the Black men who largely comprised the raider team. The book confronts the standard local narrative provided on a historical marker, showing how flawed and even racist it seems to be.

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While the book has been published, research remains ongoing. Updates to the manuscript will be shared here long before the published edition is revised. Be sure to click here to check the Updates page for new information that will be added to the book in later editions. Click here to subscribe for future periodic Updates so that you can be notified about them as well as news and announcements that develop.

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