This work investigates the rise, organizational structure, and social influence of Father Divine and his International Peace Mission movement. Sara Harris provides a detailed examination of the charismatic leadership style employed by Father Divine and the communal living arrangements that defined his followers' lives. By analyzing the intersection of race, religion, and economic depression-era politics, the text explores how a localized religious group expanded into a national phenomenon.

Historians and sociologists frequently cite this work as a primary source for understanding the social conditions that allowed the Peace Mission movement to flourish. Readers often note the journalistic tone of the prose, which balances objective observation with the complexities of the movement's internal culture.