Families are living stories. They tell us where we came from, guide us as we live our lives, and help us see who we could become. Especially priceless are the lives and words of those who came before us.
From Christ-followers living near the time of the apostles to the early defenders of the faith, we are enriched by the wise advice and inspiring examples of our Christian ancestors. In the face of heresy and persecution, these saints lived lives faithful to the gospel story.
The Book of Saints: The Early Years is a devotional gateway to the thoughts and insights of church leaders and teachers who lived before the middle of the fourth century AD. Living in a pagan world, much like our own, these saintly persons have much to say to us today. Their words and life stories, along with prayers and Scripture selections, are brought together in this book to inspire and challenge us to a life of love and holiness, the great themes of our family story.
Al Truesdale is emeritus professor of Philosophy of Religion and Christian Ethics at Nazarene Theological Seminary. He is an alumnus of Nazarene Theological Seminary and Emory University. Truesdale has published and edited numerous books, including With Cords of Love: A Wesleyan Response to Religious Pluralism, Global Wesleyan Dictionary of Theology, and The Book of Saints (five volumes). He and his wife, Esther, live in the Lake Marion region of South Carolina.
