I hope you are one of the millions of honest and sincere people who look at the division in the religious world and wonder why. Why can't we who believe in the same Jesus get along? Just hours before his death Jesus prayed fervently that his followers would be united. (John 17:20-21) Instead the history of the Christian faith is just the opposite. But Jesus did not start the hundreds of churches that we have today. He said, "Upon this rock I will build my church." (Matthew 16:18) The fact that someone gave you this book shows not only that they love you but they also believe that you want to know more about the non-denominational church of the New Testament.
In many ways this is a history book. It is the story of the major denominations, where they came from and what they believe. As you begin to read you will immediately see that this book is different and certainly not boring. First of all it is illustrated! Pictures of the people and places that have impacted religious history make the story come alive and the people real to us. Second, this book let's the people that have shaped the Christian world speak for themselves. Being able to read their own words is better than what someone thought they said. And third, I have no denomination to defend or push on you. I am not a member of any denomination; I'm just a Christian! I have spent a lifetime searching for the church that Jesus said he would build by looking at the different religious organizations that believe that Jesus is the Son of God and comparing them to the church in the first century.
As you read about my personal search I hope it will be as interesting and exciting as it has been for me. I believe, in the end, that finding the "Church on the Rock" is as simple as the faith and salvation that Jesus brought to the world.
Larry A. McKee
"The Parson"