Why this series?

The history of the church does not belong to adults alone. Children have much to gain by learning about their Christian heritage. But most church history books for kids are either too textbook-ish to enjoy or too brief and sanitized to be accurate. Our desire for the History Lives series for children (ages 9-14) is to provide an engaging, accurate introduction to the true story of Christianity. These “fictionalized” accounts are based on extensive historical research and incorporate quotes from the characters’ actual writings. These books are not about the “heroes of the faith” but about some of the flawed human beings that God used to establish his church from the time of Christ.

Christian history is full of strange, wonderful, and horrible stories. Prince Vladimir was instrumental in the spreading of Christianity throughout Russia, but was a vicious, opportunistic ruler. Charlemagne promoted education in the Holy Roman Empire, but he showed little mercy to his enemies. Bernard of Clairvaux simultaneously wrote one of the greatest books on loving God and promoted the bloody Second Crusade. Many sacrificed family, wealth, and even their lives for the sake of the gospel. These are the people—from every geographic, ethnic, and economic background and with all the variety of human personality—that laid the foundation for the church as we know it today.

Like the chroniclers of ancient Israel, we hope their achievements and failures will instruct generations to come.

He said to the Israelites, “In the future when your descendants ask their fathers, `What do these stones mean?’ tell them, `Israel crossed the Jordan on dry ground.’ For the LORD your God dried up the Jordan before you until you had crossed over. The LORD your God did to the Jordan just what he had done to the Red Sea when he dried it up before us until we had crossed over. He did this so that all the peoples of the earth might know that the hand of the LORD is powerful and so that you might always fear the LORD your God.” (Joshua 4:21-24)

Parents, we invite you to read these books with your children. Homeschoolers and schoolteachers may find them useful for unit studies or to supplement history curriculum. If you like them, please consider donating a set to your church or school library.  Thanks for reading!