Whilst this is not defined as required for the ministerial exams that I have completed so far it is definitely a much better way to learn about the History of Church of God than the Study Manuals. Charles Conn has done a great job of documenting the development of our denomination from the earliest days when small groups met to search the scriptures to find the truths that had been lost, through the persecutions, the internal struggles and the triumphs. Overall the book is really well written and he presents the material available well handling the more controversial issues with diplomacy and skill.

Because he writes with such passion, especially about the early period, you get a real understanding of what it must have been like to live in those days. I guess that now we are established there are many who do not appreciate the personal struggles faced by the individuals who fought for the freedom and understanding that we take for granted. Unfortunately, compared to our early history, the latter period is not as interesting so the final chapters of the book tend to document the who, what and when but lacks the interesting stories and insights.

If you belong to Church of God, I really would recommend getting hold of a copy just to read the first few chapters and get an understanding of how it all began. ( )