PALM BEACH GARDENS, Fla. – A book and study guide officially released today by a former Catholic and noted evangelical pastor that helps bridge the gap between Protestants and Catholics is an “invaluable resource” to help Christians understand church history.
The book, “Roaming Catholics: Ending the Wandering to Embrace the Wonder,” and “Roaming Catholics Study Guide” by Kenneth Behr is published by Xpyria Press. The thoroughly researched book and study guide target the evangelical and Protestant market and answer common questions people often have regarding Catholicism and Protestantism.
Behr reveals how the church has changed, adapted and grown. Pastors and readers who previewed copies call the book a “great read and invaluable resource” that reminds people that the heart of the Christian faith is not grounded in denominations, but in the life, death and resurrection of Jesus Christ.
“This book meets a great need Christians have today. Church traditions are often confused with the message of the gospel, and it’s difficult to address the history of the church that embraces those differences,” said Behr. “Many pastors and those who work in the ministry say this is the first time they have a book that gives them an opportunity to cross denominational lines without being offensive.”
The book and study guide are available through Amazon, Kindle, Barnes & Noble and Christian bookstores nationwide. Retailers can order the books through Ingram/Spring Arbor Book Distributors, STL-Distributors and Xpyria Press. The book is $14.95, and the Kindle e-book is $7.99. The study guide is $8.95, and the Kindle version is $4.99.
Behr wrote the books because many people in evangelical churches have family and friends with Catholic backgrounds who have significant, unanswered questions about their faith. He uses history to answer their questions without unintentionally dividing along doctrinal lines.
The books answer questions many people struggle with, such as “Was Peter the first Pope?” “Should Christians pray the rosary?” “Should priests be married?” They also provide an invaluable and extensive glossary on church terminology that includes “purgatory,” “immaculate conception” and “sacraments.”
“Unity is a recurring, prominent theme throughout the New Testament,” said Dr. Tom Mullins, founding pastor of Christ Fellowship and President of Equip, a non-profit organization that has trained more than 5 million Christian leaders in evangelism worldwide. “In fact, the Apostle Paul was adamant that we be seekers of and keepers of the bond of Christ.
“As Ken portrays in his book, ‘Roaming Catholics,’ God’s Word is clear that there is but one church – the church of Jesus Christ. Our denominational differences should not prevent us from celebrating our uniqueness and clinging to the things that unite us in Him. If you are struggling to reconcile the history and traditions of Catholicism with your place and purpose in God’s family, Ken’s book will educate and inspire you.”
For more information on Behr and his work, visit www.RoamingCatholicsBook.com.
Kenneth Behr is founder and chair of Faith Dialogue (www.faithdialogue.org), a faith-based nonprofit that promotes the unity of the Body of Christ through the proclamation of the essential gospel “so that the world may know” (John 17:23). He served as a pastor and executive director at Christ Fellowship Church in Palm Beach Gardens, Fla. Behr has spent the past 13 years in ministry and was ordained by the Evangelical Church Alliance after a career in business. .
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PHOTO CUTLINES: Book cover “Roaming Catholics: Ending the Wandering to Embrace the Wonder” by Kenneth Behr.
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