The Ancient Witnesses

Preface & Acknowledgments • 13

tripod.com/Nicea.html) and used here by his kind permission. Many libraries provided the necessary resources for my research, especially the Getty Research Institute Library of Los Angeles, the Hoose Library of Philosophy at the University of Southern California, the Charles E. Young Research Library at the University of California at Los Angeles, the David Allen Hubbard Library at Fuller Theological Seminary in Pasadena, and the Masters Seminary Library in Sun Valley, California. As already noted, Ancient Witnesses was inspired by the vision outlined in Sacred Roots . I am also indebted to its author, Don Davis, for his strategic suggestions and encouragement throughout this project. From time to time, I met with a group of gifted young theologian- authors (the “L.A. Inklings”) with whom I shared drafts and benefited greatly from their feedback. The founder of this group, Dr. Hank Voss, went the extra mile by reading and providing detailed feedback on each draft; this book bears his stamp. Late in my academic career, I resigned my faculty position at Taylor University (Upland, Indiana) to join the staff of World Impact. Teaching and ministering alongside students enrolled in The Urban Ministry Institute ( www.tumi.org ) has provided the setting and inspiration for this book.

Los Angeles, Fall 2018.