Preacher on the Run

For Liberty & Conscience #1

Preacher on the Run: A Novel of Early America

Standing for truth could cost him his freedom. Fighting for freedom could cost him his life.

It’s 1771, and revolution is on the horizon. Frontier preacher Robert Boothe has spent the last four years leading resistance against North Carolina’s corrupt British government.

All he wants is a place for his people to worship God without fear. He’ll do whatever it takes to protect them—and his wife and young daughter. They’ve always known the danger, but he never meant to test their faith as much as his own.

Then the governor’s new agent arrives in their settlement with one mission: silencing the resistance. Robert refuses to back down, even after he’s arrested in front of his church on a Sunday morning. But when his family and flock are caught in the crossfire, what price will Robert pay to keep them safe?

The historical drama of Johnny Tremain meets the courageous faith of Pilgrim’s Progress in this engaging Christian historical novel. Read a sample here and step into a nation on the verge of the American Revolution, where faith and freedom are both at stake.

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First edition 2020, revised 2024

Paperback: ISBN 978-1-7347175-0-1

Praise for Preacher on the Run

An entertaining, inspiring, and worthwhile read.

The Old Schoolhouse Magazine

Wonderful characterizations and dialogue, a snapshot of a forgotten time.

—LYNNE BASHAM TAGAWA, Selah Awards finalist and author of The Shenandoah Road 

If you enjoy historical fiction with strong Christian themes, you won’t be disappointed!

—VANESSA HALL, author of the Grace Sufficient series 

What an enjoyable read!

—D. J. SPECKHALS, author of Heretics of Piedmont 

Intense, delightful, raw, and emotional, Preacher on the Run is definitely on my TRA (to read again) list.

—MADISYN CARLIN, author and blogger 

More Resources for Preacher on the Run

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Printable Discussion Questions

Download a PDF of discussion questions for your book club or family discussion time.
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Who were the Regulators?

Download Turning Rebel, a short ebook about the history featured in Preacher on the Run

Purchase Guide for Preacher on the Run

Who will enjoy Preacher on the Run?

Preacher on the Run is a great choice for

 

  • Christian readers who want real faith to play a prominent role in the fiction they read,
  • Readers who prefer less emphasis on romance and more emphasis on family and friendship bonds,
  • Readers who enjoy fictional stories that feature a traditional, conservative view of American history,
  • Homeschooled teens who can’t get enough good, clean books about courageous heroes,
  • Homeschool families who are looking for historically rich, biblically sound family read-alouds,
  • Anyone who loves a good story with lots of historical detail, true-to-life faith themes, and characters worth rooting for.

What is Preacher on the Run about?

Preacher on the Run is a Christian historical novel set just prior to the American Revolution. It features the Regulator Uprising, a less-familiar resistance movement on the eve of the American Revolution. The story centers on Robert Boothe, a Baptist preacher whose dissent from the Church of England and choice to preach without a license from the British government make him a target.

As Robert faces the difficult choices of protecting his church and family while following his conscience, his adventures draw readers deep into this period of early American unrest, providing a front-row seat to the first sparks of the American Revolution and displaying the religious freedom America’s founders fought for.

    Themes and tropes in Preacher on the Run

    Themes:

    • Trusting God no matter what
    • Courage and sacrifice
    • Protecting loved ones
    • Redemption and forgiveness
    • Religious freedom
    • Authority of Scripture
    • Resistance to tyranny
    • Truth vs. deception 

    Tropes:

    • American Revolution
    • “War without the gore”
    • Good vs. evil
    • Outlaw hero
    • Supportive heroine
    • Reluctant leader
    • Loyal sidekicks
    • Family bonds
    • Grassroots resistance
    • Corrupt government
    • Exodus and pursuit
    • Search for safe haven
    • Hero’s sacrifice
    • Band of brothers

    About the Author of Preacher on the Run

    Jayna Baas
    Jayna Baas (pronounced as in “baa, baa, black sheep”) is an award-winning author and editor and is the director of The Christian PEN: Proofreaders and Editors Network. She writes and edits from beautiful northern Michigan, where she strives to give readers faith-filled adventures bursting with courageous characters and biblical truth.
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