Preacher on the Run
For Liberty & Conscience #1
Preacher on the Run: A Novel of Early America
He preaches truth. The Crown calls it treason.
It’s 1771, and tensions run high in colonial North Carolina. Frontier preacher Robert Boothe has spent the last four years standing against unlawful taxes and government corruption.
To his close-knit congregation, Robert is a courageous man of God who defends the truth. To his wife and young daughter, he’s a devoted protector who longs to shield them from the growing unrest. To the governor’s men, he’s a rebel who preaches a dangerous gospel of God-given freedom.
No one sees the doubts he wrestles in his own heart.
Then the governor’s ambitious new agent arrives to make an example of Robert’s resistance. Robert refuses to back down, even when he’s arrested in front of his church on a Sunday morning. But when his family and church 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 2026
Paperback: ISBN 978-1-7347175-0-1
Hardcover: ISBN 978-1-7347175-1-8
Audiobook: ISBN 978-1-7347175-6-3
Ebook: ISBN 978-1-7347175-2-5 / ASIN B0872FQL8G
Summary: A North Carolina preacher must get his family and church to safety after he is outlawed in an uprising on the eve of the American Revolution.
Praise for Preacher on the Run
Compelling and convicting, Preacher on the Run immerses readers in early America, bringing to light a piece of lesser-known history that shaped our nation. The characters come alive on the page and draw you in as they wrestle with faith, freedom, and the intersection of the two. Their fears and failures are relatable, their courage admirable, and their victories wholeheartedly rewarding. Jayna Baas crafts a beautiful and engaging story that will challenge your own faith and inspire you long after you’ve turned the last page.
—Megan Soja, award-winning author of Spark of the Revolution
With lively dialogue and rich characterization, Jayna Baas brings to life a neglected chapter of the American Revolution.
—Lynne Basham Tagawa, Selah Awards finalist and author of The Shenandoah Road
An entertaining, inspiring, and worthwhile read.
—The Old Schoolhouse Magazine
More Resources for Preacher on the Run
Printable Discussion Questions
North Carolina Piedmont Map
Further Reading
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 decision 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
