This book makes a uniquely bold claim: "This is the Church." Not "That is the Church" or " There is the Church." No, this is it! How can this be? Because within the pages of this heartfelt, fictional memoir is the author's own personal story that he transparently lives out through his alter-ego, Ian Block. Finding himself "plopped down" into a whole new "church" world at seven years old, the little boy quickly fastens his spiritual seatbelt as the "House of God" -here named Our Father's Evangelical Church-propels him through four rampaging decades of authentic life with Jesus at the wheel: First kiss, church splits, integrity, accountability, racism, family secrets, adultery, politics, marriage, money, fatherhood, and forgiveness. Two unrelated beacons illuminate Ian's path through the sharp twists and turns that characterize cross-carrying, abundant living at its best and worst; his loyal grandfather and church expatriate, Colby Block; and his larger-than-life fifth and sixth grade Sunday school teacher, "Synopsis" Sid Barrington. The picturesque, southern California town of Monument is fictional, but the church's one foundation, upon which Ian Block both staggers and stands, is very real.

As such, there is nothing quite like This Is The Church... or its three sequels.