The Footprints of God: Apostolic Fathers Handing on the Faith

In this film of the 10-part series, "The Footprints of God," author, apologist and Bible scholar Steve Ray leads viewers on a tour of the early spread of Christianity. Aerial views and ground stops visit places of the New Testament located throughout the eastern region of the Roman Empire. Ray takes viewers to sites and places where the NT authors and evangelists established churches from the Middle East to the Aegean area, to Italy.

The film visits ruins, digs, and churches in these early mission territories of Syria, Asia Minor, Greece and Italy. Among these are Antioch, once the third largest city in the Roman Empire. The Church of St. Peter there is one of the oldest churches in the world. An aerial flyover shows the ancient city of Seleucia, and ground and aerial views of Izmir, Turkey and the ancient city of Smyrna. Ephesus is one of the largest areas of ancient ruins in the world that can be visited today. The film shows the ruins of the Basilica of St. John.

The tour visits homes and sites of the first students of the missionary apostles, many of whom died for their faith. The places where Polycarp, Justin Martyr and Ignatius of Antioch led the early Christians are shown. And, of course, last but not least is Rome, with the catacombs and Colosseum where the earliest Christians were killed by Nero (A. D. 54-68) and Domitian (A. D. 81-96).

"The Footprints of God" presents the story of salvation, from Abraham to Augustine with modern visits and film of all the places and sites of the Bible and ancient Church. Host Steve Ray and his wife, Janet, spent many years on the project. They planned, researched, wrote, contracted services and scheduled trips and shooting. Then, with their film crew, they traveled and filmed the series by land and air from Egypt, through the Fertile Crescent, across Asia Minor, in Greece and in Rome.

The films include aerial scenes of the landscape and closeups of specific sites. Many digs and archaeological sites are included. Ray takes viewers to shrines, synagogues and ancient churches built over historic biblical places. The films show birth places, grave sites and tombs, caves, jails, and fortresses. Ancient ruins include pagan temples, churches, houses, harbors, and Roman aqueducts and paved roads.

In my travels I have been able to visit many of the places and sites in these films. This is an outstanding video and film series that Christians and those interested in history and archaeology, especially, should enjoy.