Lazarus, Come Forth

While the Bible offers tantalizing clues about this important Christian hero, the questions far outweigh the answers. How did he know Jesus? When did he first believe that his friend was the Messiah? Where did his soul reside for four days? What did he do after his resurrection and the crucifixion of the One who saved him? Using painstaking research, early church records, and a lively plot that keeps the pages turning, Lazarus, Come Forth weaves a story about the family from Bethany described in John's Gospel. Although fiction, the story is consistent with Scripture and available historical data. It presents the life story of someone who lived his faith before receiving his miracle, as well as after. That is why Lazarus is a model for us all. Michael A. Pinto is a businessman who also has been called to pastor a small rural church. In addition to serving as the CEO for an environmental consulting firm and shepherding his congregation, Michael is a lifelong history buff with a particular focus on first century Christianity. After authoring several textbooks, he published his first novel in 2001 recounting the life story of the Apostle Thomas. The positive reception of that book, entitled The Twin, fueled his research and development of this story. In both these endeavors Michael attempts to fill in the "blank spaces" of the New Testament narratives with plausible connections and accurate descriptions of life at that time.