Our Featured Authors
Historians, scholars, and authors dedicated to exploring the intersection of history, economics, faith, and culture.
Mark A. Beliles
Mark A. Beliles is an historian and teacher of American religious culture. He founded the Providence Foundation in 1983 through which he has organized several scholarly symposiums on Jefferson and religion held at the University of Virginia that have gathered a Who's Who of nationally-known Jefferson scholars and church and state historians such as Martin Marty, James Hutson, Thomas Buckley and dozens of others.
He has contributed to volumes of collected essays such as Religion and Culture in Jefferson's Virginia, edited by Garrett Sheldon and Daniel Dreisbach (Rowman and Littlefield Publishers, 2000). His Ph.D. dissertation entitled Churches and Politics in Jefferson's Virginia (2000) is available through America Publications.
Other books by Beliles for popular audiences include America's Providential History with co-author Stephen McDowell, and Contending for the Constitution with co-author Douglas Anderson. Beliles, an ordained minister, resides in Jefferson's hometown where he has served for many years as Chairman of the Charlottesville Historic Resources Committee and co-chairman of the city's 250th Anniversary in 2012.
Jerry Newcombe
Dr. Jerry Newcombe currently works as a co-host, columnist, and spokesperson for Truth in Action Ministries. As well as producing or co-producing at least 60 television specials, Newcombe has authored or co-authored 23 books including bestsellers George Washington’s Sacred Fire (with Dr. Peter Lillback) and What If Jesus Had Never Been Born? (with Dr. D. James Kennedy).
Currently living in South Florida, Newcombe hosts “GraceFM”, a weekly radio program and has made appearances on various talk shows, such as Politically Incorrect with Bill Maher and the Fox News Channel. Newcombe has received degrees in history (B.A., Tulane University 1978), communications (M.A., Wheaton Graduate School 1983) and doctorate of ministry (D.Min., Knox Theological Seminary 2008).
Judd W. Patton
Dr. Judd W. Patton is Professor Emeritus of Economics at Bellevue University. He was Chair of the Economics Department at Bellevue University in Nebraska from 1982-2013. Dr. Patton earned his Ph.D. in economics under the eminent free-market economist Hans F. Sennholz, who in turn earned his doctorate under the renowned Ludwig Mises.
Dr. Patton has authored two books: Missing Dimensions in Economics (1989) and Jefferson’s “Bible:” The Life and Morals of Jesus of Nazareth (1996). In 1997 he re-established the tradition in the 105th Congress of giving all new Senators and Representatives a copy of Jefferson’s 1820 Abridgment, The Life and Morals of Jesus of Nazareth.
He has also co-authored an entrepreneurial history book in 2009 with historian Tom Dolly entitled, Pure Americana: The Founding of McDonald’s. He is working on two additional books: Pelatiah Webster: America’s First Economist, and The Maker’s Economics.