Odyssey of Faith Review - Principled Academy

Author and Providential Historian Chris Evans loves to herald the Providential history of America’s birthplace–Virginia. That’s why she co-authored Odyssey of faith: The Colony of Virginia, Jamestown, and You. Come along with me and learn about how she co-authored this book with Max and Margie Lyons.

Founding Era on the History of Liberty Timeline

Providential History

About the Authors

Chris Evans

Chris Evans is a good friend who loves the Lord and His gift of liberty in America. We met through the Foundation for American Christian. She gave an amazing Providential History tour of Jamestown when I visited Virginia several years ago.

From the “Meet the Authors and Illustrator” portion of the book:

“Chris Evans is an educator who homeschooled her two children and worked in promotion, publicity, and history events at StoneBridge School . . . Chris has dedicated 25 years researching and studying Christian history specializing in the providential history of America and the Virginia Colony. Personally, Chris Evans enjoys genealogy research, traveling, especially to historic sites, and walks along the beach with her husband, Jim. She is currently available to lead tours to the First Landing site and the historic district, specializing in tours to Jamestown.”(1)

A special something to note is that Chris’s son, James Evans, Jr., illustrated Odyssey of Faith. It’s refreshing to have families producing quality resources that teach America’s true history and glorify God!

Chris is dear friends with another wonderful family, Max and Margie Lyons. They’ve worked side-by-side for several years at the Foundation for American Christian Education. You might recognize Max and Margie’s names from the Student Worldview Dictionary review.

Max Lyons

From the “Meet the Authors and Illustrator” portion of the book:

“Max Lyons served as a teacher and administrator in three Christian schools since 1979, he holds a Bachelor of Arts in Mathematics from Virginia Wesleyan College, a Masters in Christian School Administration from Regent University, and a Ph.D. in Christian Education from Whitfield Theological Seminary.

“. . . Max is a teacher, curriculum writer, conference speaker, and researcher, specializing in the areas of Bible, history, government, law, economics, and Biblical worldview.”(2)

The Lyons are a beautiful couple who serve together in education and promoting a biblical worldview through Biblical Classical Education.

Margie Lyons

From the “Meet the Authors and Illustrator” portion of the book:

“Margie Lyons is a professional educator with a degree in elementary education. She taught in a Christian school for two years before devoting her full-time energies to raise and homeschool her four children. Her accomplishments include home schooling (using the Principle Approach®(3) to education) since 1986, leading a Principle Approach® home school support group, producing model teacher and student notebooks at several grade levels, and training homeschoolers in using this unique method of education. Margie specializes in curriculum development.”(4)

Each of these friends are mentors to me and have contributed greatly to shaping who I am today. Their lives, work, and dedication to teach others inspire me!

The Dedication

Speaking of dedication, taking time to read dedications is important before diving into a book. It gives a small window into the heart behind the book’s purpose. From the dedication page in Odyssey of Faith:

“This book is dedicated to all of the unsung heroes of the Christian faith. These devoted servants of God give of themselves and their talents to the work of God, and because of their humility have been lost in Christian antiquity. We applaud those precious saints of God and hope to bring some of their lives to light here.”(5) -Chris Evans, Max Lyons, Margie Lyons

Much honor is brought to the servants of God the Odyssey of Faith highlights—right down to the structure of the book.

The Odyssey of Faith‘s Structure

The Odyssey of Faith, geared toward preschool to second grade children, is perfect for introducing children to early American history. With young ages and short attentions spans in mind, this book contains 28 two-page sections. 🍂I view it as an “advent” calendar of sorts leading up to Thanksgiving Day.🍂

Biblical Classical homeschoolers will also appreciate the Odyssey of Faith Coloring Book. This book consists of a page to record lessons from the day’s story and a corresponding coloring page. It works with the book, highlighting several key things and in simple terms for young students. The story introduces Key Individuals, Events, Documents, Institutions, and Geography throughout the story, in proper order. This creates a natural Providential History Timeline to follow as parents teach. In addition to that, there is a timeline provided on p. 62.

What My Readers Will Enjoy About the Odyssey of Faith

The Odyssey of Faith’s short divisions and simple narratives based on primary sources make it easy for parents who are new to Biblical Classical Education:

It models how to take a lot of information and narrow it down in simple terms.
The publisher offers a free digital teachers’ guide including questions for reflection, a skit to perform with children or students, complete text of 1606 Virginia Charter, and resources for additional study. This digital resource can be obtained via Chris Evans’ website HistoryVirginia1607.com.

It’s also an easy resource to for parents new to Biblical Classical homeschooling to practice creating simple lesson plans:

The presupposition of the whole book is: God made a way for the gospel and liberty to spread westward.
A premise for each division can be simple. As an example for the first division: “One of the ways God provides for the gospel and liberty to move forward is through people. Richard Hakluyt was someone who He used. Richard had a heart for missions. In this section, we’re going to learn about what a “missionary” is and what Richard’s response to a Holy God was.”
A biblical principle for this particular section or as an overarching one for the whole book could be: “Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”(6) Matthew 28:19-20 (ESV)

Parents can come up with one reflection and/or reason question to discuss with their young children. Children record their reply on the “My Thoughts” page in the coloring book.

The Main Takeaway

The Odyssey of Faith and Odyssey of Faith Coloring Book are great—especially for beginning Biblical Classical parents. Its colorful pages and true account of providential history—in simple terms for young children—makes it a favorite part of our family library.

Purchase Odyssey of Faith

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Footnote 1: Chris Evans with Max and Margie Lyons, Odyssey of Faith, (Virginia Beach, VA: Biblical Thinker, LLC, 2017), 73.
Footnote 2: ibd, 74
Footnote 3: The Principle Approach® is a registered trademark of the Foundation for American Christian Education.
Footnote 4: Chris Evans with Max and Margie Lyons, Odyssey of Faith, (Virginia Beach, VA: Biblical Thinker, LLC, 2017), 74.
Footnote 5: ibd. iii
Footnote 6: The ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. ESV Text Edition: 2025.