Our First Ten Days
A Novel About the Birth of Christian Faith
Leonard Woodson Mann

First: Time with Jesus -- Then: He was gone -- Now: "Tarry, wait!"

"Why are we here?" asked my mother's brother, moving from the philosophical to the practical.

"We are here," replied one of the followers, "because he said that we should wait."

There was then an outbreak of questions...

For 40 days, the risen Christ had remained among his disciples, and then, leaving them, he gave instruction that they wait together in Jerusalem. "Wait," he said, but why? The word was an enigma; what had Jesus intended? Whatever the meaning, the disciples would obey; they would wait.

Choosing, we believe, to gather at the Upper Room, for ten days and nights, they waited but surely not in idleness. Together, they would wrestle with momentous questions.

For 75 years, Leonard Mann has contemplated those people in that situation, their struggle to understand Jesus and his meaning in the world.

A plausible journey in doubting and believing, Our First Ten Days is a marvelously crafted story that invites the reader to visualize events and conversations at the Upper Room during that time. It was here that the church was born, that the foundations of Christian Faith were chiseled and laid.

If we allow ourselves to imagine the thoughts and words of those long uncertain hours, we will find ourselves submerged in a powerful narrative that boldly and creatively walks us through the opening chapter of this Faith.
"I was greatly moved by Dr. Leonard Mann's most recent book, Our First Ten Days.  This is not just another book composed of an author's views. Rather, this author has brought to life those individuals who open for the reader the true presence of our Lord."
Thomas G. Hoffman PhD
Vice President for Religious Affairs
Ohio Northern University (retired)


"You have written an engaging piece and it stands on its own as an inspiring contribution. I particularly enjoyed the perspectives of the various actors that seem so aligned with what little we know about them from scripture and tradition. Thank you for the wonderful creativity."

"I am glad to add my amen to your good work. I hope the readership multiplies!"
Thomas F. Tumblin, Ph.D.
Dean, Beeson International Center
Professor of Leadership
Asbury Theological Seminary

"Congratulations on this good work! It's well written, true to scripture, and heartwarming."
Ken Kinghorn
Professor of Church History
Asbury Theological Seminary

Dr. Leonard Mann, a frequently published author, was for 38 years a pastor of United Methodist churches, and is now in the one hundredth year of his age. His first book was published 38 years ago by CSS, with numerous other Christian materials following. He then moved into inspirational and literary themes with several mainline publishers. With the present book, he returns to his original theme and to CSS. This book is dramatic narrative, a rather innovative work, years in the writing, and is described by the author as probably his final word of witness. Dr. Mann is a native of Monroe County, West Virginia, and currently he and his wife Sallie reside on Saint Simons Island on the Atlantic coast of Georgia.