Authentic Faith Ministries

An Apostolate of Bishop Michael Callahan

Welcome to Authentic Faith Ministries, an apostolate founded by Bishop Michael Callahan to proclaim and live out the unchanging truths of Ancient Faith Christianity. Through this ministry, we aim to guide believers toward a deeper understanding of Orthodox First Principles—the timeless truths revealed by Christ to His Apostles and faithfully preserved by the Church Fathers. In a world where modern religious trends often obscure the Gospel, Authentic Faith Ministries offers a refuge by embracing the truth and beauty of the Apostolic Church.

What is Authentic Faith?

Authentic Faith is more than intellectual belief or theological doctrine—it is a way of life rooted in the faith given by Christ and lived by His Church throughout history. Authentic Faith Ministries seeks to reconnect believers with the First Principles of Christianity, the foundation of an unchanging, grace-filled relationship with God.

These First Principles include:
all books are or will be available on Amazon in both print and Kindle, eBook formats.

Salvation through the Sacramental Life: Faithful participation in the Eucharist (John 6:53), Baptism, Chrismation, and Confession as essential means of grace.
Living the Narrow Path: Following Christ’s teaching that salvation involves walking a challenging path of repentance, humility, and faithfulness (Matthew 7:13-14).
The Church as the Body of Christ: Experiencing salvation through participation in the Sacramental life of the Church, where believers encounter God’s transforming grace.
Faith in Action: Living out the Gospel through daily prayer, sacramental life, and acts of love and charity.

A Clarification: Not About Judging Faith or Salvation

Authentic Faith Ministries is not about questioning the sincerity of anyone’s personal faith or judging an individual’s salvation. We acknowledge that God alone knows the heart (1 Samuel 16:7) and that many people sincerely seek to follow Christ to the best of their understanding. Our goal is not to disparage personal faith journeys but to offer an invitation to explore the fullness of Orthodox Christianity as it has been preserved by the Church since the time of the Apostles.

We believe that authentic faith invites all believers into deeper communion with God through the Sacraments and the unchanging truth of the Gospel. This ministry is a call to rediscover the ancient faith in its fullness and embrace the narrow path that Christ taught, guided by the wisdom of the Apostolic Church.

The Authentic Faith Book Series

As part of our mission, Bishop Michael Callahan has authored the Authentic Faith Series of books, designed to equip believers with the tools to rediscover the First Principles of Christianity and walk the narrow path to salvation. The series draws upon scripture, patristic writings, and the teachings of the early Church, challenging readers to embrace an unfiltered understanding of the faith handed down from the Apostolic Age.

The Authentic Faith Series includes:

Pray Without Ceasing: Experience a Revival of One – Exploring the transformative power of continuous prayer and spiritual renewal.
Deathly Silence: What's the Deal With Sin in Our Age? – A thought-provoking look at the nature of sin and repentance in the modern world.
Faith of Our Fathers: A Baseline for an Authentic Faith – A journey through the ancient roots of the faith, offering guidance on how to live authentically in Christ.
What is a Christian: An Ancient Understanding – Examining the First Principles of Christian faith and practice, challenging readers to align their beliefs with those of the early Church.
Introduction to Western Orthodoxy (In Progress) – A Western Orthodox Catechism -- Presenting the Ancient Faith Church from the perspective of the Church Fathers, offering a roadmap to rediscover the truth of the Apostolic Church.

These books are intended to help readers rediscover the fullness of the Christian faith, equipping them to embrace an authentic relationship with God through the Sacramental life and the teachings of the Apostolic Church.

Orthodox First Principles

The First Principles of Christianity are the non-negotiable truths that form the foundation of the authentic faith lived by the Apostolic Church. These include:

God’s unchanging plan for salvation through the Sacraments, especially the Eucharist.
The Eucharist as the real Body and Blood of Christ (John 6:53), essential for spiritual nourishment.
Baptism, Chrismation, and Confession as essential acts of grace that unite believers to Christ and restore them to communion with God.
The Church as the Body of Christ, where believers encounter God’s truth and grace, sustained by the Sacraments and prayer.

In a time when many churches have compromised with societal trends, we remain committed to preserving these ancient truths. The mission of Authentic Faith Ministries is to proclaim and live these principles, ensuring that the faith of the Apostolic Church continues to guide believers today.

The Mission of Authentic Faith Ministries

Authentic Faith Ministries is committed to:

Proclaiming the unchanging truth of the Apostolic Faith.
Equipping believers with the resources to grow in their relationship with God through the Sacraments.
Offering a spiritual home to those disillusioned by churches that have embraced modern ideologies.
Facilitating faithful ministries across the continental United States by planting new communities and supporting clergy seeking to live and teach Orthodox Christianity.

Our mission is to create communities where believers encounter the fullness of the faith, nurtured by the Sacraments and guided by the teachings of the Apostles and the Church Fathers.

Invitation to Dialogue and Ministry

We warmly invite all believers to join us on this journey toward Authentic Faith. Whether you are seeking a new church home or exploring the beauty of Orthodox Christianity, we are here to walk with you. Bishop Michael Callahan is available for dialog and conversation with anyone interested in learning more about Western Orthodoxy, Christian First Principles, or the Sacramental life.

Additionally, we extend a special invitation to Orthodox-believing clergy. If you share our passion for bringing the Authentic Christian Faith to your community and are discerning a new path of service, we encourage you to reach out. Bishop Callahan is ready to discuss incardination and partnering with Authentic Faith Ministries to facilitate new ministries and support existing ones throughout the United States.

For more information about Authentic Faith Ministries, or to explore our parishes—such as St. Nicholas Orthodox Church in Avondale, AZ—please contact us directly. May the grace and peace of God guide you on your journey to truth, life, and salvation in Christ.