Shoe Leather Church: Boots on the Ground Faith was written to encourage believers to be more active inside and outside the walls of the church in seven primary ministries of the church, particularly as trained witnesses (Evangelism Explosion), home group members, engaged worshippers, and involved in-depth Biblical preaching and teaching. The first two chapters provide a framework of doctrine which gives an overview of why we do what we do in church. The chapters on various ministries spring from the author's wide experience as an active layman in several churches over almost fifty years in Church of Christ, Baptist, Presbyterian, Pentecostal, and charismatic churches. He started evangelism programs in three churches, taught Sunday School, organized seminars on topics like '"Handling Objections to the Faith," "Why Does God Allow Evil?", and Church History. He has served as a Sunday School teacher and librarian, as well as a board member in two churches.
Allan Gravely graduated from Davidson College in 1961, after which he did graduate work in Philosophy at the University of North Carolina on a full scholarship until his conversion midway in his studies. At that point, he felt called to seminary and attended Fuller Theological Seminary for two years. He then transferred to Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary his senior year from which he graduated in 1969. Later, he earned MAs in History and Rehabilitation Counseling from the University of Alabama, where he won several awards, including Outstanding Graduate Student and Outstanding Graduate Thesis for his MA on the Engllish Seekers. BesideAn active layman for almost fifty years, he taught religion in college (Stillman College full time, Shelton State Community College and University of Alabama part-time). He retired from the Alabama Department of Rehabilitation Services and now lives in the Auburn, Al area.