From news editor Daniel Silliman: When my church built its first building about 200 years ago, it was “two logs long,” according to the records. That always makes me laugh. How long is a log? Aren’t they all like … different sizes?

Despite the dubious measurements, I think the details of the building’s history are fascinating. This is a place some pioneers built to worship God together, and they laid a foundation for us. I wonder what you could learn about their faith if you just had the foundation—the floor of the church? 

That’s what was uncovered a few years ago during the renovation of a prison in Israel: the floor of a church. It’s actually the oldest-known building constructed specifically for Christian worship. It has been decorated with Christian symbols and three perfectly preserved inscriptions. The testimony to those believers’ faith and practice is pretty amazing. 

Thankfully, the Megiddo Mosaic has been brought to a museum in the US, and a lot of people will get a chance to see the early Christians’ nearly 2,000-year-old witness.