Our History

How decades of independent faith exploration led to Yeshuans — a platform built on light, learning, love, and liberty beyond dogma, doctrine, and denomination.

Roots in Independent Faith (1990s–2000s)

Our ministry began with many before us. Many individuals who have carved the paths for us to be able to explore what we have. We are indebted to these thinkers, across time. Yeshuan Co-Founder Shawn McCraney, whose personal quest for authentic faith, set the foundation for how, at Yeshuans, specifically got here today.

Raised in a devout Mormon family in California, Shawn was deeply involved in the LDS church — even serving a full-time mission and rising in its ranks. However, he grew disillusioned with the rigidity and control of organized religion and started to question its doctrines. In 1997, Shawn experienced a profound spiritual rebirth (a born-again awakening) that transformed his understanding of God’s grace and salvation. This pivotal moment led him to step away from institutional religion and seek a direct, personal relationship with God free from fear-based teachings and hierarchical intermediaries. From the very start, the emphasis was on individual understanding of God and leaving no stone unturned in examining religious traditions against biblical truth.

Breaking New Ground in Ministry (2006–2013)

Stepping outside institutional confines, Shawn embarked on a public ministry to challenge tradition and encourage others toward a free, open pursuit of truth. He authored his first self-published book I Was A Born-Again Mormon, which dug into the question of being changed spiritually within an institution that did not accept that difference – the start of evaluating the conflict between our material circumstance and our spiritual reality. In 2006, he launched Heart of the Matter (HOTM), a live call-in television show that boldly deconstructed Mormonism and other religious systems by addressing tough doctrinal questions head-on. HOTM’s frank, televised call-in show invited people from all backgrounds to think critically about faith, and it quickly gained a following for its fearless examination of how religion can obscure the simplicity of Christ’s message. Shawn’s mantra was to question everything in love, ensuring that no aspect of belief was off-limits if it stood between individuals and a genuine relationship with God.

As the ministry grew, Shawn’s efforts expanded beyond critiquing one denomination. In 2013, he began weekly in-depth Bible studies through what was then called C.A.M.P.U.S. Church (an acronym for “Christian Anarchy Meeting to Prayerfully Understand Scripture”). This initiative evolved into the Verse by Verse teachings — systematic explorations of scripture in context, aired to a broad audience. By teaching the Bible verse by verse, Shawn emphasized understanding the historical and textual context of scripture, helping others see the difference between man-made religious traditions and the liberating truths found in the Bible. During this period, Shawn also authored several books (Knife to a Gunfight, and Revelations on Revelation) which challenged conventional religious perspectives and offered fresh insights into Christian faith. These projects all carried a consistent theme: inviting people of any background to explore faith authentically, without fear, and with total openness to wherever the truth might lead.

Evolving Understanding: From Tradition to “Great News” (2014–2021)

Decades of scripture study and spiritual exploration eventually led to major theological breakthroughs. By the late 2010s, Shawn and those working with him began to solidify a framework often referred to as “The Great News.” This perspective was formally articulated around 2021 as the culmination of numerous insights gleaned over years of ministry. Two key pillars of this shift were Subjective Christianity and Fulfilled Eschatology:

• Personal Faith over Institutions: We came to recognize that faith is completely personal and Spirit-led, with no institution or authority standing between an individual and God. Instead of relying on church institutions or dogmatic creeds, each person could approach the truth subjectively, in honest relationship with God’s Spirit. This meant encouraging believers to trust their God-given conscience and spiritual experience over traditions of men. We had always valued independent thought, but now it was clear that organized religion (“material religion”) was no longer necessary for a thriving faith life — a conclusion supported by our studies in early church history and scripture.
• Freedom from Fear-based Doctrine: In tandem, we rejected the fear tactics often employed by religious systems (such as threats of damnation or exclusion) as incompatible with the perfect love of God. One of the Great News realizations was that through Yeshua’s life, death, and victorious fulfillment of all biblical promises, humanity was reconciled to God. We embraced a fulfilled (preterist) eschatology, understanding that Christ’s prophesied return and the end of the age occurred in the past (culminating around 70 A.D.), bringing an end to the era of laws and ordinances. In this fulfilled view, we are now living in the age after the end of material religion — an age of spiritual reality where God’s kingdom is a present reality. This dramatically shifts the focus of faith from fear of future punishment to living in the light of Yeshua’s victory here and now.
• Living in Love and Truth: With the weight of fear lifted, the defining principle of our faith became agape love — the selfless, unconditional love embodied by Yeshua (Jesus). We emphasized that a genuine relationship with God naturally produces love for others. Alongside love, we stress continual learning and honesty in seeking truth. Over time, our community became even more open-hearted: we acknowledged that Yeshua’s love extends to all people, and we strove to welcome everyone without judgment. This inclusivity grew as our knowledge grew. The more we understood the context of scripture and the completeness of Christ’s victory, the more grounded and compassionate our approach became. What had started as a mission to reach those in one religion expanded into a message for anyone and everyone seeking God beyond the confines of traditional religion.

Throughout this evolution, our core objective stayed consistent. Even as our theology matured and our scope broadened, we remained dedicated to separating material religion from spiritual reality – liberating individuals from manipulative, man-made doctrines and guiding them into a true, humble relationship with God based on love and freedom in Christ.

Laying the Groundwork for Yeshuans (2021–2022)

As these transformative ideas crystallized, the ministry’s structure also began to change. In 2021, Shawn’s public teachings started to explicitly outline The Great News — essentially preparing the way for a new kind of faith community. This inspired the creation of several interconnected projects and channels, each designed to help people learn and interact in light of these principles. For example, we developed an online educational initiative called CULT (short for “Christian Ultra Libertarians for Truth”) offering courses that empower spiritual growth and encourage liberty in Christ (those courses are now still available on the Yeshuan platform). We also fostered discussion groups and produced more online content focused on what we began calling the “Yeshuan approach” – a way of life centered on Christ (Yeshua) as our foundation and arche, prioritizing faith and love above all else.

A crucial development in this period was the formation of a leadership community to carry the movement forward. In 2022, we launched a year-long Yeshuan Leadership Program – an intensive course for committed believers to deeply learn the fulfilled, love-centered Christian perspective and to become leaders in this new approach. This program not only disseminated Shawn’s decades of learning to others, but it also brought together a community of like-minded seekers who related and often excelled in knowledge of the approach themselves, beyond what they learned with Shawn. During this time, the term “Yeshuans” was born. It was coined by members of the leadership cohort – including individuals like Grady Risley (now a co-founder of Yeshuans) and Sarah Young (a key leader and content contributor) – to describe themselves and all who embrace Yeshua’s fulfilled gospel in this personal, liberated way. Identifying as “Yeshuans” (followers of Yeshua in the age after religion) reflected a shared identity distinct from traditional denominational labels. It signified unity around the person of Jesus (Yeshua) and His teachings, without the baggage of institutional religion.

This growing team and shared vision set the stage for something new. By the end of 2022, it was clear that our many efforts — the live shows, the verse-by-verse studies, the courses, the discussion forums, and more — needed to be unified in a single, accessible platform. We wanted a place where anyone could learn, discuss, and creatively express their faith as a Yeshuan, all under one virtual roof.

The Launch of Yeshuans Platform (2023–2024)

All the groundwork came to fruition with the creation of Yeshuans, a comprehensive learning platform for “the age after material religion.” In early 2023, we consolidated our ministry’s decades of work and new initiatives into the Great News Network (TGNN) – a network of channels that organized our content and outreach. TGNN included seven distinct channels or programs at launch, each addressing different facets of growth in Christ:

• Heart of the Matter (HOTM): A live, call-in show engaging with questions of faith, originially focused on Mormonism but later expanded to all manner of religious critique and discussion.
• Verse by Verse Teachings: In-depth Bible study program exploring scripture in context, from Genesis to Revelation, demonstrating the fulfilled perspective in each book.
• CULT (Christian Ultra Libertarians for Truth): An online school offering courses and materials for those seeking spiritual freedom through knowledge and critical thinking.
• Yeshuans: (At the time of TGNN’s launch, this was introduced as a creative faith community channel.) A space for collaborative content by various believers – music, art, writing, and projects that express faith outside traditional church settings.
• I Don’t Get the Bible: A podcast (hosted by Shawn and his daughter, Delaney) aimed at demystifying scripture in a fun, conversational format, often tackling difficult or confusing biblical passages.
• Christian Peace Initiative: An effort to promote unity and peace among all who identify with Christ, focusing on what unites rather than what divides different faith traditions.
• A United Front: A channel dedicated to fostering harmony across diverse Christian and even interfaith backgrounds, emphasizing shared values of love and truth in Christ.

The official launch of TGNN in 2023 was a milestone, but it was only part of the transformation. As this network rolled out, we simultaneously began building Yeshuans.faith – the online platform that would integrate all these channels and more into one user-centered experience. By 2024, Yeshuans (the platform) went live, effectively becoming the umbrella for the entire ministry. The Great News Network lives on within Yeshuans as our dedicated Yeshuan TV station, streaming live shows and archives of programs like HOTM and Verse by Verse. Meanwhile, the Yeshuans site also features a growing library of courses, books, articles, podcasts, and community forums – all aimed at articulating the fulfilled biblical perspective and encouraging a personal, Spirit-led walk with God. In other words, everything our ministry has produced over the years, plus new contributions from fellow Yeshuan leaders, is now accessible in one place. The platform is structured with an education-forward focus, reflecting our commitment to learning and growth, and it’s designed to be interactive and communal, so that users can discuss and engage, not just consume content.

Crucially, Yeshuans isn’t a step away from our past work but the culmination of it. We did not replace or abandon any aspect of the ministry – instead, we consolidated all of it into Yeshuans. This includes the Great News Network channels (now seamlessly woven into the platform) and new programs born from collaboration with other leaders. The creation of Yeshuans also marked a hand-in-hand effort between Shawn and the new generation of Yeshuan leaders cultivated in 2022. Together, they shaped the platform to be not just a teaching outlet, but a community and movement. Yeshuans stands as a testament to how far our foundational principles have come: from one man questioning religion on a TV show, to a network of believers worldwide learning and growing in an environment that prizes liberty in Christ, love over fear, and truth without strings attached.

Our Mission and Vision Going Forward

Looking back, one thing becomes clear: our objective has been consistent for decades, even as our understanding has deepened. We have always sought to help individuals know God for themselves — authentically and without coercion. Each phase of our history, from the HOTM broadcasts to the Yeshuan leadership program, has reinforced the importance of personal faith, open inquiry, and unconditional love. We’ve become more theologically refined over time, but the heart of the ministry remains unchanged: Light, Learning, Love and Liberty.

More information about the history and work of our founders: