J.I. Packer currently serves as the Board of Governors' Professor of Theology at Regent College in Vancouver, British Columbia. An ordained Anglican minister, he hold a D.Phil. from Oxford University. Dr. Packer's many published works include Rediscovering Holiness, Evangelism and the Sovereignty of God, and the best–selling Knowing God.
Dr. R.C. Sproul was founder of Ligonier Ministries, an international Christian discipleship organization located near Orlando, Fla. He was first minister of preaching and teaching at Saint Andrew's Chapel in Sanford, Fla., first president of Reformation Bible College, and executive editor of Tabletalk magazine. His radio program, Renewing Your Mind, is still broadcast daily on hundreds of radio stations around the world and can also be heard online. Dr. Sproul contributed dozens of articles to national evangelical publications, spoke at conferences, churches, and schools around the world, and wrote more than one hundred books, including The Holiness of God, Chosen by God, and Everyone's a Theologian. He also served as general editor of the Reformation Study Bible. Dr. Sproul went home to be with the Lord in 2017.
In 1948 God called Francis A. Schaeffer and his wife to leave their St. Louis pastorate and make their home in Switzerland. From this beginning grew the fruitful ministry of L'Abri Fellowship in the Swiss Alps. Philosopher, theologian, lecturer, author, counselor—but above all, apostle to the questioning youth of many cultures—Schaeffer is remembered for his unusual ability to communicate the truth to all who sat under his teaching.
Dr. Gene Wilkes is the president and professor of New Testament and Leadership at B. H. Carroll Theological Institute in Irving, Texas. Dr. Wilkes embraces the Institute's mission to "equip men and women called to serve Christ in the diverse and global ministries of his church." He has authored eleven books, including Jesus on Leadership: Timeless Wisdom on Servant Leadership and A New Way of Living: Practicing the Beatitudes Every Day. Dr. Wilkes received his Ph.D. in New Testament studies and his M.Div. from Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary. He graduated from Baylor University with a bachelor of arts in religion and Greek. Dr. Wilkes served as senior pastor of Legacy Church in Plano, Texas, for twenty-six years prior to coming to Carroll Institute as Vice President of Development. During his local church ministry, Legacy Church transitioned to become "a mission outpost where every member is a missionary in his or her mission field." Legacy Church was a teaching church in the B. H. Carroll network of teaching partners, and Dr. Wilkes was a resident fellow and Ph.D. supervisor for Carroll from 2005 until his retirement from the church. Carroll seeks to return theological education to the local church and restore the value of pastor/teacher in local ministry. Dr. Wilkes has also taught Biblical Servant Leadership as an adjunct professor in the Gary Cook School of Leadership at Dallas Baptist University at both the master's and the Ph.D. levels. Along with his teaching ministry, Dr. Wilkes speaks nationally and internationally on the topic of servant leadership and as a Bible teacher. Some of the international sites he's taught at include Mexico, Cuba, China, Vietnam, Albania, Greece, Russia, Canada, Portugal, and Honduras. Dr. Wilkes lives in Plano, Texas, with his wife, Kim. They have two married daughters and three grandchildren. Dr. Wilkes's hobbies include trail running, hiking, mountaineering, cycling, and golf. He summited Mount Rainier in Washington on his sixtieth birthday.
As a young man, Josh McDowell considered himself an agnostic. He truly believed that Christianity was worthless. However, when challenged to intellectually examine the claims of Christianity, Josh discovered compelling, overwhelming evidence for the reliability of the Christian faith. After trusting in Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord, Josh's life changed dramatically as he experienced the power of God's love. After Josh's conversion, his plans for law school turned instead to plans to tell a doubting world about the truth of Jesus Christ. After studying at Kellogg College, Josh completed his college degree at Wheaton College and then attended Talbot School of Theology, where he graduated magna cum laude with a master of divinity degree. In 1961, Josh joined the staff of Campus Crusade for Christ International. Not long after, he started the Josh McDowell Ministry to reach young people worldwide with the truth and love of Jesus. Well known as an articulate speaker, Josh has addressed more than 46 million people, giving over 27,200 talks in 139 countries. As he traveled to other countries, Josh quickly realized that where people were sick, homeless, and hungry, words were not enough. In 1991, Josh founded Operation Carelift to meet the physical and spiritual needs he discovered in orphanages, hospitals, schools, and prisons in the countries of the former Soviet Union. Since that time, Operation Carelift has delivered humanitarian aid (food, clothing, and medical supplies) worth more than $46,000,000. Nearly one million children have received school supplies, food items, hygiene items, and toys from the volunteers that travel twice a year to share God's love with them. Josh has received two significant honors from the Russian people because of these efforts. He is the only non-Russian to receive an honorary doctor of pediatrics degree from the Russian Academy of Medicine—in recognition of his work among the children of Russia. Also, Josh is the only foreigner to become a member of the prestigious Russian Club of Scientists. Operation Carelift, which has grown into one of the largest humanitarian aid organizations based in the United States, is now a part of UNTO (formerly known as Global Aid Network). In the United States, Josh and his team have created many cutting-edge live events to help young people stand strong and firm in their faith in the face of a rapidly-changing culture. These have often developed into full-blown campaigns, such as: Six Hours with Josh Why Wait? Counter the Culture Right From Wrong Beyond Belief Since 1960, Josh has written or coauthored 151 books in 128 languages including: More Than a Carpenter—over 27 million copies distributed Evidence That Demands a Verdict—named one the twentieth century's top 40 books and one of the 13 most influential books of the last 50 years on Christian thought by World Magazine. In addition to many other awards, Josh has been nominated 36 times for the Gold Medallion Award and has received that award on four occasions. In spite of all the honors and awards he has received, Josh will tell anyone that his greatest joys and pleasures come from his family. He and his wife, Dottie, have been married 50 years. They have 4 children and 11 grandchildren. Josh McDowell Ministry is a Cru ministry (the US division of Campus Crusade for Christ International).
Mark Mittelberg is the best-selling author of The Questions Christians Hope No One Will Ask (with answers) and The Reason Why Faith Makes Sense. He is also the primary creator of the celebrated Becoming a Contagious Christian curriculum, which has been translated into more than 20 languages and used to train 1.5 million people around the world. Mark was on the leadership team at the Willow Creek Association in Chicago for many years, and now co-directs (with Lee Strobel) The Institute at Cherry Hills in Denver, Colorado.
David Platt is the author of three New York Times bestsellers, including Follow Me and Radical. He is lead pastor at McLean Bible Church in metro Washington, DC; former president of the International Mission Board (IMB); and founder of Radical, Inc., a resource ministry that serves churches in accomplishing the global mission of Christ. Platt received his master of divinity, master of theology, and doctor of philosophy from New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary. He lives in Virginia with his wife and four children.
Alister McGrath is Andreas Idreos Professor of Science and Religion of the University of Oxford. In addition, he is Senior Research Fellow at Harris Manchester College at Oxford and President of the Oxford Centre for Christian Apologetics. Dr. McGrath is a bestselling author of more than 50 books and a popular speaker, traveling the world every year to speak at various conferences.
Scott Sauls serves as senior pastor of Christ Presbyterian Church in Nashville, Tennessee. Previously, Scott was a lead and preaching pastor for Redeemer Presbyterian Church in New York City, where he served alongside Dr. Timothy Keller. Scott has also planted two churches—one in Kansas City, Kansas, and the other in St. Louis, Missouri. Scott is the author of Befriend, From Weakness to Strength, and Irresistible Faith and is a frequent speaker at church conferences, leadership retreats, and to university students. Scott currently lives in Nashville with his wife, Patti, and his daughters, Abby and Ellie. Learn more about Scott on his blog at www.scottsauls.com or by following @scottsauls on Twitter.
Pastor Charles R. Swindoll has devoted his life to the accurate, practical teaching and application of God's Word. Since 1998, he has served as the senior pastor-teacher of Stonebriar Community Church in Frisco, Texas, but Chuck's listening audience extends beyond a local church body. As a leading program in Christian broadcasting since 1979, Insight for Living airs around the world. Chuck's leadership as president and now chancellor emeritus at Dallas Theological Seminary has helped prepare and equip a new generation of men and women for ministry.
Alisa Childers is a wife, mom, author, and speaker. She was a member of the award-winning CCM recording group ZOEgirl. She is a popular speaker at apologetics and Christian worldview conferences. She is the author of Another Gospel? and Live Your Truth and Other Lies. She has been published at the Gospel Coalition, Crosswalk, the Stream, For Every Mom, Decision Magazine, and the Christian Post.
Dr. Guillaume Bignon was born and raised in France, where he studied math, physics, and engineering science. He currently works as a software engineering manager. After a wholly improbable conversion from atheism to Christianity, Guillaume earned a master's in biblical literature with an emphasis on the New Testament, and a PhD in philosophical theology. His areas of interest include the metaphysics of free will, natural theology, and soteriology. Guillaume is an executive committee member of Association Axiome, a society of French-speaking Christian scholars. He and his wife, Katherine, have five young (and adorable) children.
Sean McDowell is an associate professor of Christian apologetics at Biola University. He is the bestselling author, editor, or coauthor of more than twenty books. He speaks internationally on issues related to culture, apologetics, and Gen Z. He is the cohost of the Think Biblically podcast and has a popular YouTube channel. Sean and his wife Stephanie have two children and make their home in California. Visit Sean online at seanmcdowell.org.
Scot McKnight is professor of New Testament at Northern Seminary and a recognized authority on the New Testament, early Christianity, and the historical Jesus. He is the author of more than ninety books, including the award-winning The Jesus Creed as well as A Church Called Tov, The King Jesus Gospel, A Fellowship of Differents, The Blue Parakeet, and Kingdom Conspiracy. He maintains an active Substack newsletter at https://scotmcknight.substack.com. He and his wife, Kristen, live in the northwest suburbs of Chicago, where they enjoy long walks, gardening, and cooking.
Andy Bannister is a highly in-demand speaker, writer, and broadcaster. Based in the United Kingdom, he's the director of the Solas Centre for Public Christianity, an evangelism and training ministry. He is an adjunct professor at Wycliffe College, University of Toronto, where he teaches a popular and influential course, Christian Apologetics: The Art and Science of Christian Persuasion. He also is an adjunct research fellow at Melbourne School of Theology in Australia and regularly visits Australia to speak and teach. In all that he does, Andy is passionate about getting the gospel out of the four walls of the church and equipping Christians to share their faith in their communities. Andy is married to Astrid, and they have two children, Caitriona and Christopher. They live in Wiltshire in England.
Justin Brierley is a UK-based author, speaker, and broadcaster known for hosting dialogues between Christians and non-Christians. He is passionate about creating conversations around faith, science, theology, and culture. Through creative use of podcast, radio, print, video, and social media, he showcases an intellectually compelling case for Christianity while taking seriously the questions of sceptics. Justin has worked in radio, podcast, and video for over two decades. He has hosted the Unbelievable? radio show and podcast as well as the Ask NT Wright Anything podcast. Justin was also editor of Premier Christianity magazine from 2014 to 2018. In 2023 he founded the production company Think Faith. Justin is the author of The Surprising Rebirth of Belief in God: Why New Atheism Grew Old and Secular Thinkers Are Considering Christianity Again, a finalist in Christianity Today's 2024 Book of the Year awards. He is a cohost of the Re-Enchanting podcast and a guest presenter for the Maybe God podcast. He also hosts the award-winning documentary podcast series The Surprising Rebirth of Belief in God, which is based on the book of the same name. Justin has over 400k followers across social media, where his short-form apologetics videos have been viewed millions of times. Justin is married to Lucy, a church minister in Surrey, England, and they have four amazing children—Noah, Grace, Jeremy, and Toby. When he isn't working in a professional capacity, you'll find Justin involved in youth work and worship leading at church.
Bobby Conway serves as lead pastor of Image Church in Charlotte, North Carolina, and is well known for his YouTube ministry, Christianity Still Makes Sense (formerly One Minute Apologist). He also serves as the cohost of Pastors' Perspective, a nationally syndicated radio show on KWVE in Southern California. Bobby is the author of several books including The Fifth Gospel and Doubting Toward Faith. He holds a PhD in philosophy of religion from the University of Birmingham in England and resides in Charlotte with his wife, Heather. They have two adult children, Haley and Dawson.
John Burke is the author of the New York Times bestseller Imagine Heaven, along with No Perfect People Allowed, Soul Revolution, and Unshockable Love. He and his wife, Kathy, founded Gateway Church, a multisite church based in Austin, Texas, that helps people explore faith. As an international speaker, John has addressed hundreds of thousands of people in thirty countries on topics of leadership, spiritual growth, and the exhilarating life to come. John and Kathy have two children and two grandchildren.
