Biblical Worldview Archives

Tune in as Scott Lindsey breaks down the latest details and updates on Logos Bible Software, the title sponsor of 2022 BWI!

Dr. Sean McDowell is an Associate Professor in the Christian Apologetics program at Talbot School of Theology, Biola University. In 2008 he received the Educator of the Year award for San Juan Capistrano, California. The Association of Christian Schools International awarded Exemplary Status to his apologetics training. Dr. McDowell is listed among the top one hundred apologists. He graduated summa cum laude from Talbot Theological Seminary with a double master’s degree in Theology and Philosophy. He earned a Ph.D. in Apologetics and Worldview Studies from Southern Baptist Theological Seminary in 2014.

Alisa Childers is the author of Another Gospel?—a book in which she describes the year's-long journey she took as she wrestled with questions that struck at the core of the Christian faith and found the truth. She is a wife, mom, author, podcaster, blogger, and speaker. Childers was a member of the award-winning Contemporary Christian Music recording group ZOEgirl. She is currently a respected speaker at apologetics and Christian worldview conferences, as well as the host of her popular YouTube channel. You can connect with Childers online at alisachilders.com.

Dr. Scott Stripling serves as Provost and Director of the Archaeology Institute at The Bible Seminary in Katy, Texas. Dr. Stripling is the Director of Excavations for the Associates for Biblical Research (ABR) at Ancient Shiloh (2017 to present). He did his graduate studies at the University of Texas (M.A.), Assemblies of God Theological Seminary (M.A.), and Veritas International University (Ph.D.). Scott and Janet, his wife of thirty-nine years, have four grown children and four grandchildren.

Dr. Craig A. Evans is the John Bisagno Distinguished Professor of Christian Origins at Houston Baptist University in Texas. A graduate of Claremont McKenna College, he received his M.Div. from Western Baptist Seminary in Portland, Oregon, and his M.A. and Ph.D. in Biblical Studies from Claremont Graduate University in southern California. He has also been awarded the D.Habil. by the Karoli Gaspar Reformed University in Budapest. A well-known evangelical scholar, Dr. Evans is an elected member of the prestigious Studiorum Novi Testamenti Societas, an academic Society for the furtherance of New Testament studies internationally.

Dr. Randy Guliuzza has a B.S. in engineering from the South Dakota School of Mines and Technology, a B.A. in theology from Moody Bible Institute, an M.D. from the University of Minnesota, and a Master of Public Health from Harvard University. Dr. Guliuzza served nine years in the Navy Civil Engineer Corps and is a registered Professional Engineer. In 2008, he retired as a lieutenant colonel from the Air Force, where he served as 28th Bomb Wing Flight Surgeon and Chief of Aerospace Medicine and joined The Institute for Creation Research as National Representative.

Allen G. Parr is a licensed and ordained minister who has taught the Bible for twenty-five years. In 2004 Parr graduated from Dallas Theological Seminary with a Master of Theology degree with an emphasis on Pastoral Leadership. Parr is the founder of The BEAT, an online Bible teaching ministry that publishes videos that reach thousands of weekly viewers worldwide. He is also the author of two eBooks and has a blog hosted on his website allenparr.com.

Alexandra Hudson is passionate about the way that ideas, storytelling, and beauty can change people’s lives. She is the curator of “Civic Renaissance”, a newsletter and intellectual community dedicated to lifelong learning, goodness, truth, and healing our public discourse through reviving the wisdom of the past. Hudson is an award-winning writer and journalist currently writing a book on civility and civic revival.

Adam Wright, Ph.D. – President of Dallas Baptist University

Blake Thompson, Ph.D. – President of Mississippi College

Ryan Bangert, J.D. – Senior Counsel and Vice President for Legal Strategy at Alliance Defending Freedom

Jeremiah J. Johnston, Ph.D. is known for his unique communication skills and his infectious love for people. Johnston is a New Testament scholar, author, nationally syndicated radio host, apologist, a contributor for Fox News, and ministers internationally as President of Christian Thinkers Society. Johnston’s passion is working with local churches and pastors in equipping Christians to give intellectually informed accounts of what they believe.

Caleb Kaltenbach is Research Pastor at Shepherd Church in Los Angeles and founder of The Messy Grace Group where he helps churches love and foster community with LGBTQ individuals without sacrificing theological convictions. He's the author of  Messy Truth , God of Tomorrow, and Messy Grace (where he discusses being raised in the LGBTQ community, following Jesus, and how loving others doesn’t require shifting beliefs).

Caleb Kaltenbach is Research Pastor at Shepherd Church in Los Angeles and founder of The Messy Grace Group where he helps churches love and foster community with LGBTQ individuals without sacrificing theological convictions. He's the author of  Messy Truth , God of Tomorrow, and Messy Grace (where he discusses being raised in the LGBTQ community, following Jesus, and how loving others doesn’t require shifting beliefs).

Discovering a Theology of Technology

Dr. John Dyer serves as the Dean of Enrollment Services and Distance Education and an Adjunct Professor in Media Arts and Worship at Dallas Theological Seminary where he earned his Masters in Theology degree. John is also a graduate of Texas A&M University as well as Durham University where he earned his doctorate. He has a background in technology working as a coder and speaks often to groups to help them reflect carefully on technology from a Biblical perspective.

Dr. Paige Cunningham serves as the Interim President of Taylor University. Beyond her service at Taylor, Cunningham has extensive academic scholarship and professional experience, with an emphasis in bioethics, public policy, and pro-life issues. She has served as the Executive Director of The Center for Bioethics & Human Dignity, and as an affiliate professor at Trinity Law School and Trinity Graduate School. She was an adjunct instructor at Wheaton College for eight years and serves on the Advisory Board of the Wheaton College Center for Faith, Politics and Economics. Earlier in her career, Cunningham was Executive Director and General Counsel and later President of Americans United for Life, a national pro-life advocacy organization located in Washington, D.C.

Danielle Rice serves as the Director of Data+Analytics at Dunham+Company, seeking to understand and utilize the data behind human interaction. She continues to stay informed of for-profit digital trends and data best practices to identify key tactics that deliver results for Dunham+Company clients. Danielle is certified in Google Analytics and has in-depth experience in online measurement strategies. She earned a Bachelor of Science in Journalism from the University of Kansas and a Master of Professional Studies in Communication Management from the University of Denver.

Dr. Alicia Makaye is the Vice President and Co-Owner/Co-Founder of GXA, an award winning I.T. Consulting company. GXA provides solutions to small-to-medium size businesses in DFW area. Dr. Makaye is committed philanthropist and civic leader. She has touched over 30 non-profits locally and internationally and been instrumental in establishing computer labs in Kenya and Nigeria with the help of her local non-profit partnerships. GXA was recognized by local nonprofit featuring "Oprah Winfrey" for providing over 90,000 meals locally.

Jason Illian, Managing Director of Koch Disruptive Technologies (KDT. Jason serves on the board of D2iQ. He is a Rhodes scholar finalist, NCAA Academic All-American and was captain of the TCU football team.

TIM TURNER is Founder and CEO of Subsplash. Tim has consulted software projects for XBOX, Expedia, Samsung, Cisco, T-Mobile and other Fortune 500 companies. He’sreceived patents for his work on touchscreen software and renewable energy. His projects have been featured in the Wall Street Journal, Engadget, Gizmodo, and Wired.

NILS SMITH serves as Chief Strategist Social Media+Innovation at Dunham+Company. Nils graduated from Texas State University, and has a masters in Ministry Leadership from Rockbridge Seminary. He is the Founder of Amplify Social Media and Co-Founder of Mere Technology.

Transhuminism/AI

Dr. Jacob Shatzer graduated from Union in 2007 and has served at Union since 2017. Prior to coming to Union, Jacob taught on the faculties of Sterling College and Palm Beach Atlantic University. He earned his Masters in Divinity from Southern Baptist Theological Seminary as well as his doctorate degree from Marquette University. He is the author of the book Transhuminism and the image of God. Jacob is an ordained Southern Baptist minister and is an assistant editor for Ethics & Medicine and a consultant for BibleMesh.

Dr. Paul Maurer serves as President of Montreat College. He has a Bachelor ofArts from the University of Cincinnati, a Master of Divinity from Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary and a doctorate in Political Science from Claremont Graduate University, where he was both an H.B. Earhart Fellow and a John M. Olin Fellow.

Jacob Schick, Chief Executive Officer for 22Kill.com, is a third generation Marine who epitomizes service and sacrifice. After a triple-stacked tank mine detonated below his vehicle in Al Anbar Province, Iraq in 2004, Jake suffered compound fractures in his left leg and arm; multiple skin, ligament and bone losses; varying burns; partial loss of his left hand and arm; amputation below the knee of his right leg, traumatic brain injury (TBI) and post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).

WHAT IS BIBLICAL JUSTICE? The foundation for what is justice and why it's important to Christians

Dr. Jarrett Stephens serves as the Teaching Pastor at Prestonwood and is the author of The Mountains are Calling. Dr. Stephens will lay the biblical foundation for the conference that justice is the very heartbeat of God who advocates for the afflicted and calls His children to “do justice” (Micah 6:8).

WHITE AWAKE A personal journey of cultural awareness

Author and pastor Dr. Daniel Hill will share his personal revelation about racial injustice and disharmony from his book White Awake.

CHRISTIANS CONFRONTING RACIAL DISHARMONY: Biblical insights into God's heart for ethnic harmony

Church planter and pastor D.A. Horton will share his insight into how Christians can engage racial disharmony to restore the “fabric” of our culture. “FABRIC” is an acronym for Family Blight, Religious Institutions of Learning, and Culture.

DISMANTLING RACISM: A TWO-FOLD PROBLEM The difference between individual and institutional racism

Dr. Danny Akin, president of Southeastern Seminary, and Dr. Walter Strickland, Associate Vice President for Diversity and Assistant Professor of Systematic and Contextual Theology at Southeastern Seminary, will be sharing from their personal experiences about the difference between personal and systematic racism to help students understand that both must be addressed.

Dr. Walter Strickland, Dr. Daniel Hill, D.A. Horton and Ryan Bomberger answer questions from the moderator and audience.

ABORTION

Truth about the battle for human dignity and life

Inspirational speaker Ryan Bomberger with The Radiance Foundation will challenge students to think in a new light about the issues of life, specifically addressing the issue of abortion in our culture.

SEX TRAFFICKING A discussion about the reality of domestic child sex trafficking and how to defend ourselves against evil by standing on the absolute truth of God

Jaco Booyens serves in many areas across multiple industries. He is the president and CEO of the film company, After Eden Pictures. He is the founder of SHAREtogether, a non-profit organization fighting against the global crisis of Sex Trafficking. Jaco directed and produced the feature film, 8 Days, written by his wife Philipa A. Booyens, to raise awareness about the reality of sex trafficking in the United States.

CRIMINAL JUSTICE REFORM Christian worldview applied to crime and incarceration

Heather Rice-Minus serves as vice president of government affairs and church mobilization at Prison Fellowship, the nation's largest Christian nonprofit serving prisoners, former prisoners, and their families. She is a powerful, knowledgeable voice articulating the case for restorative criminal justice solutions.

NOW WHAT?

Help to distinguish between the world’s concept of "social justice" and the Biblical narrative of justice

Allie Stuckey is the host of the podcast, "Relatable," where she breaks down the latest in culture, news and politics from a Christian perspective. In addition to podcasting, writing, and making the occasional satirical

Ryan T. Anderson, Ph.D., is the William E. Simon Senior Research Fellow in American Principles and Public Policy at The Heritage Foundation. Author of the new book:When Harry Became Sally

Panel Members- Moderated by Dr. Matthew Hall

Matthew J. Hall, Ph.D. was appointed as dean of Boyce College in 2016 and also serves as senior vice president of academic strategy at Southern Seminary. Dr. Hall serves as assistant professor of church history. His academic and research interests focus on the intersection of theology and culture in American religion.

Ryan Anderson, Ph.D.

Ricky Chelette serves as Executive Director of Living Hope Ministries www.livehope.org and Minister of Pastoral Ministries at First Baptist Church, Arlington, TX. As an ordained pastor, Ricky has over thirty years of ministry experience with most of those years in youth/student/young adult work. He is a gifted speaker, teacher and lecturer and is committed to equipping the church in understanding sexual and relational brokenness.

Walt Heyer is a former transgender with a passion to help others who regret gender change. Walt travels extensively to share his story of redemption at conferences, churches and universities. Walt has appeared on numerous radio and television shows in the U.S. and Canada. Walt’s articles have been published online and his many books are a welcome resource in understanding the issue.

Hope Harris lived most of her adult life as an out and proud lesbian. In 2009 she surrendered her life to Jesus Christ and began a journey of resolving the issues of sexual identity and gender with the Word of God. She is currently finishing up her first book sharing that journey.

Moderated by Dr. Matthew Hall

Ryan Anderson, Ph.D.

Jeremy Tedesco, Esq., serves as senior counsel and vice president of U.S. Advocacy and Administration for Alliance Defending Freedom, where he helps oversee the implementation of strategic initiatives and advocacy campaigns. Since joining ADF in 2004, Tedesco has litigated cases protecting religious liberty, free speech, and the sanctity of human life.

Chelsey Youman, Esq., is Counsel for First Liberty Institute, concentrating on religious liberty matters and First Amendment rights. Youman received her Juris Doctor from Southern Methodist University, where she was a Dean’s Scholarship Recipient.

Jeremy Tedesco, Esq., serves as senior counsel and vice president of U.S. Advocacy and Administration for Alliance Defending Freedom, where he helps oversee the implementation of strategic initiatives and advocacy campaigns. Since joining ADF in 2004, Tedesco has litigated cases protecting religious liberty, free speech, and the sanctity of human life.

With special guests:

Kelvin Cochran built a record of service and expertise that made him one of the most respected Fire Chiefs in the country. He was the first African-American Fire Chief in Shreveport, Louisiana. He was among the responders to Hurricane Katrina. President Obama appointed him as the U.S. Fire Administrator, whose job is to improve both fire prevention and response across the country. And until a few years ago, he was the Chief of the Atlanta Fire Department, a job he would probably still hold if city officials had any respect for Cochran’s rights to freedom of religion and freedom of speech. Cochran got into trouble over a book he wrote on his own time for a small group that he led in his church. The book entitled “Who Told You That You Were Naked?,” was directed at Christian men seeking to fulfill their biblical roles as “husbands, fathers, community and business leaders.” When the contents of Cochran’s book came to the attention of Mayor Kasim Reed, Reed ultimately fired Cochran, but not before saying “when you’re a city employee, and [your] thoughts, beliefs, and opinions are different from the city’s, you have to check them at the door.”

Carl and Angel Larsen are owners of Telescope Media Group (“TMG”), a video and film production company that exists to tell great stories that honor God. The Larsens know the power of film — of great story-telling — to change hearts and minds. They want to use their wedding cinematography to reanimate the hearts and minds of people about the goodness of marriage between a man and a woman. But the Larsens’ desire to enter the wedding cinematography field has hit a huge obstacle — a speech coercing state law. According to Minnesota officials, the State’s Human Rights Act mandates that if the Larsens make films celebrating marriage between one man and one woman, then they must make films celebrating same-sex marriages as well. State officials have repeatedly threatened to prosecute expressive business owners who decline to create speech promoting same-sex marriages. And there are steep penalties for violating the law, including payment of a civil penalty to the state, triple compensatory damages, punitive damages up to $25,000, and even up to 90 days in jail. They have filed a lawsuit before entering the wedding field, seeking a court order that says Minnesota cannot threaten them with severe penalties and jail time if they exercise their First Amendment right to decline to promote a message with which they disagree. Until they get a favorable ruling, the Larsens are refraining from making wedding films and muzzling their speech about God’s design for marriage to avoid the severe penalties for violating Minnesota’s law.

Joe Dallas is an author, conference speaker, and ordained pastoral counselor. He directs a Biblical counseling ministry for those dealing with sexual and relational problems, and with their families as well. He received his Master’s Degree in Christian Counseling from Vision University, San Diego, CA and is a member of the American Association of Christian Counselors. He is also the author of the daily blog Joe Dallas Online.

Noel Bouche is a Vision Advocate for pureHOPE, Noel is a “voice for the vision” of a world free of sexual exploitation and brokenness. As a writer and speaker, he communicates pureHOPE’s life-giving message to audiences across the country, and works with the pureHOPE team to form strategic and collaborative partnerships globally to advance the life-changing reality that everyone who hopes in Jesus purifies him or herself, just as He is pure (1 John 3:3).

Aszia Pearson is the Discipleship Director at pureHOPE. Aszia trains leaders to be effective advocates for the exploited by helping them experience God’s love, engage with truth, and live boldly out of the overflow of their hope and freedom in Jesus.

Walt Heyer is a former transgender with a passion to help others who regret gender change. Walt travels extensively to share his story of redemption at conferences, churches and universities. Walt has appeared on numerous radio and television shows in the U.S. and Canada. Walt’s articles have been published online and his many books are a welcome resource in understanding the issue

Ben Schettler is the Founder and President of Ask or Think Ministries, a non-profit focused on aiding the church with Biblical advice and teaching on cultural engagement and gospel advancement.

Why Engage?

John Stonestreet, President, The Colson Center for Christian Worldview. John is one of our student favorites and we are thrilled that he and Brett Kunkle will be with us in November. The two recently released a book titled A Practical Guide to Culture: Helping the Next Generation Navigate Today’s World. Students will learn not only why they need to be engaged in the cultural chaos, but how to best stand for truth.

Engaging the Mind

Alycia Wood graduated from Roberts Wesleyan College with a degree in Criminal Justice and from Marygrove College with a Master’s in Social Justice. She also graduated from the Oxford Centre for Christian Apologetics and spent two years as a Fellow with RZIM in New England. Alycia’s speaking background is quite diverse. From universities (such as MIT, UCONN, Harvard, University of Massachusetts, Boston University, Dartmouth College, and Brown University), to retreats, from conferences to men’s and women’s prisons, Alycia has addressed major issues surrounding faith to diverse audiences.

Additionally, she has traveled to countries such as Haiti, Honduras, the Dominican Republic, and Jamaica, volunteering at soup kitchens and orphanages as her passions for “showing Christ” extends beyond her local environment.

Engaging Through Obstacles

Neal Jeffrey-As part of the Preaching Team at Prestonwood, Neal Jeffrey has often shared his dreams as a child: The first was to be the greatest football player who ever lived, and the second was to be a preacher.

He worked hard on the football field, rising above the pack to become an All-American quarterback at Baylor University, and to get drafted to play in the National Football League by the San Diego Chargers.

But a stuttering impediment kept him from believing that he could ever become a public speaker of any kind. As a freshman in college, listening to the wise advice of others, he came to the realization that God had made him, God had given him a dream, and God would achieve that dream through him if he didn’t give up.

After his professional playing career, Neal attended Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary and received a Master of Divinity in 1981. He served with the Fellowship of Christian Athletes and at Wilshire Baptist Church in Dallas before coming to Prestonwood in 1984 as Student Minister. He then served as Minister to Married Adults and later as Associate Pastor of Pastoral Care. Throughout his more than three decades at Prestonwood, Neal has always shown an incredible passion for God’s Word and for His people.

Neal preaches regularly during Worship Services at all three campuses and is a popular motivational speaker throughout the country. “It’s an incredible thing to know God has a dream for you, and knowing that He is working in you and through you to achieve His dream in you,” Neal says.

Neal and his wife, Sheila, have three adult children; Natalie, married to Josh Patterson; Melissa, married to Jonathan James; and James, married to Krista. They have nine grandchildren, Lily, Luke, Liv, Georgia, Sadie, Lucy, James, Jack and Charlotte.

How to Engage

Brett Kunkle is the Student Impact Director at Stand to Reason. He is passionate about seeing students and adults “transformed by the renewing of their minds.” Brett has more than 18 years of experience working with junior high, high school, and college students. He spent 11 of those years as a pastor to students and young adults at Chino Valley Community Church in Southern California and Creekside Church in Colorado.

A dynamic communicator who engages both heart and mind, Brett speaks to thousands of students and adults at churches, conferences, and college campuses across the country. He has worked with such groups as Summit Ministries, Campus Crusade for Christ, InterVarsity, Saddleback Church, and Biola University. Brett has participated in debates and public forums on secular university campuses, and he is a regular speaker at the Evangelical Philosophical Society’s annual apologetics conference. In addition, Brett was a contributor to the Apologetics Study Bible for Students, has a chapter on truth in Apologetics for a New Generation, and wrote the Ambassador’s Guide to Mormonism. He has been interviewed on radio and television, and has been a guest host for Stand to Reason's weekly radio show.

Brett has developed a groundbreaking approach to mission trips, creating a one-of-a-kind training experience that immerses participants in real-life apologetics, theology, and evangelism. He orchestrates interactive trips to Berkeley California, Boulder Colorado, and to various parts of Utah where participants are equipped to engage atheists, Mormons, university students, and other non-believers.

Brett received his bachelor's degree in Christian education from Biola University. He has his master's degree in philosophy of religion and ethics at Talbot School of Theology.

Engaging in Today's Cultural Crisis

Dr. Carol M. Swain (B.A., Roanoke College, 1983; M.A., Virginia Polytechnic & State Univ., 1984; Ph.D., University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, 1989; M.S.L, Yale, 2000; member of Phi Beta Kappa). Academic title: Professor of Political Science and Professor of Law, Vanderbilt University. Dr. Swain is the founder of the Carol Swain Foundation (2011) and Carol Swain Enterprises, L.LC. (2014).

Dr. Swain’s work on representation and race relations has earned her national and international accolades. Her highly acclaimed book, Black Faces, Black Interests: The Representation of African Americans in Congress (1993, 1995 Harvard University Press; reprinted in 2006 by University Press of America) was named one of the seven outstanding academic books of 1994 by Library Choice Journal, received the 1994 Woodrow Wilson prize for the best book published in the U.S. on government, politics or international affairs, the Hardeman Prize for best scholarly work on Congress during 1994-1995, and was the co-winner of the Key Award for the best book published on southern politics. Black Faces was cited by the U.S. Supreme Court Justice Anthony Kennedy in Johnson v. DeGrandy (1994) and by Justice Sandra Day O’Connor in Georgia v. Ashcroft (2003).

Her other books include: Be the People: A Call to Reclaim America’s Faith and Promise (Thomas Nelson Press, 2011). Debating Immigration (Cambridge University Press, 2007), Contemporary Voices of White Nationalism (Cambridge University Press, 2003, edited with Russ Nieli), The New White Nationalism in America: Its Challenge to Integration (Cambridge University Press, 2002) that was nominated for a Pulitzer Prize, and Race Versus Class: The New Affirmative Action Debate (University Press of America, 1996). Her latest book, co-authored with Steve Feazel, is titled: Abduction: How Liberalism Steals the Hearts and Minds of Our Children (Christian Faith Publishing, September 2016).

A widely recognized expert on campaign and elections, racial politics, immigration reform, and religious liberty. Professor Swain has served on the Tennessee Advisory Committee to the U.S. Civil Rights Commission and the National Endowment for the Humanities Council (2008-2014). Her opinion pieces have been published in The New York Times, The Washington Post, The Wall Street Journal, The Washington Times and USA Today. She was a regular contributor to CNN’s Lou Dobbs Tonight and her media appearances include BBC World News, NPR, CNN’s Michael Smerconish, CNN’s Anderson Cooper 360, Fox News Live, Fox New’s Hannity, Fox News’s Judge Jeanine, PBS’s News Hour, The Washington Journal and ABC’s Headline News, among other media. Before joining Vanderbilt in 1999, Professor Swain was a tenured associate professor of politics and public policy at Princeton University’s Woodrow Wilson School of Public and International Affairs.

In October 2012, Professor Swain launched the Be The People TV Show under the auspices of Eagle Wings Media, LLC. Forty-two episodes aired between October 2012 and July 2014. The show debuted on an NBC affiliate Channel 4, WSMV. in Nashville, TN. According to the Nielsen ratings, the highest audience reached on WSMV’s midnight time slot was 46,000 households. In February 2014, Be the People TV moved to Fox 17 (WZTV). The show aired its final episode in July 2014. Since then, Be the People TV has operated as a blog for conservative thought. Past episodes are archived on Be the People’s Youtube Channel.

Dr. Swain commentary on current social and political issues can be heard nationally on Bott Radio and American Family Radio’s Two Minutes to Think About it with Dr. Carol M. Swain.

Engaging with the Gospel

Ben Schettler is the Founder and President of Ask or Think Ministries, a non-profit focused on aiding the church with Biblical advice and teaching on cultural engagement and gospel advancement.

Ben has delivered over 700 keynote addresses, on 4 continents and 37 states. He is often called upon to speak at Churches, Conferences, Colleges and other Church leadership gatherings. He primarily focuses on helping churches navigate the changing social and political climate with a Biblical worldview.

Ben has worked with leadership teams giving practical ideas for developing a Biblical worldview in the next generation. He has officially and unofficially consulted for government and aspiring political candidates including neurosurgeon Dr. Ben Carson as the Faith Outreach Adviser for his campaign for presidency. Ben serves on the board for the National Association of Christian Athletics and Fort Bluff Camp.

In 2014 Ben joined the Creation Today television show as the co-host and producer, bringing a new dynamic and show format to the screen. This show is syndicated on the Christian Television Network and can be seen in 89 countries around the world. He also served as the main writer for the Legal Alert radio show syndicated on over 1100 stations in the U.S. Ben is currently working with an undisclosed national network on a pilot project for a new documentary television series on religious diversity scheduled to start filming in 2016.

Engaging with your Passion

Jared Hall is one of the top touring illusionists in the country. Jared will keep you on the edge of your seat, unable to look away as he makes audience members float, escapes from a straight jacket or simply finds your chosen card.

Jared uses illusions and comedy to present the gospel of Jesus Christ in relevant, engaging ways. Traveling extensively across the nation, Jared has had the opportunity to be apart of many conferences, festivals, outreach events, youth camps, and upward award night celebrations. He has shared the stage with many artist including Christ Tomlin, Louie Giglio, David Crowder, Shane and Shane, Toby Mac, Building 429, P.O.D., Jeremy Camp, Leeland, Casting Crowns, Lecrae, Eric Timm, Family Force Five and many more.

How Do We Know What is True?

Dr. Frank Turek is a dynamic speaker, explorer and co-author of two award-winning books: I Don’t have Enough Faith to be an Atheist and Legislating Morality. A former Aviator in the U.S. Navy, Frank has searched for Noah’s Ark in Iran and other biblical artifacts overseas. He has a doctorate in Apologetics and speaks around the country in defense of the Christian faith. Frank has appeared on numerous TV and radio programs including: The O’Reilly Factor, Hannity and Colmes, Faith under Fire, Politically Incorrect, Focus on the Family and The Bible Answerman.

Do Science and the Bible Conflict?

Dr. Strauss is a physics professor at the University of Oklahoma as well as researcher at CERN in Geneva, Switzerland, where he is a collaborator on the ATLAS experiment, which uses data from the Large Hadron Collider (LHC). He is a graduate of BIOLA University and UCLA, having received his Ph.D. from UCLA in 1988 in Experimental High Energy Physics. Dr. Strauss has published hundreds of scholarly articles and journals and is a frequent speaker on college campuses discussing the scientific evidences for God.

Speaking Truth in the Age of Intolerance

Jeremiah Johnston is President of the Christian Thinkers Society, Special Assistant to the President at Houston Baptist University and an Associate Professor of Early Christianity. A New Testament scholar and apologist, Dr. Johnston speaks on university campuses and at churches and popular venues. His passion is equipping Christians to give intellectually informed accounts of what they believe in the public sphere and what impact those answers make in the betterment of society.

Ethnic Conciliation

DA Horton serves as Pastor of Reach Fellowship, a church plant in North Long Beach, CA & as Chief Evangelist for the Urban Youth Workers Institute (UYWI). Prior to his current roles he served as an urban church planter/pastor in Kansas City, MO, a National Coordinator of Urban Student Ministries at the North American Mission Board (NAMB) and the Executive Director at ReachLife Ministries, the non-profit ministry of Reach Records.

He earned his B.S. in Biblical Studies from Calvary Bible College, his Masters Degree in Christian Studies from Calvary Theological Seminary and is currently working on his Ph.D. in Applied Theology with a North American Missions emphasis at Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary.

He has authored three books; G.O.S.P.E.L., DNA: Foundations of the Faith (published through Moody Publishers) and Bound to Be Free: Escaping Performance to be Captured by Grace, (published through NavPress).

The Truth About Islam

Jerry Rassamni grew up as a Muslim in the war-torn world of Lebanon and learned at a young age to hate Christians. Jerry became a militia fighter at a young age fighting against Christians. Later, he had the opportunity to come to America where he met and fell in love with a Christian who introduced Jerry to the love of Jesus Christ. He is the author of "From Jihad to Jesus” and loves to speak to anyone who will listen about the truth of God’s Word.

Truth and Lies about Life

Megan speaks for Life Training Institute (LTI), which was established in 2004 to challenge and equip pro-life advocates to persuasively defend their views in the public square.

"God as the Ultimate Authority”

James C. Denison, Ph.D., founder of Denison Forum on Truth and Culture. He is a subject-matter expert on cultural and contemporary issues. In 2009, he founded the Denison Forum on Truth and Culture, a nonsectarian “think tank” designed to engage contemporary issues with biblical truth. He is the author of seven books, including his most recent, Radical Islam: What You Need to Know.

• Who are you listening to?
  Lily Isaacs, daughter of Polish Jewish Holocaust survivors and author of the book "You Don’t Cry Out Loud.” Lily Isaacs is a vocalist and matriarch of the award winning group The Isaacs. She was born in Germany after World War II and moved to the United States when she was 2 years old. She grew up in the Bronx, NY studying theatre and performing Off Broadway.

Isis and the Persecuted Church
Johnnie Moore is a best-selling author of the book "Defying ISIS." In 2014, Moore witnessed the current Middle East refugee crisis firsthand, having met with everyone from the King of Jordan to orthodox patriarchs and Catholic cardinals, the UN, the world’s largest NGO’s, members of the Iraqi government and hundreds of refugees.

"We Are What We Love" - Axis Live Event
Axis Live Events are unlike anything out there! Led by a team of four millennials (two men, two women) who are passionate followers of Jesus, their captivating presentations integrate the truth of God's word with Christian scholarship and current media.

• Our Identity in Christ
  Rob Wilton, Lead Pastor, Vintage Church - Before planting Vintage Church Rob served in New Orleans, leading Upward Sports Camps and serving with New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary pre-Katrina. After Katrina he launched a young adult ministry and then Jesus called him to plant Vintage Church.

• Personal Testimonies
  Cymone Lonon & Ricky Chelette
• Does the Bible Endorse Homosexuality? (Part 1)
  Sean McDowell, Ph.D. – Assistant Professor in the Christian Apologetics program at Biola University. Sean is listed among the top 100 apologists

• Does the Bible Endorse Homosexuality? (Part 2)
  John Stonestreet – Fellow of the Chuck Colson Center for Christian Worldview and co-host with Eric Metaxas of BreakPoint the Christian worldview radio program founded by the late Chuck Colson, and the voice of The Point, a daily national radio feature on worldview, apologetics and cultural issues.

Panel Discussion

• Ricky Chelette
• John Stonestreet
• Sean McDowell
• Rob Wilton

• What a Girl Wants and What a Guy Should Be
  Jonathan Evans - Son of Dr. Tony Evans, Jonathan serves as the chaplain of the Dallas Cowboys, studies at Dallas Theological Seminary, mentors youth in his home church and leads young adults around the country through a variety of ways.

• Examining More than the Outward Appearance
  Austen Williams - 2014 Mrs. America; Austen has been modeling, acting, singing and dancing for nearly 25 years.

• How Casual Sex is Affecting this Generation
  ** This content intended for Upper School age students and above.**
  Dr. Joe McIhaney - Joe is the Founder and Chairman of The Medical Institute for Sexual Health. He founded this organization in 1992 and left his medical practice of 24 years to become President of the organization in 1995.

• The Pursuit of Truth
  Christopher Brooks – Senior Pastor of Evangel Ministries, Detroit, MI; Fellow at Acton Institute

Wonderfully, Divinely, Designed Uniqueness-A Discussion on Racial Tension in America

• Christopher Brooks
• Mike Fechner - President of H.I.S. BridgeBuilders
• Jason “Propaganda” Petty
• Dr. Karen Bradberry - Director of Bickel & Brewer’s
• Rockie Naser - Future Leaders Program
• Jada Edwards
• Justice Raul A. Gonzalez - Retired Texas Supreme Court Judge

• Personal Testimony and Spoken Word
  Jason “Propaganda” Petty - Dynamic, soulful and clever, all focused on the heart of a person. With an uncompromising message intertwined with hot rhythms and beats, Propaganda lyrically puts together relevant music and poetry that reaches across the spectrum of youth and pop culture.

• Your Personal Pursuit of Truth
  Jada Edwards - Creative Services Architect for One Church, experienced speaker, Bible teacher and mentor

• Pursuing Truth through Education
  Dr. Michael Lindsay – President of Gordon College, award winning sociologist and educator, author of Pulitzer-nominated book, Faith in the Halls of Power.

• The Truth Behind the Curtain
  Jim Munroe - One of the most sought after magicians in the world and author of The Charlatan