Stand Your Ground Ministries

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The Youth Apologetics Conference is designed to give students evidences for the Christian faith. The seminars are taught by professional school teachers, as well as college and seminary professors. While the focus is the study of apologetics, students will also have time to develop new relationships, have small group interaction, worship with the student-led worship team, and play sports and other wild games.

Video and Photos from the Youth Apologetics Conference!

“Thank you for putting on a conference that helped me learn how to defend my faith and prove the Bible is true. The speakers did an awesome job keeping our attention and getting us involved.”
–Miana

“I had the most amazing time of my life. It was so life changing. Not that I was on the edge before but it really just helps you set your faith in stone and KNOW that everything is true and feel equipped to talk to anyone who wants to know/debate about it. It has been one of the most life changing things I have ever attended. Thank you so much for everything you put into this and I can't wait until next year!”
-Chelsea

“One of the most amazing facts I learned was on the first day when you gave the statistics of Christians who live by beliefs contrary to scripture. That explains quite a lot and it certainly justifies “preaching to the choir” – it made me realize that every Bible believing church should have an ongoing apologetics class.”
-Lisa, a parent/volunteer

Video and Photos from the Youth Apologetics Conference!

Dean Hardy, Brian Henson, and Dr. Norman Geisler

Dean Hardy, Brian Henson, and Dr. Norman Geisler

Rachel treats Dr. Norman Geisler like a Rock Star

CONFIRMED Speakers for 2013

Nabeel Qureshi

Dr. Nabeel Qureshi is a former devout Muslim who was convinced of the truth of the Gospel through historical reasoning and a spiritual search for God. Since his conversion, he has dedicated his life to spreading the Gospel through teaching, preaching, writing, and debating.

Nabeel has given lectures at universities and seminaries throughout North America, including New York University, Rutgers, the University of North Carolina, the University of Ottawa, Eastern Virginia Medical School, Southern Baptist Theological Seminary, and Biola University. He has participated in 16 moderated, public debates around North America and Europe. His focus is on the foundations of the Christian faith and the early history and teachings of Islam.

Nabeel is director of Creed 2:6 Ministries and an associate apologist with RZIM, Ravi Zacharias International Ministries. He holds an MD from Eastern Virginia Medical School, an MA in Christian apologetics from Biola University, and an MA from Duke University in Religion. He is currently studying at Rice University in Houston, TX where he lives with his bride.

Norman Geisler

Dr. Norman Geisler is the author or co-author of some 70 books and hundreds of articles. He has taught theology, philosophy, and apologetics on the college or graduate level for 50 years. He has spoken or debated in some 26 countries on six continents. He has a B.A, M.A., Th.B., and Ph.D (in philosophy). He has taught at some of the top Seminaries in the United States, including Trinity Evangelical and Dallas Seminary, and has been guest professor at numerous other schools. He and his wife Barbara live in the Charlotte, N.C. areas. He maintains an active writing, speaking, and lecturing ministry across the country.

Brian Henson

Brian became a Christian his freshman year of college at East Carolina University. He majored in Religious Studies, History, and Anthropology. As a young Christian, his faith was severely challenged in the classroom. He soon learned the importance of defending his faith and dedicated his life to studying and teaching apologetics. He received a Masters in Biblical Archaeology from Wheaton College and attended Jerusalem University College in Israel. He has a second Masters in Apologetics from Southern Evangelical Seminary. Brian has been teaching high school students since 2001. He has taught Old Testament, New Testament, Christian Theology, World Religions, Logic, Debate, and Apologetics. He now lives in Matthews, NC with his wife Gabriela and teaches Bible full time at Charlotte Christian School.

Mark Allen

A native Texan, Mark has a B.F.A. in Communication Design, an M.A. in Philosophy and will be starting Ph.D. studies this Fall at the University of Dallas, concentrating on the intersection of aesthetics, ethics and theology. He has worked as an art director and designer for 15 years and has taught courses in art and creativity as a member of the faculty at two universities in Texas and one in India. He is married to his stunning wife Cortney who is a constant source of inspiration in his studies of the good, the true and he beautiful.

Matt Wiggins

Matt Wiggins entered the world of youth ministry as a ninth grader in 1996 and never really left, the one difference being that heÕs been a youth director rather than a youth for the past nine years. He currently serves at Quail Hollow Presbyterian in Charlotte, NC where he has been since 2006. Besides youth directing, Matt has served as the movies section editor at relevantmagazine.com and currently contributes to Ransom.TV (part of the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association), often on the intersection of faith and pop culture (especially the geeky stuff). In addition to all that, he is a husband to Lisa (since 2007), a dad to Ellie (since 2012), a WWII reenactor, runner, and Ohio State Buckeyes fan.

Past Speakers:

Frank Turek

Frank Turek is a dynamic speaker and award-winning author. He has appeared on numerous TV and radio programs including: The O'Reilly Factor, Hannity and Colmes, Faith under Fire, Politically Incorrect, The Bible Answerman, and Focus on the Family. He has a doctorate in Apologetics and a Master's degree in Public Adminstration. A former Naval Aviator who served in the Pacific, Indian Ocean and Persian Gulf, Frank conducts engaging presentations for Churches, Youth Events, Non-Profits, Universities, and Corporations.

Frank's amazing website!

Dr. Michael Brown

Michael L. Brown is the founder and president of FIRE School of Ministry in Concord, North Carolina, director of the Coalition of Conscience, and host of the daily, nationally syndicated talk radio show, ÒThe Line of Fire,Ó as well as the host of the Jewish-outreach, documentary TV series, ÒThink It Thru.Ó He holds a Ph.D. in Near Eastern Languages and Literatures from New York University and has served as a visiting or adjunct professor at many seminaries. Dr. Brown is the author of over twenty books, including his newest, ÒThe Real Kosher Jesus.Ó Dr. Brown is a national and international speaker on themes of spiritual renewal and cultural reformation, and he has debated Jewish rabbis, agnostic professors, and gay activists on radio, TV, and college campuses. He is widely considered to be the worldÕs foremost Messianic Jewish apologist. Dr. Brown's website is www.askdrbrown.org.

Hank Hanegraaff

Hank Hanegraaff serves as president and chairman of the board of the North Carolina-based Christian Research Institute International. He is also host of the Bible Answer Man radio program, which is broadcast daily across the United States and Canada-as well as around the world through the Internet at www.equip.org.

Click here for the Bible Answer Man's website!

Dean Hardy

Dean is the teacher of Christian Philosophy and Apologetics at Charlotte Christian School. He has been teaching since 2000. Even though he was brought up in a strong Christian home, he questioned his faith during his college years. During this time of questioning, he came to the conclusion that Christianity was the only cohesive and rational religion. Since then he worked with Youth for Christ for three years, became a Christian school teacher, and received a masters in apologetics from Southern Evangelical Seminary. He has spoken at Intervarsity and FCA meetings, the ACSI and GCACS teachers conferences, was published in Areopagus Journal, and has authored two books: Stand Your Ground, published by Wipf and Stock, as well as Magnus Kir, a middle grade fantasy, published by Ambassador International.

Simon Brace

Simon is the current Missions Director of Southern Evangelical Seminary. He has a MA in Apologetics and leads TEAM and RatioChristi in local, national and international work. Simon is married to Nel who is currently completing her MA in Philosophy at Southern Evangelical Seminary and they have a little girl Eva. Simon was born in Zimbabwe and grew up in South African and has travelled extensively.

Doug Beaumont

Doug Beaumont is a former skeptic who has spent time on both sides of the religion debate. He is currently a college instructor and is pursuing a Ph.D. in philosophy of religion at Southern Evangelical Seminary. Doug is the author of The Message Behind the Movies: Engaging the Film without Disengaging Your Faith (Moody Publishers, 2009 ), and has published works in T he Christian Apologetics Journal, The Baker Dictionary of North American Cults, The Teen Apologetics Bible, and was one of the only Protestant contributors to The Best of Catholic Writing (2006).

Dr. Paul Copan

Paul Copan is the Pledger Family Chair of Philosophy and Ethics at Palm Beach Atlantic University in West Palm Beach, FL.

Click HERE to visit Paul's website for more great information on one of the foremost apologists of our time!

Derwin Gray

Derwin "Dewey " Gray is a native of San Antonio, Texas. In 1988, Dewey received first team All-State honors in football at Converse Judson High School in Converse, Texas. In college (BYU), he was an All-American and a Jim Thorpe Award nominee for the best defensive back in college football (1992). Dewey was drafted by the Indianapolis Colts as the 92nd selection in the fourth round of the 1993 NFL draft. He played five seasons with the Colts and one season with the Carolina Panthers. Derwin was nominated twice for the Pro Bowl in his six-year NFL career and served as one of the team captains on the 1995-1996 Indianapolis Colts team that advanced to the AFC Championship game.

Click here for Derwin's Notes on his presentation!

Alex McFarland at the Youth Apologetics Conference

Frank Turek at the Youth Apologetics Conference

Travis says, "Thanks for stopping by! Come see us again!"

The Youth Apologetics Conference is Officially Sponsored by: