RTB Scholar Team
Dr.
Hugh Ross
Hugh Ross' Testimony -- My Search for Truth
HUGH ROSS launched his career at age seven when he went to the library to find out why stars are hot. Physics and astronomy captured his curiosity and never let go. At age seventeen he was the youngest person ever to serve as director of observations for Vancouver's Royal Astronomical Society. With the help of a provincial scholarship and a National Research Council (NRC) of Canada fellowship, he completed his undergraduate degree in physics (University of British Columbia) and graduate degrees in astronomy (University of Toronto). The NRC also sent him to the United States for postdoctoral studies. At Caltech he researched quasi-stellar objects, or "quasars," some of the most distant and ancient objects in the universe.
Not all of Hugh's discoveries involved astrophysics. Prompted by curiosity, he studied the world's religions and "holy books" and found only one that proved scientifically and historically accurate: the Bible. Hugh started at religious "ground zero" and through scientific and historical reality-testing became convinced that the Bible is truly the Word of God! He then observed, with amazement, the impact of describing for people the process by which he came to personal faith in Jesus Christ. Imagine Hugh's surprise to discover how many individuals believed or disbelieved without checking evidence.
Hugh's unshakable confidence that God's revelation in Scripture and nature do not, will not, and cannot contradict became his unique message. Communicating that message as broadly and clearly as possible became his mission, wholeheartedly encouraged by family and friends. He and his colleagues at Reasons To Believe keep tabs on the frontiers of research to share with scientists and nonscientists alike the thrilling news of what's being discovered and how it connects with biblical theology. In this realm, he has written many books, including: The Fingerprint of God, The Creator and the Cosmos, Beyond the Cosmos, The Genesis Question, A Matter of Days, Creation As Science, and Why the Universe Is the Way It Is, due to be released October 1, 2008.
Between writing books and articles and hosting Creation Update, a weekly live webcast, Hugh travels the world challenging students and faculty, churches and professional groups to consider what they believe and why. He presents a persuasive case for Christianity without applying pressure. Because he treats people's questions and comments with respect, he is in great demand as a speaker and as a talk-radio and television guest.
Hugh lives in Southern California with his wife, Kathy, and two sons—and two cats.
Dr.
Fazale Rana
FAZALE "FUZ" RANA discovered the fascinating world of cells while taking chemistry and biology courses for the premed program at West Virginia State College (University). As a Presidential Scholar at West Virginia State College he earned an undergraduate degree in chemistry with highest honors. He completed a Ph.D. in chemistry with an emphasis in biochemistry at Ohio University, where he twice won the Donald Clippinger Research Award. Postdoctoral studies took him to the Universities of Virginia and Georgia. Fuz then worked seven years as a senior scientist in product development for Procter & Gamble.
Research in biochemistry provided Fuz with the initial evidence that life must have been created. Although he recognized the work of a designer, he did not know the designer's identity. A personal challenge daring him to read the Bible revealed the scriptural evidence that the God of the Bible is the Creator. Eventually, concern for the supposed incompatibility of science and Scripture led Fuz to Reasons To Believe.
Today Fuz travels widely, speaking on science and faith issues at churches, business firms, and universities. He also participates in the weekly webcast, Creation Update, and has made guest appearances on The John Ankerberg Show, Harvest Show, and Newsmakers (hosted by Jerry Rose on The Total Living Network). Fuz also currently lectures for the Master of Science and Religion program in Christian Apologetics at Biola University.
Since joining RTB as vice president for research and apologetics, Fuz has authored and coauthored the books Origins of Life, Who Was Adam? and, most recently, The Cell's Design. Additionally, Fuz has published numerous articles in peer-reviewed scientific journals including Origins of Life and Evolution of Biospheres, Biochemistry, Applied Spectroscopy, FEBS Letters, Journal of Microbiological Methods, and Journal of Chemical Education. He has made presentations at numerous international scientific meetings and coauthored a chapter on antimicrobial peptides for Biological and Synthetic Membranes and holds one patent.
Fuz lives in Southern California with his wife, Amy, and their three daughters.
Kenneth
Richard Samples
KENNETH RICHARD SAMPLES switched from pursuing a career in professional baseball to voraciously studying Christian philosophy and theology when his thirst for purpose found relief in the Bible. He earned his undergraduate degree in philosophy and social science from Concordia University and his M.A. in theological studies from Talbot School of Theology. For seven years, Kenneth worked as Senior Research Consultant and Correspondence Editor at the Christian Research Institute (CRI) and regularly co-hosted popular call-in radio program, The Bible Answer Man, with Dr.Walter Martin.
As a youth, Kenneth wrestled with "unsettling feelings of meaninglessness and boredom," driving him to seek answers to life’s "big questions." An encounter with Christian philosophy in Mere Christianity by C. S. Lewis led Kenneth to examine the New Testament and "finally believe that Jesus Christ is the divine Son of God, the Lord and Savior of the world." From then on, he pursued an intellectually satisfying faith.
Today, as senior research scholar at Reasons To Believe (RTB), Kenneth uses his knowledge to help others find the answers to life's questions. He encourages believers to develop a logically defensible faith and challenges skeptics to engage Christianity at a philosophical level. He is the author of Without a Doubt and A World of Difference, and has contributed to numerous other books, including: Lights in the Sky & Little Green Men, The Cult of the Virgin, and Prophets of the Apocalypse. He has written articles for Christianity Today and The Christian Research Journal, and regularly participates in RTB's weekly live webcast, Creation Update.
An avid speaker and debater, Kenneth has appeared on numerous radio programs such as Religion on the Line, Voice America Radio, Newsmakers, Talk New York, and Issues Etc, as well as participated in debates and dialogues on topics relating to Christian doctrine and apologetics. He currently lectures for the Master of Arts program in Christian Apologetics at Biola University. Kenneth also teaches adult classes at Christ Reformed Church in Southern California.
Over the years Kenneth has held memberships in the American Philosophical Association, the Evangelical Philosophical Society, the Evangelical Theological Society, and the Evangelical Press Association.
He lives in Southern California with his wife, Joan, and their three children.
Dr.
Jeffrey Zweerink
JEFF ZWEERINK thought he would follow in his father's footsteps as a chemistry professor until a high school teacher piqued his interest in physics. Jeff pursued a B.S. in physics and a Ph.D. in astrophysics at Iowa State University (ISU), where he focused his study on gamma rays—messengers from distant black holes and neutron stars.
Upon completing his education, Jeff taught at Loras College in Dubuque, Iowa. Postdoctoral research took him to the West Coast, to University of California, Riverside, and eventually to a faculty research position at UCLA. He has conducted research using the STACEE and VERITAS gamma-ray telescopes and participated in such research efforts as the Solar Two Project and the Whipple Collaboration.
A Christian from childhood, Jeff desired to understand how the worlds of science and Scripture integrate. He struggled when his scientific studies seemed to collide with his early biblical training. While an undergrad at ISU, Jeff heard Hugh Ross speak and learned of Reasons To Believe and its ministry of reconciliation—tearing down the presumed barriers between science and faith and introducing people to their personal Creator. Jeff knew this was something he was called to be a part of.
Today Jeff enjoys speaking at churches, universities, and professional groups around the country, encouraging people to consider the truth of Scripture and how it connects with the evidence of science. His involvement with RTB grows from an enthusiasm for helping others bridge the perceived science-faith gap. He seeks to assist others in avoiding the difficulties he experienced.
Jeff has coauthored more than 30 journal articles, as well as numerous conference proceedings, and still serves part-time on the physics and astronomy research faculty at UCLA. He also contributes to Creation Update, RTB’s weekly live webcast.
Jeff and his wife, Lisa, live in Southern California with their five children.
Dr.
David H. Rogstad
DAVE ROGSTAD developed an interest in science early under the influence of his Norwegian immigrant father, and an older brother who allowed Dave to explore his math and science books. After graduating from Caltech with a B.S. in physics, he went on to earn a Ph.D. in physics, also from Caltech, doing research in radio astronomy. After spending several years as a radio astronomer, including two years in the Netherlands, he began his career as a NASA scientist.
During his 31 years at Caltech and NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL), Dave worked on such high-profile projects as "Star Wars," developing the supercomputers used to simulate national defense scenarios. He also led a technical team that contributed to saving the Galileo Mission to Jupiter. Though Dave stepped down from his leadership role at JPL to join the RTB staff, he still serves as a technical consultant to JPL.
The pressures of the university environment put the high moral values Dave learned growing up in a Christian home to the test. While a beginning graduate student, accumulating moral failures brought about a crisis that led to his receiving Christ as his Savior. As a postdoc Dave met Hugh Ross and is mentioned in Hugh’s testimony as the first Christ-following scientist that Hugh encountered.
In addition to publishing more than 20 papers on radio astronomy in scientific journals, Dave was commissioned to coauthor and edit Antenna Arraying Techniques in the Deep Space Network. This book is part of the prestigious JPL series that lays a foundation for innovation in deep space navigation and communications. A member of the RTB board since the ministry's inception in 1986, Dave is available for a limited number of speaking engagements.
On Sunday mornings Dave leads a class at his church, where he also serves as an elder and mentor. He loves studying and teaching from the Bible, especially communicating complex ideas, both scientific and spiritual, in applicable terms.
He lives in Southern California with his wife Diane, and has four grown children and nine grandchildren.
