Scholar Community Members
Astronomy
Professor David Block is an astronomer and highly sought-after inspirational speaker who has devoted over 40 years of his life to encouraging audiences around the globe to always look up—and to never give up! He speaks from the heart as he shares in-depth lessons from his world of research. Block was elected a Fellow of the Royal Astronomical Society of London at the age of 19. A year later, his first research paper, on relativistic astrophysics, was published by the Royal Astronomical Society in London. He has been a visiting research astronomer at the Australian National University (ANU), the European Southern Observatory in Germany, the California Institute of Technology, and Harvard University. He has also published over 100 astronomy research journal articles and his research has twice been featured on the cover of Nature. Until the end of 2019, Block served as a professor in the School of Computer Science and Applied Mathematics at the University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa. He now holds the title of professor emeritus. Professor Block has received many awards and acknowledgments, including the NSTF-BHP Billiton Award recognizing him as one of South Africa’s foremost communicators in science. He received the University of the Witwatersrand's highest research accolade: the Vice-Chancellor’s Research Award.
Eric Klumpe received his PhD in astronomy from the University of Texas at Austin in 1999.
Fabo Feng is a postdoctoral fellow studying exoplanet detection, celestial dynamics, statistics, and interdisciplinary topics at the Carnegie Institution of Washington, DC. He received his PhD from the Max Planck Institute for Astronomy in Heidelberg, Germany.
Michael E. Summers is professor of planetary science and astronomy at George Mason University (Virginia). His undergraduate degrees are in physics, math, and Russian language from Murray State University (Kentucky). He has a certificate for Russian language and literature from Leningrad State University (now St. Petersburg University), an MS in space physics from the University of Texas at Dallas, and a PhD in planetary science and astronomy from the California Institute of Technology. His research interests concern atmospheric structure and evolution on planets, moons, and exoplanets (planets orbiting other stars as well as those that are not gravitationally bound to stars).
Robert Starr graduated from East Tennessee State University and earned an MA in instructional media from Radford University and an EdD in distance learning and instructional technology from Nova Southeastern University. He worked as professor and director of James Madison University’s Television Production Center before taking a three-month sabbatical at NASA’s Langley Research Center in Hampton, Virginia. That experience turned into a twenty-year career as a civil servant with NASA, where Robert served as project manager of the Digital Learning Network (DLN), the Classroom of the Future (COTF), and the Educator Professional Development Network (EPDN), all part of the NASA Learning Environments and Research Network (LEARN). Dr. Starr retired from NASA in 2014, and resumed his video business, named Interactive Video Associates.
Biology
Dale Burnside received his PhD in zoology from the University of Florida in 1969.
Richard is a trained Christian apologist (MA, Biola University) and a research conservation ecologist (MS, Boise State) specializing in birds of prey. He writes and speaks on these and other interests.
Dr. Sharon R. Bloch is a professor of science at Lincoln Christian University where she enjoys engaging students in discussions about the relationship between science and faith. She has a BS in biology and chemistry from Millikin University and a PhD in cell and molecular biology from Saint Louis University. Prior to teaching, she had a productive research career in tumor imaging at Washington University School of Medicine. Dr. Bloch believes that people need not choose between scientific findings and faith in God. “When I study science,” she says, “I see how God designed everything to work according to its purpose. Science and faith provide two different views of the same picture, and in order to see the whole picture you need both.”
Todd Primm is a professor in biological sciences at Sam Houston State University in Texas. He obtained a BS from Texas A&M and a PhD in biochemistry from Baylor College of Medicine. His current lab research is on the microbiome, the community of bacteria in and on us. His educational research focuses on how to teach students metacognitive approaches to learning. Teaching and mentoring are his passions and he has served as affiliate staff with Cru (Campus Crusade) and is a deacon at his church. He and his wife have been married over 30 years and have four children and one granddaughter.
Chemistry
Claude Sandroff received his PhD in physical chemistry from Brandeis University.
Eugene Lopata obtained his PhD in physical chemistry at the University of Michigan in 1973. He worked in the field of plasma-enhanced vapor deposition and atomic layer deposition at a variety of industries before retiring in 2008.
Jacob “Jake” Plummer is an associate professor of chemistry at Wingate University outside of Charlotte, North Carolina. Jake earned BAs in chemistry and history with a minor in religion from Northwestern College (in Iowa) in 2002 and then worked at Novartis Pharmaceuticals before earning a PhD in synthetic organic chemistry at the University of Notre Dame in 2009. This was followed by a postdoctoral fellowship at Harvey Mudd College and a visiting professorship at the Claremont Colleges. Jake’s research interests include new organic methodologies, small molecule synthesis, and forensic pedagogy. He also enjoys studying apologetics and is a fan of the martial arts.
Jason Vohs is a professor of chemistry at Saint Vincent College, a small, Catholic liberal arts institution in southwestern Pennsylvania. As an undergraduate student he studied chemistry, biochemistry, and classical studies at the College of Charleston in South Carolina. Both his graduate work at the University of Georgia and his current research interests focus on the synthesis and characterization of organometallic complexes that may serve as building blocks for solid-state materials. Jason is married and has four children and two dogs. He loves gardening, hunting, kayaking, and the outdoors.
John Drach is professor emeritus at the University of Michigan. He held faculty positions in the School of Dentistry and College of Pharmacy. He holds three degrees from the University of Cincinnati: a BS in pharmacy, an MS in pharmaceutical chemistry, and a PhD. in biochemistry. After working for four years as a research scientist at Parke, Davis & Company in Ann Arbor, Michigan, he joined the faculty of the University of Michigan in 1970, where he taught pharmacology, aspects of virology, and related subjects. He also ran a research program involving discovery and mechanisms of action of antiviral drugs.
John Millam received a BS in chemistry and physics from the University of Arizona in 1992, and a PhD in theoretical chemistry from Rice University in 1997. He completed post-doctoral work at Wayne State University (1997-2001) that was focused on developing code for molecular dynamics calculations.
Robert “Dr. D” DiSilvestro has a PhD in biochemistry from Texas A&M University. He was a professor of nutrition for 34 years and is currently emeritus professor of nutrition at Ohio State University. His early research focused on the biochemistry and physiology of metalloproteins, providing perspective on God’s creation. Later, his research became more oriented around interventions with nutrition, nutraceuticals, and pharmaceuticals, informing his perspective on God as Designer. Dr. D’s work, which requires subjective data evaluation, has also offered insight into historical and testimonial evidences for biblical reliability.
Steven Baertschi is president of Baertschi Consulting, a firm specializing in solutions to the most difficult pharmaceutical stability, impurity, analytical, solid-state, and formulation issues. He retired from Eli Lilly and Company in 2015, after more than 29 years of experience in the pharmaceutical industry. He obtained his PhD in organic chemistry in 1989 from Vanderbilt University.
Terry “Mr. Li” Rathman received his PhD in organoalkali/alkaline chemistry in organic synthesis from Virginia Tech before completing postdocs at Penn State Milton S Hershey Medical Center in the Biological Chemistry Department and then in a material science department of NASA. He then took a bench chemist position at FMC Corporation, where he went on to become a group leader, the R&D director of organometallics, and the technical sales representative for the lithium division’s organo- and metalorgano-products. Dr. Rathman has given talks around the world and published in numerous venues.
William B. Collier, PhD, is senior professor of physical chemistry at Oral Roberts University (ORU). His research includes molecular and computational spectroscopy, philosophy of science, chemical evolution, and intelligent design issues. Dr. Collier is a Fulbright scholar, Turkish Science Foundation (TUBITAK) fellow, Cooperative Studies fellow, Associated Western Universities-DOE faculty fellow, NSF-ROA fellow, and short-list awardee for the best journal article of the year, Spectrochimica Acta. He is an author or coauthor on 25 publications, 38 presentations, and 1 book, and has presented numerous talks and seminars to groups and churches on apologetics, science, and faith. He recently published a new book, From Darwin to Eden: A Tour of Science and Religion Based on the Philosophy of Michael Polanyi and the Intelligent Design Movement. Dr. Collier pursued his PhD at Oklahoma State University and lives in Tulsa, Oklahoma, with his wife, Susan, and a family of four grown children.
Earth Science
Ariana Gayle Kharsyntiew is an Associate Scholar Community member with Reasons to Believe. She is currently pursuing a major in earth sciences and a minor in biological sciences at IISER (Indian Institutes of Science Education and Research) in Kolkata, India. She enjoys music and writes a blog that you can find here: https://arianagayle.wordpress.com/.
Marty Crossland’s background includes 14 years of applied earth science as an exploration geophysicist in the petroleum industry, followed by 30 years in higher education as a professor of computer information systems and administrator. He is currently associate vice president of instructional technology and online education, and chair of computer information systems programs at MidAmerica Nazarene University in Olathe, Kansas.
Stephen Chua obtained his PhD from the Nanyang Technological University (NTU), Singapore, where his doctoral work involved borehole data for subsurface geological modeling and using records from sediment cores in Singapore to reconstruct Holocene sea level and morphological and environmental changes. Stephen is currently a research fellow in the Earth Observatory of Singapore looking at palaeoenvironmental change in Singapore and the region. He is also passionate about discipleship, outreach, and apologetics, and is currently serving in Alpha ministry in his home church.
Steve Mittwede earned his MS and PhD at the University of South Carolina. His doctoral work focused on the geology and tectonic history of a supposed terrane boundary in northwestern South Carolina, and particularly on possible evidence for a suture zone in the central Piedmont. Though he has taught middle and high school science for the last decade, he also engages in collaborative research. His current research concerns an unusual mesic biocrust community in northern Alabama and a geochronological investigation of panned heavy-mineral concentrates from streams draining the Cat Square terrane, interpreted more recently as a Siluro-Devonian remnant ocean basin, west of Gaffney, South Carolina. Steve also has two graduate theological degrees and an EdS in Educational Leadership. He serves in his home church in a variety of capacities and especially enjoys opportunities to teach the Bible and theology.
Engineering
Andrew Labun received his PhD in electrical engineering from the University of Alberta. Since 1991, Andrew has engaged in technology computer-aided design research and development. As part of Digital Equipment Corporation's semiconductor division, he developed simulations of thin film etch and deposition process steps used in manufacturing the world's fastest microprocessor, the 64-bit Alpha chip. He also developed algorithms to predict interconnect parasitics variation. From 2005 to 2010, he served as an associate professor at University of British Columbia's School of Engineering in Kelowna. In 2010, Labun founded Trajectory Design Automation Corp. to develop multiphysics circuit analysis software. After 2015, his interest turned to solving the puzzles of the fabulous chronologies of Genesis and the ancient Sumerians.
Brad Sargent was born and raised in Southern California where he received his PhD in bioengineering from UC San Diego. He continued his academic work in Switzerland and New Mexico before moving to industry to focus on medical device development, especially medical diagnostic devices. He is now vice president of engineering for Omnica Corporation, a medical device development company in Irvine, California. Raised in a Christian home, Brad has always had a passion for integrating the truth of the gospel with the truths revealed from science.
Curtis Hrischuk received an MEng (1995) and a PhD (1998) in systems and computer engineering from Carleton University in Ottawa, Canada. His work in the high-tech sector has included products ranging in size from RFID tags to web-based distributed application clusters. He has been published in several international, refereed journals and conference proceedings, and received a Best Paper Award at the Computer Measurement Group’s international IMPACT conference in 2006. Curtis is currently a technical product manager at a high-tech startup company, where he focuses primarily on the optimization of emerging technologies. He is also a member of the Reasons to Believe Apologetics Community and a director for the North Carolina State University, Raleigh chapter of the apologetics organization Ratio Christi.
Daniel Maxwell, PhD, is an AI trainer and consultant in the research computing department at the University of Florida. His areas of expertise include artificial intelligence practice and education, scientific research systems, research methods, and software engineering. He consults with faculty, staff, and students on best practices in data analysis, essentials of programming in Python and R, data wrangling, and reproducible science in GitHub. He is a seasoned data scientist with more than 30 years of experience. Dan is also an avid reader who loves to frequent local art museums. Dan currently resides in Gainesville, Florida, with his wife and an energetic Bichon Frisé named Casey.
David Winyard earned engineering degrees from the University of Maryland and the University of Rochester. In 2016, after 37 years of service to the US Navy and Defense Logistics Agency, he earned a PhD in Science and Technology in Society (STS) from Virginia Tech. His doctoral dissertation examined connections between Christianity and transhumanism. Since then he has helped build new engineering programs at Mount Vernon Nazarene University (Ohio) and Grace College (Indiana). David resides in Ohio with his wife, Traci, their tandem bicycle, and a cat. They have three adult children and, so far, five grandchildren.
Dustin is a computer scientist with a focus on computer vision and deep learning. He has extensive medical technology experience in private industry and took a somewhat unorthodox road to computer science. He completed a BS in physics in 2012 at the University of Central Florida before discovering that his lifelong love for all things mathematical, combined with a newfound talent and passion for data analysis, could be an effective launching point for a software engineering career focused on medical computer vision. He then proceeded to earn his PhD in computer science in 2018 from UCF. Dustin lives in central Florida with his wife and son, where he continues to work in private industry applying his skills to ophthalmic surgical technologies.
Frank Pyrtle received his PhD in mechanical engineering from the Georgia Institute of Technology. In 1996 and 1999, he received his BS and MS degrees in mechanical engineering from Texas A&M University. Frank is a licensed, practicing professional engineer in Florida.
Dr. Fred Wieland earned a BS in astronomy from Caltech (1983), an MS in information science from the Claremont Graduate School (1988), and a PhD in information technology (IT) from George Mason University (2000). He published two papers in astronomy from his work at Caltech, and has published almost 100 papers in the field of IT. Wieland’s current research is in the area of air traffic control, specifically the integration of unmanned aerial systems into the National Airspace System.
Jia Xu was a class one registered architect in China. She received her PhD in architecture from the University of Melbourne, Australia, in 2013 and taught architecture at Zhejiang University of Science and Technology in China from 2014 to 2018. Now, she practices as a freelance architect in Melbourne.
John P. Abraham has been a professor of computer science at the University of Texas Rio Grande Valley since 1976. He has established several programs at the university and held different administrative and faculty positions. He preaches regularly at several churches and serves on numerous boards including Food Bank, Habitat for Humanity, Comfort House, and hospital and church boards.
After a 40-year electrical engineering career, Kevin Rogers joined the University of South Australia as a research fellow in 2012. In 2021 he obtained his PhD in UAV-based acoustic atmospheric tomography, the continuous measuring of 3D temperature and wind velocity fields in the lower atmosphere. Kevin has also taught power electronics and drives, a course about the use of high-power semiconductors for high-power applications such as speed control of motors and high-voltage DC links. He has also supervised students for their masters research projects. He is now mainly retired but continues his research and publishes research papers on a voluntary basis.
Kevin Williams received his MS in civil engineering in 1997 from Utah State University, where he developed a passion for software and mathematics. Since then, Kevin’s career has focused on data modeling and computer vision technologies. In 2000 he wrote the first commercial software for automated building extraction from airborne LIDAR, and in 2006 he founded ClearEdge3D and developed the first commercial software for automated analysis and modeling of terrestrial 3D LIDAR data. In 2017 ClearEdge3D was acquired by Topcon, where Kevin retained the role of CTO and coordinated technical teams around the world to build cutting-edge sensor and computer vision technology.
Cheung has over 27 years of experience in the electric power industry and is currently the secretary of the Analytic Methods for Power Systems (AMPS) Committee, and the chair of the Technologies and Innovation Subcommittee of the IEEE Power & Energy Society (PES).
Marty Pomeroy has a BA in music composition, a BS in computer science, and is partially retired from a career in software engineering. It was a diverse and challenging career watching from the inside as hardware and software technology evolved over several decades. Marty’s diverse engineering background provided a unique perspective from which to recognize the design of systems. His experience in middle management, along with running the RTB Boston Chapter, provided insights into the need to communicate simply and clearly. Marty has a passion to help others see the glory of God in all He has done, and to remove stumbling blocks to faith.
Michael J. Williams is an alum of three Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs), receiving his BS in physics, an MS in material science/physics, and a PhD in optics from Delaware State University. He currently works as an applications specialist for Boston Electronics, a photonics distribution company. Michael is a travel enthusiast, a great orator, and he loves to meet new people, experience different cultures, and learn new innovations in science, technology, and the humanities. His present goal is to connect people with the truth of the gospel, using the concepts of light to reveal the characteristics of Jesus as the light of the world.
Norm Helgeson received a BS in chemical engineering from the University of Idaho and a PhD in chemical engineering from the California Institute of Technology. He is a licensed mechanical engineer and has helped develop engines for industrial processes and technologies for noise and pollution abatement for Navy jet engines. Norm holds four patents and lives in California.
Otis Graf received a BS in physics and math and a PhD in aerospace engineering from the University of Texas at Austin. He joined NASA and was part of the Apollo lunar landing team, working on mission planning and analysis. He also worked on the Space Shuttle program. Dr. Graf then joined IBM in Houston where he had the opportunity to work with national laboratories in NASA, the Department of Energy, NOAA, and research organizations in the UK, Japan, and South Korea. After retiring from IBM, Dr. Graf joined the adjunct faculty of Houston Community College where he teaches math and physics. He also writes and does research on the subject of Christianity and science, and has been involved with Reasons to Believe since 2005. Otis and his wife live in Katy, Texas. They have two children and two grandchildren.
Peter Waller is an associate professor of biosystems engineering at the University of Arizona. His research includes biosystems and irrigation projects such as biofuel production from algae and rubber production from guayule, a native desert plant. On the teaching side, he has taught biosystems analysis and design and a natural science course, formation of a planetary biosystem. As a result of this class, he began exploring the universe through the eyes of Moses and science as he sought to understand how God created our planetary biosystem.
Robert Varga earned AB and BSEE (electrical engineering) degrees from the University of Notre Dame, and a Masters and PhD EE from the University of Florida. His forty-plus years in high technology have encompassed research at Bell Laboratories and leadership roles in a variety of business startups, and turnarounds, within public and private companies. He now serves on the Executive Advisory Board for the Shiley-Marcos School of Engineering at the University of San Diego, and its Industry Scholars Program that provides mentorship for engineering students. He also tutors high school math and manages a San Diego franchise of a national tutoring organization.
Ron Behrens has worked as a subsurface research engineer in oil and gas recovery for 37 years, applying a mix of engineering skills ranging from the fundamental to the pragmatic. He holds a BS in chemical engineering from the University of Minnesota and a PhD in chemical engineering from the University of Delaware. Learning the fundamentals of thermodynamics and heat and fluid transfer enabled a multi-specialty career. Behrens has worked at seven locations on three continents, tasked with roles spanning from R&D to operations for a diverse set of technical projects, including miscible enhanced oil recovery, reservoir characterization and modeling, 4D seismic, and heavy oil thermal recovery. Over the last dozen years, his work has included technical supervision of engineers for reservoirs, wells, facilities, and various other projects.
Dr. Ronald Bell currently serves as an engineering scientist at the University of Texas at Austin and is an instructor in the UT Austin Cockrell School of Engineering. He received a BS, MS, and PhD in engineering from University of Missouri, Columbia, and University of South Florida, Tampa. Dr. Bell has received several awards such as a place on the Texas Society of Professional Engineers’ 2001 Engineering Dream Team (1 of 50 chosen in Texas to have had the greatest contribution to the field of engineering).
Sean Oesch is a researcher at a national laboratory, where he helps lead research at the intersection of machine learning and security. He also slings code, mentors students, and asks tough questions of data. Sean received his PhD in computer engineering from the University of Tennessee. His dissertation focused on the security of password managers and was published at top venues in both security and human-computer interaction (HCI). His research recommends strong passwords and multi-factor authentication whenever possible, and concerns the future use of single sign-on and continuous authentication for cybersecurity. Sean enjoys helping people grow—whether professionally or spiritually—as they navigate complex questions about philosophy, science, and Scripture. He’s currently interested in finding ways that artificial intelligence (AI) can benefit society and how Christianity can inform the ethical quandaries surrounding the rapid growth of AI.
Steven Dobbs received his BS in Aerospace Engineering from Cal Poly Pomona and his MS in Mechanical Engineering from Cal State Long Beach.
Professor Thomas R. Bieler earned a BA in applied mechanics (with a minor in literature) at the University of California, San Diego in 1978 and an MS in ceramic engineering at the University of Washington in 1980. He then worked on high-rate deformation at Sandia National Laboratory in Livermore, California, for five years. He completed his PhD in materials science (with a minor in continuum mechanics) at the University of California, Davis in 1989 and has been at Michigan State University thereafter. His research has focused on how cracks form in titanium alloys and solder joints, and how nanoscale defects affect the performance of pure niobium superconducting particle accelerator cavities.
Timothy Gordon is a resident of Boise, Idaho and currently works as a clinical data analyst for the Department of Veterans Affairs. Prior to that, Tim was a software engineer for Micron Technology Inc. for over 15 years. He is also a retired US Navy Commander. Tim recently completed his doctorate in scientific apologetics from Southern Evangelical Seminary.
Zachary Leung received his PhD in electrical engineering and computer science from Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT). He has more than 25 years of experience working in both Asia and North America, all in the area of technology and innovation, covering: (1) entrepreneurship; (2) management in multinational corporations; (3) teaching, research, and technology transfer in universities; and (4) mentoring and investments in young startups. His research interests are in machine learning, artificial intelligence, speech recognition and understanding, and neural networks. Zachary has received certificates from the RZIM Academy, and is currently pursuing his MA in science and religion at Biola University. He is currently based in Hong Kong.
Humanities
J. Brian Huffling, PhD, is associate professor of philosophy and theology at Southern Evangelical Seminary (SES), where he also serves as the director of their PhD program in philosophy of religion. He has previously served SES as the dean of students and as the director of the Bible College. He has a BA from Lee University in history with a minor in Bible and an MA from SES in three majors: apologetics, philosophy, and biblical studies. Brian also earned his PhD in the philosophy of religion from SES, and has an MA in military operational art and science with a concentration in joint warfare from Air University. He has participated in several academic debates and panel discussions at academic conferences. Brian teaches at Apologia (Christian homeschool) and has taught at The Art Institute of Charlotte and Arborbrook Christian Academy, both in North Carolina. Brian has authored numerous articles and has served as guest academic editor for Religions, an open-source journal, and is currently publishing a debate book on God and the problem of evil. He has served in the Marine and Naval Reserves and currently serves as a reserve Air Force chaplain at Dobbins Air Reserve Base as the Deputy Wing Chaplain. Brian has a YouTube channel and podcast called Classical Theology with Dr. Brian Huffling.
Diana Parvinchi completed her PhD in “Brain Behavior and the Cognitive Sciences,” a subdiscipline of psychology at York University in 2012. Her PhD work focused on eye movement patterns in children with Tourette syndrome and its comorbid conditions. Following graduate work, she completed several years of postdoctoral work at SickKids Hospital, McMaster University, and York University. She hopes her research will lead to better understanding of the underlying cognitive and socio-emotional mechanisms of behavior in children and aims to translate this research in applied contexts. She resides in Ontario, Canada, with her husband and two children.
Don Deal teaches advanced scientific apologetics at Veritas International University. He is also the director of classical apologetics at Norm Geisler International Ministries. Don spent the first ten years of his professional life as a naval aviator (P-3 antisubmarine aircraft) and the next twenty-five years as a pilot for FedEx, flying the MD-11 and the B-777. He has spoken at the National Conference on Christian Apologetics more than a dozen times, written more than a dozen articles for encyclopedias, and cowrote a chapter in a book on apologetics. Don is married to Nerisa and has two teenage boys, William (17) and Richard (14).
Edward Russell received his Ed.D. in curriculum instruction and educational psychology.
Jason Rampelt is a historian of science specializing in the early modern period, but with interests in all periods. After completing his PhD in history and philosophy of science (HPS) at Cambridge University, he was a research fellow at the Faraday Institute for Science and Religion. He teaches part-time in HPS at the University of Pittsburgh and is a fellow in Christianity and science at the Greystone Theological Institute in Pittsburgh.
Jeffrey K. Lyons received an MA and a PhD in communication from Regent University, Virginia. He taught for 10 years as an adjunct professor at three universities in Hawai’i. Jeffrey has published articles in Global Media Journal, Journal of Radio & Audio Media, and The Hawaiian Journal of History. He is the author of Evolution Myths: A Critical View of neo-Darwinism (2018). Jeffrey and his wife both served as full-time missionaries with Wycliffe Bible Translators and Youth With A Mission (YWAM). They served in Guatemala with YWAM from 1990 to 1994. Jeffrey has a passion for apologetics and campus ministry.
In 2017, John DePoe began serving as an administrator in Kingdom Preparatory Academy’s (KPA) upper school before becoming headmaster in 2022. Prior to working at KPA, DePoe earned tenure and the rank of associate professor as a philosophy faculty member at Marywood University in Scranton, Pennsylvania. His published works include over 20 peer-reviewed articles and academic book chapters in addition to editing and contributing to the book, Debating Christian Religious Epistemology: An Introduction to Five Views on the Knowledge of God. He earned a PhD in philosophy, two MAs in philosophy, an MA in religion, and a BA (philosophy and theology double-major; biblical languages minor). He resides in Lubbock, Texas, with his wife, three children, and two dogs.
Dr. John D. Martin is a missionary, freelance writer, and professional translator living in Bavaria, Germany. He has translated multiple Christian books into English and translates from English into German for Towad Jerusalem Council II and Reasons to Believe. His background is in Germanic philology and he has several academic publications in the field of Old Norse and Middle High German literature. He regularly writes freelance for Salvo and Touchstone magazines.
Dr. Joseph “Joe” P. Bassi is an adjunct online lecturer at the University of Texas at El Paso in National Security Studies. He is a fellow of the Royal Astronomical Society and specializes in the history of space sciences. During his PhD program at the University of California, Santa Barbara, Joe was a Guggenheim predoctoral fellow in space history at the Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum. From 2010 until 2017, he was an assistant professor of arts and science at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University. Joe is a retired US Air Force officer with twenty-six years of active duty. He also has graduate degrees in meteorology from Penn State, astrophysics from the University of Colorado, and history from George Washington University. He graduated from Manhattan College with a BS in physics and was a distinguished graduate of the Air Force Reserve Officers’ Training Corps (ROTC) program.
Joseph Shelton is a Religion Instructor at Clackamas Community College and a PhD student in the Philosophy of Religion at Southern Evangelical Seminary. His studies have focused on Bible and theology, historical theology, world religions, and philosophy. He lives in Oregon.
Kyle Keltz is an associate professor of English and philosophy at South Plains College in Levelland, Texas. He holds a PhD in philosophy of religion from Southern Evangelical Seminary, an MA in Christian apologetics from Southern Evangelical Seminary, and a BBA in finance from Texas Tech University. Kyle specializes in the problem of evil and classical theodicies. He is the author of Thomism and the Problem of Animal Suffering, and his articles have been published in The Heythrop Journal, The Journal of Value Inquiry, New Blackfriars, Nova et Vetera, and Sophia. Kyle lives in Lubbock, Texas, with his wife, Laci, and their two young boys. He and Laci attend First Baptist Church of Lubbock and have been blessed with leading a Sunday school class for young married couples. Kyle’s academic website is bkylekeltz.com, and he occasionally publishes apologetics/philosophy/theology lectures on YouTube (B. Kyle Keltz) and on PodBean (Philosophy Apologetics & Theology). Kyle was raised in a Christian home but was indifferent (and sometimes hostile) to Christianity until he became convinced that God must exist after studying philosophy of religion during his time in the military. Aside from his having been a hardheaded youth, Kyle attributes his former nonbelief to a lack of Christians in his life who had answers to hard questions concerning Christianity. So, Kyle has devoted his life to studying and making sense out of philosophy, theology, and the Bible and being someone who can provide answers to people seeking truth as he was in his earlier years.
Louis Hatcher is a senior litigation partner who specializes in employment and healthcare law and has extensive jury trial experience in both the civil and criminal courts. Louis has an “AV” rating by Martindale-Hubbell, which is the firm’s highest rating for ethics and professional abilities. He is admitted to practice law in Florida, Georgia, a number of federal district courts, and the federal Eleventh Circuit Court of Appeals. Louis has long been active in his community—serving 16 years on the local board of education, and coaching youth and high school sports and other extracurricular activities. Louis is a lay speaker in the Free Will Baptist denomination, a Sunday school teacher, and a small group leader. He has begun work toward an MA in Christian apologetics.
Dr. Mary Bean is an independent researcher and health coach. She holds a master’s degree in biology and received a PhD in health psychology from Walden University in 2018. She is developing a paper for publication from her dissertation. Her research interest concerns the application of neuroscience research to the coaching field. Her passion is empowering all people, especially those in the special needs community, to have maximum health of mind, body, and soul. She believes that her study of apologetics will augment her research and expertise to aid a person’s relationship with God.
Miguel Angel Endara is a professor of philosophy and religion at Veritas International University in Santa Ana, California. Miguel holds a PhD in philosophy from Saint Louis University, an MA in theology from Fuller Theological Seminary, an MA in Christian apologetics from Simon Greenleaf University, and a BS in computer science from California State University, Los Angeles. Miguel has written chapters for books such as The Comprehensive Guide to Science and Faith (Harvest House) and Reasons for Faith: A Survey of Contemporary Christian Issues and Evidences (Crossway Books). His articles have appeared in professional journals such as The National Catholic Bioethics Quarterly, Cognition and Culture, and Christian Scholar’s Review. He has also contributed articles to popular journals such as Touchstone and Christian Research Journal. In addition to teaching at secular and Christian colleges and universities in the US, Miguel has also taught at Seminario Sudamericano (Semisud) in Quito, Ecuador. He is on the advisory board for the Scholl Institute of Bioethics and has done volunteer apologetic work for the Centro de Investigaciones Religiosas, a branch of the Centers for Apologetics Research (CFAR). Miguel has been a volunteer at Reasons to Believe since 1988. He and his family attend and serve in a Spanish-speaking Presbyterian Church.
Paul Shockley earned his Ph.D in philosophy from Texas A&M University in College Station. He also holds an MA in humanities history of deas from the University of Texas at Dallas, a ThM from Dallas Theological Seminary in systematic theology and biblical exposition, and a BA in history from Stephen F. Austin State University.
Ray Usell is a retired engineer trained in science and the humanities. He attended University of Cincinnati for 8 years, earning his BS in metallurgical engineering in 1964, and his PhD in materials science in 1967. He received his JD from Detroit College of Law in 1974.
Richard Robertson has his JD and is the founder and shareholder of Richard L. Robertson & Associates, P.A.
Stephen McAndrew holds a JD in law and a PhD in philosophy. He practiced law with a concentration on mergers and acquisitions, capital markets, and corporate governance before returning to academia to complete his doctorate in philosophy. His areas of specialty are social and political philosophy and applied ethics. Stephen is deeply motivated to use philosophy and apologetics to further the gospel. He was the global chapters director of Reasonable Faith for four years and has been involved in apologetics ministry for the past seven years, speaking and training in his local community in Western New York. Stephen currently teaches philosophy at Canisius College and the University at Buffalo (SUNY) and has published articles in political philosophy and applied ethics. Stephen was born in Ireland and now resides in Buffalo, the hometown of his wife Michelle. Stephen and Michelle have been blessed with three wonderful children: Hannah, John, and Sarah.
Thomas Alderman is a trial attorney who has practiced law in Eugene, Oregon, since 1974. Through the 1980s and 1990s, he was active in pro-life causes. In 1998 his interests turned to the study of science for his own edification and for equipping himself to defend the truth of the gospel of Jesus Christ. He has since appeared many times on university campuses for debates with members of chemistry, physics, biology, and philosophy faculties concerning the relative merits of neo-Darwinian theory and old-earth creation theory. Mr. Alderman’s other interests include classical guitar, tennis, running, and hiking. He is married and the father of three adult sons.
Tricia Scribner is a Christian apologist, author, and speaker with a PhD in philosophy of religion and an MA in apologetics from Southern Evangelical Seminary. She also holds an MS, with a major in nursing, from Northwestern State University. Tricia’s doctoral dissertation focused on the untenability of theistic evolution from a Thomistic position. Tricia has worked as an RN, an assistant professor in a school of nursing, and as a high school teacher. Tricia enjoys spending time with her three daughters and their families, including ten grandchildren. Tricia has been married to Randy for 46 years and they live in Charlotte, North Carolina.
Mathematics
Douglas Faries earned a PhD in statistics from Oklahoma State University and is currently a Senior Research Fellow at Eli Lilly and Company.
Dr. George Seber is an esteemed academic and dedicated Christian. He holds a BSc in maths and physics, an MSc with first-class honors in maths from Auckland University (Australia), and a PhD in mathematical statistics from Manchester University (Indiana). He has had a successful academic career serving as a lecturer, associate professor, and head of the mathematics department at Auckland University and was also appointed as a professor of biometry at Otago University (New Zealand). Dr. Seber is a recognized authority in statistical ecology and has authored numerous books on advanced statistics, ecology, counseling, and apologetics. He has been an active member of Windsor Park Baptist Church for over 40 years. Dr. Seber remains committed to serving God and sharing the evidence for Christianity through his involvement in apologetics.
Marvin Bittinger received his PhD in mathematics education from Purdue University in 1968. He is professor emeritus of mathematic education at Indiana University – Purdue University Indianapolis. He is one of Pearson Education’s top-selling authors, having sold over 13 million copies of his college mathematics textbooks in 250 books/editions.
Scott Warlow completed his PhD in mathematical physics at the University of Toronto (specializing in quantum gravity) in 1992. Following doctoral-level study in finance at the Schulich School of Business, Scott has worked in the asset management industry since 2002, both in the private and public sectors, and he has developed a deep knowledge of statistical methods. He holds an Intermediate Certificate in Science Apologetics from RTB and has been a volunteer apologist since 2013. He is currently completing his MDiv at Tyndale Seminary in Toronto, specializing in biblical studies. Scott came to faith as an adult while completing his Ph.D., and was baptized in 1992. He lives in the Toronto area with his wife of more than 20 years and their two daughters, and currently serves as a teacher in his congregation, Milestone Ministries, a church of over 1,000 people located in Toronto.
Medicine
Aubrey Lee Cartwright received his PhD from North Carolina State University in 1982. He later received an MBA from Salisbury University in 1991. He held a post-doctoral position as physiologist at both University of Georgia and USDA-ARS Russell Research Laboratory in Athens, Georgia (1982-1984). At Texas A&M University, he lectured and taught graduate and undergraduate courses in nutrition, biochemistry, food chemistry and physiology.
Bruce Smith is a recently retired dentist living in Vancouver, Canada. After receiving a BS in biochemistry and a DMD degree from the University of British Columbia, Bruce practiced general family dentistry in Vancouver for 37 years. He has been involved in his local church in many capacities over the years and has been connected to Reasons to Believe as an apologist since 2001.
Charles Premkumar Joseph earned a postprofessional masters in cardiopulmonary physical therapy from the Christian Medical College and Hospital in Vellore, India, where he then served as clinician, lecturer, and researcher. Curious to explore and understand mind-body interactions, he went on to complete a masters in psychology as well. His passion for rehabilitating the soul in addition to the body and mind led him to join RZIM as a writer and itinerant speaker. He is currently enrolled in the masters in Christian apologetics program at Talbot School of Theology at Biola University, motivated by a desire to understand the spirit/soul aspects of personhood. Charles hopes to someday pursue doctoral studies integrating all of his body-mind-spirit learnings.
Dr. Christina (Chris) Cirucci is a board-certified obstetrician/gynecologist who has worked for 20 years in private practice in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. She received her BS in mechanical engineering from Virginia Tech and after working for seven years for Westinghouse in the field of nuclear power, she pursued a career in medicine. Dr. Cirucci earned her MD from Thomas Jefferson University in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, and completed her OB-GYN residency at the Medical College of Virginia in Richmond, Virginia. She also received a Certificate in Biblical Studies from Columbia International University, Columbia, South Carolina. Chris is a member of the Christian Medical and Dental Associations and the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists. She is also a NAMS Certified Menopause Practitioner (NCMP) with the North American Menopause Society. Chris’s real passion is volunteering her medical skills overseas in underdeveloped countries. She’s worked in hospitals in Gabon, Ghana, Pakistan, and Bangladesh (the place closest to her heart), where she has served six times. In addition to her medical mission work, Dr. Cirucci has a passion for defending the life of the unborn. She has become more involved in this work in the past five years and has published peer-reviewed articles on chemical abortion. She serves as vice-chair on the board of directors of the American Association of Pro-Life Obstetricians and Gynecologists. She is also an associate scholar with the Charlotte Lozier Institute and, as of May 2023, she will be a Colson Fellow. Chris lives in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, where she is involved in her local church. In her spare time, she enjoys spending time with friends, studying apologetics and cultural issues, walking, reading, and traveling.
Claudia C. Cotca is a three-time graduate of the University of Michigan, where she received a bachelor of science in chemistry and cellular molecular biology, a master of public health in toxicology, and a doctor of dental surgery. Dr. Cotca, an international lecturer and aesthetic restorative dentist, founded the Washington Institute for Dentistry & Laser Surgery in Washington, DC Metro, as well as the C3 Think Tank, a unique and first-of-its-kind private-sector joint venture, where she develops real-time oral systemic aesthetic advanced clinical protocols and medical devices. She is a subject matter expert on industry standards, including those of ANSI/NIST, the ADA Standards Committee on Dental Products, and the Association for the Advancement of Medical Instrumentation, and is a US delegate to both the International Organization of Standardization and the International Electrotechnical Commission. For nearly two decades, she has been an active expert contributor on healthcare policy and innovation to the US Congress, the healthcare industry, and media outlets. Dr. Cotca is a fellow of the American Academy of Oral Medicine, the Pierre Fauchard Academy, and the International College of Dentists, and is a member of the International College of Prosthodontists.
Erick Thompson graduated from the University of Minnesota School of Veterinary Medicine in 1982 with a Doctor of Veterinary Medicine. He went from barns to buildings seven years later to join 3M in St. Paul, Minnesota, heading the Professional Services unit of 3M’s Animal Care Products. He went on to lead KM initiatives in two multi-national organizations, leading up to his present position on the executive team of The Learning Forum Executive Council Network.
Ernest L. McClellan, MD, is a retired anesthesiologist who specialized in cardiac and neuroanesthesia. His training includes a masters in biochemistry from Baylor University, doctoral research at the Dallas Baylor Graduate Research Institute in coagulation chemistry, a medical degree from the University of Texas, and a residency at the University of California, San Diego. In addition to founding a medical practice in Kansas, Ernest helped organize the state and local emergency medical services systems and train and establish a multibase air ambulance system. He is currently active in teaching about the integration of science and faith in his community.
James Patterson is currently the interim chief of staff and chief of mental health service at the Overton Brooks VA Medical Center, Shreveport Louisiana.
James Small received a BA in chemistry from Colorado College (1972) and then enrolled in the medical scientist training program at Duke University. He graduated with his MD and a PhD from the Department of Microbiology and Immunology in 1983. In January of 2018 he became a full time associate professor of pathology at Rocky Vista University.
Jeffrey Rose is a general surgeon who teaches residents at North Florida Regional Hospital in Gainesville, Florida. He earned BA degrees in physics and biochemistry from the University of Florida, and completed his MD at the University of Florida School of Medicine. Dr. Rose was Chief of General Surgery at the United States Air Force Academy and served with the US Air Force in the Gulf War. Rose is currently enrolled in the science writing program at Johns Hopkins University and he works to promote science education from a Christian worldview. He and his wife have adopted five children from Brazil and the family resides in Gainesville, Florida. He believes we experience God’s love for us when we meet him with our minds and our hearts.
Dr. Keng Sheng Chew is currently the deputy dean of postgraduate studies, research and commercialization, of the Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences at Universiti Malaysia Sarawak. He is also a professor of emergency medicine and head of the medical education unit. Dr. Chew earned both his MD and a Master of Medicine in emergency medicine at Universiti Sains Malaysia. His teaching philosophy is “creating a legacy, whenever, wherever.”
Michael Henein is professor of cardiology at Umeå University, Sweden, and visiting professor at Brunel University London and St George’s, University of London. He is also a consultant cardiologist in both Sweden and the UK. He has published over 400 cardiology papers in peer-reviewed journals and edited seven textbooks, including chapters in the Oxford Textbook of Medicine. In addition, he started a new journal of Christian studies (TEACH–JCS) with the objective of publishing evidence-based peer-reviewed articles. Michael is a practicing Coptic Orthodox Christian and is active in the fields of youth services, Coptic music, and Bible studies. He established The European Academy for Coptic Heritage (TEACH) in 2019, having been instructed by Pope Tawadros II of Alexandria. TEACH online started in 2020 with courses that have attracted over 100 students worldwide. Subjects include Coptic history, language, music, liturgical history, Christian counseling, interdenominational studies, biblical studies, and Pharaonic studies.
Noel Brownlee graduated from Wofford College in 1993. He completed his dissertation work in the area of tumor cell biology at the Medical University of South Carolina. He then completed medical school at the University of South Carolina, earning his MD in 1998. He has practiced as a surgical pathologist and currently serves as medical director at North Greenville University.
Dr. Perry Santos, MD is a Otolaryngology (Ear, Nose & Throat) Specialist in Oklahoma City, OK and has over 37 years of experience in the medical field. He graduated from University of California, San Diego School of Medicine medical school in 1984.
Raj Kumar Songa completed his MBBS and MD (internal medicine) at the All India Institute of Medical Sciences in Delhi. In 2008 he was selected by the US Consulate and later the High Commissions of Australia, Canada, New Zealand, and the UK to serve as their panel physician in Hyderabad, Telangana, where he then established the Centre for Migration Medicine. Raj had for a time served as the vice president of the International Panel Physicians Association.. He holds an MA in organizational leadership and management and loves to support Christian entrepreneurship. In Hyderabad, he also established the Epistles bookstore, which serves as a community hub and resource center for Christians.
John “Randy” Russell has been a family doctor in Lake Village, Arkansas, for over 45 years. He graduated from the University of Arkansas at Fayetteville with a premed degree, and then received his MD from the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences College of Medicine. He was in family practice at Lake Village Clinic until 2016, and then served as medical director of a physical rehabilitation facility. Randy and his wife have two children.
Raphael Samuel is a Christian speaker, apologist, and practicing anesthesiologist in Ontario, Canada. Born in Durban, South Africa, he obtained his medical degree and a master’s degree in medicine there. He further obtained fellowships in anesthesiology from the Colleges of Medicine of South Africa and the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada. He is currently completing his master’s degree in Christian apologetics at Talbot School of Theology, Biola University, in Southern California. His specific areas of interest include pro-life advocacy, human consciousness as evidence for the soul, medicine and miracles, and the evidence for God from the human body.
Ron Sisel received his undergraduate and medical degrees at the University of Southern California in Los Angeles, where he then completed his surgical residency training as well. He served as a community general surgeon in the north San Diego and south Riverside County area in California until his retirement in 2005. Ron and his wife, Judy, have two daughters and four grandsons.
Ryan Matthews attended Grove City College in western Pennsylvania in 2011, majoring in biochemistry with a minor in biology. He received his MD from Wake Forest School of Medicine in Winston-Salem, North Carolina. He then completed a pediatric residency at Loma Linda University Children's Hospital in Loma Linda, California. Subsequently, Ryan moved to Kansas to join his wife, Lynn, and has been raising his son, Ronen, and working as an online tutor.
Dr. Sonya Shaw is a highly accomplished and dedicated healthcare professional with extensive experience in nursing. She worked as a registered nurse in the emergency department for six years and as a family nurse practitioner for 23 years. Sonya earned a Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) from Old Dominion University and has spent her career serving the healthcare needs of military service members, Native Americans, and federally qualified health clinics. After retiring from the US Army, where she served as a family nurse practitioner, Sonya became a locum tenens provider and has worked in a variety of settings to provide care where it is needed most. She is passionate about rural health and believes everyone deserves access to high-quality healthcare regardless of location or background.
Stan Lennard is a retired general surgeon who received his MD degree in 1968 and ScD degree in 1976. After practicing medicine for 30 years, he devoted himself to online teaching through Reasons Institute and apologetics research and writing. He has published two books and has a web page and blogs to which he contributes from ongoing research into dualist interaction between the Mind of God and the mind of Man. The neural synapse is the model for his research.
Tim holds a PhD in pharmaceutical sciences from Mercer University and has a thirst for knowledge. He is currently a pharmacist at a nonprofit hospital. In his spare time, Tim enjoys playing the guitar and creating computer software. Always curious, he is forever trying to discover more about God’s creation.
Vaughn Mancha received his medical degree from the University of Alabama at Birmingham.
Virgil Robertson received his doctorate in Chiropractic medicine from Southern California University of Health Sciences in 1985 and added a Family Nurse Practitioner degree from Samford University to his resume in 2012.
Physics
Brandon Reddell works at the NASA Johnson Space Center and teaches physics and astronomy at the University of Houston at Clear Lake. He holds a PhD in physics from the University of Houston (specializing in high energy/space physics) and most of his work has focused on ionizing radiation problems associated with human spaceflight. Currently he is an assistant program scientist for the International Space Station Program.
David Newquist retired in 2010 from a career as a missionary in Taiwan with OMF International. He received a BS in physics at Wheaton College, an MS in physics at Iowa State University, and a PhD from the Institute of Atmospheric Physics at the University of Arizona. In Taiwan he taught in the physics department at Tunghai University, mainly teaching astronomy and atmospheric physics. Dr. Newquist also taught an elective course on natural science and religious faith, for which he wrote the textbook in Chinese. He also was involved in the ministry of the campus church and student fellowship. He and his wife Judy now live in Kearney, Nebraska, finding opportunities the Lord brings them for spiritual interaction with Chinese people.
David Snoke is a professor in the Department of Physics and Astronomy at the University of Pittsburgh, where he has been since 1994.
Dr. Eric Hedin is professor emeritus of physics and astronomy at Ball State University (BSU) in Indiana. His research interests focused on computational nanoelectronics and higher-dimensional physics. Hedin developed and taught the Boundaries of Science course for six years at BSU’s Honors College. In 2013, his course came under attack by a national atheist organization for allowing student discussions in class to consider evidence that nature is not all there is and that our lives have eternal meaning and value within a universe crafted with biocentric design. Based on Hedin’s experience with this course, he wrote the recently published book, Canceled Science: What Some Atheists Don’t Want You to See, highlighting scientific evidence that points to design. Hedin served as professor of physics and chaired the department of chemistry, physics, and engineering at Biola University from 2019–2021. He now speaks at universities around the country at God’s Not Dead Events, led by Dr. Rice Broocks. These evangelistic outreaches present evidence from science, philosophy, and history for God as Creator. Hedin writes articles that highlight intelligent design for the Discovery Institute website, Evolution News & Science Today.
Jack Crenshaw received his PhD in Physics from Auburn University.
Kirk Bertsche earned his Ph.D. in Physics from the University of California at Berkeley in 1989. His graduate research involved the design, construction, and operation of a small, low-energy, cyclotron for radiocarbon dating. Dr. Bertsche has worked at a number of DOE national laboratories on projects involving particle accelerator design and operation, including radiocarbon dating with AMS. He has over 60 scientific publications and 18 patents.
Randy Goodall received his BS in Physics from Caltech and his PhD from the University of Oregon in experimental physics studying the Quantum Hall Effect.
Regan Stinnett received his PhD in plasma physics from the University of Texas. He worked as a researcher and manager at Sandia National Laboratories (SNL) in the areas of fusion, beams, microsystems, materials, and nanotechnology. From 2006–2012 he led SNL’s National Institute for Nano Engineering . Regan took entrepreneurial leave from SNL to start Quantum Manufacturing Technologies, Inc. where he served as president and CEO. Upon his return, Regan was part of SNL’s Advanced Concepts Group and also worked to create partnerships between national laboratories, universities, and industry. Regan received US Department of Energy awards for STEM Mentorship and Contributions to the Nuclear Weapons Program.
Robert Sheldon has an MA in religion (1985) from Westminster Theological Seminary and a PhD physics (1991) from University of Maryland, College Park. He has taught at the University of Bern, Boston University, University of Alabama in Huntsville, and Wheaton College. He is presently with Torch Technologies assisting the Army’s Advanced Photonics Testing Lab. His latest book, The Long Ascent: Genesis 1-11 in Science & Myth, vol. 2 will be available in fall 2019 and will be discussing the location of Eden.
Theology
For over a decade, Dr. Benjamin Shaw has been collaborating with Dr. Gary R. Habermas, conducting and publishing philosophical, historical, and theological research. Dr. Shaw is president of CORE apologetics, where his responsibilities include ministering to people who have questions about Christianity whether they are disciples, doubters, or skeptics. Dr. Shaw has authored or co-authored over two dozen publications and given presentations at numerous conferences and universities. He has also taught at Liberty University and Colorado Christian University. Currently, Dr. Shaw is working on a book manuscript about New Testament reliability with InterVarsity Press, titled Trustworthy: Thirteen Arguments for the Reliability of the New Testament.
Chad Brown is a pastor and Christian apologist who holds a BS in religion with a focus on youth ministry and an MTS in theological studies from Liberty University. He received a DMin in expository preaching and teaching from Liberty’s Rawlings School of Divinity. Chad’s doctoral thesis focused on combatting secular humanism with a strategy for teaching theology and apologetics to high school students. Chad teaches theology, philosophy, and apologetics at a Christian school and is writing holistic high school curriculum. He spends his summers speaking at camps and surfing. Follow him on Instagram, Twitter, and YouTube @drchadbrown.
Charles “Chuck” White got his BA in history and literature from Harvard University. He then went to Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary and became the student minister in Boston’s Park Street Church. He began a PhD at Cambridge and finished it in Boston, specializing in nineteenth-century American religious life.
Chris Wells is the senior pastor of First Baptist Church Mt. Sterling, Kentucky. After receiving his BA in journalism and mass communication from Samford University, Chris went on to earn his MDiv and DMin in New Testament exposition from Southern Baptist Theological Seminary. Chris's DMin project focused on equipping Christians to make disciples through one-on-one Bible reading. Chris and his wife, Laura Don, have three children. He enjoys studying theology, watching SEC football, and writing middle-grade fiction. Follow him on Twitter at @rchriswells or Instagram at @rchriswellsauthor.
Daniel Cote is a science teacher, pastor, and Christian apologist. Dan began his career as an engineer and progressed into senior management in the semiconductor equipment industry. He then transitioned to teaching physics, philosophy, and apologetics at a Christian school. Dan holds a BS in mechanical engineering from the University of Maine and an MS in electrical engineering from the University of Bridgeport. He also completed an MMin at Southern Evangelical Seminary and a DMin in theology and apologetics at Liberty University. In his doctoral research, Dan investigated original monotheism and the challenge it poses to naturalism and New Age beliefs. Dan serves as associate pastor of his church and holds ordained ministerial standing in the Conservative Congregational Christian Conference. He is the founder of multimediaapologetics.com, a website ministry that defends the truth of Christianity with the goal of advancing the gospel.
Hock Seng Tan studied chemical process technology at Singapore Polytechnic University. He also studied theology and attained a doctor of theology degree from Asia Baptist Graduate Theological Seminary. He served with Singapore Campus Crusade for Christ (now Singapore CRU) from 1982–2008. Through that organization, the Lord called Hock Seng to the teaching ministry. He now serves his church in that capacity by teaching biblical studies.
Jim Johansen received his PhD in theology and apologetics from Liberty University. He earned his MS in in science and religion and MA in Christian apologetics from Biola University. He also earned his MS in electrical engineering from the University of Southern California.
John Battle received his M.Div. and S.T.M from Faith Theological Seminary in Philadelphia, and then obtained his Th.D. from Grace Theological Seminary in Indiana.
Born in Budapest, Hungary, John Fischer is part of a family that miraculously survived the Holocaust. Dr. Fischer holds six college and university degrees, two of them doctorates. He received his PhD in Education and Religion from the University of South Florida, and a ThD in Judaic Studies from the California Graduate School of Theology. He has spoken and taught throughout the US and around the world. Dr. Fischer serves as rabbi of Congregation Ohr Chadash (a Messianic synagogue in Clearwater, Florida), executive director of Menorah Ministries, vice president for academics at St. Petersburg Seminary and Yeshiva, rosh yeshiva (dean) at Netzer David International Yeshiva, member of the executive committee for the Messianic Jewish Rabbinic Council, and president of the International Messianic Jewish Alliance. He was also a founder of the Union of Messianic Jewish Congregations and served for a number of years as its president. Additionally, Dr. Fischer is the author of numerous articles and several books, including: The Olive Tree Connection: Sharing Messiah with Israel (1983), The Enduring Paradox: Exploratory Essays in Messianic Judaism (2000), and Messianic Services for the Festivals and Holy Days (1992). In 2004, John and his wife, Dr. Patrice Fischer, co-authored The Distortion: 2,000 Years of Misrepresenting the Relationship between Jesus the Messiah and the Jewish People, an analysis of the ongoing nature of religious anti-Judaism and anti-Semitism and the issues they raise. John and Patrice have two grown children (Eve and Seth) and three grandchildren (Naomi, Gideon, and Jonas).
Johnson Philip is an expert in quantum nuclear physics and Christian apologetics. He earned his PhD in quantum-nuclear physics from Jiwaji University and ThD in Christian apologetics from International Theological Seminary. Johnson started the creationism and apologetics movement in India in the 1970s. He has trained thousands of people in apologetics in 170 countries through his distance training program and has published numerous textbooks—including ones on systematic theology and apologetics—in the Malayalam language. He has also published a dictionary of theology and a four-volume Bible encyclopedia. In addition to such scholarly work, his main emphasis has always been Bible exposition and Christian apologetics meant for lay people. He is fluent in Hindi, Malayalam, and English and is a devoted student of Greek, Sanskrit, Urdu, and Arabic languages.
Joseph Palmer received his D.Min from Phoenix Seminary.
Kevin Daniels is a native inner-city Baltimorean and is currently a tenured professor in the School of Social Work at Morgan State University (MSU) and an international fellow with the International Institute Human Sciences . He was a postdoctoral fellow of the Leadership Institute at Harvard College and former senior fellow with the National Center for Health Behavioral Change (Kellogg Foundation). He is also the episcopal senior pastor at St. Martin Church of Christ. In 2015, after the Baltimore city unrest, he initiated the collaborative Cultural Competence Training for Baltimore City Police Department (BCPD) veterans and cadets on MSU’s campus and is currently working as one of the principal investigators for the community engagement portion of the Baltimore Consent Decree. This portion of the Consent Decree allows for conversational community engagement with the BCPD and communities across all nine police districts. Kevin also holds a license as a social worker and counselor and a certification as a community conferencing facilitator within the communities of Druid Heights and Madison Park.
Krista Bontrager is a theologian working in the realms of Bible exposition, the supernatural, and cultural apologetics (with a focus on race and justice). She is the cofounder of the Center for Biblical Unity and a popular YouTube teacher and podcaster.
Larry Siekawitch received his MDiv at New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary with emphasis on New Testament Greek, ThM at Reformed Theological Seminary – Orlando in Reformation Studies, and PhD at University of Wales – Bangor in Historical Theology.
Ryan Willert is the founder of Meeting on Main Ministries. He received his DMin in theology and apologetics from Liberty University (Virginia). His major research topics include Gen Z studies, the Kalam cosmological argument, human sexuality, and the resurrection of Jesus Christ.
Sarah Sumner is president of Right On Mission where she is sparking a global movement for moral courage. Dr. Sumner is the first woman theologian in U.S. history to be dean of a conservative seminary and the first woman to earn a Ph.D. in Systematic Theology at Trinity Evangelical Divinity School. Dr. Sumner has taught theology in approximately 40 seminaries/universities.
Shawn Madden earned his masters in library science at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and his PhD in historiography at the University of Texas at Arlington. He was associate professor of Hebrew and Old Testament at Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary, where he also served as seminary librarian. Shawn is a retired Marine and has been married to his wife Cathy for over 47 years. He is father to three children, Emily, Michael (deceased), and Nathan (deceased). Shawn currently does work in drone aerial photography and astrophotography.
Tassos Lycurgo is a professor at the Department of Arts of the Federal University of Rio Grande do Norte (UFRN) in Brazil. He has also served on the faculties of several universities, including Oral Roberts University (ORU) in Tulsa, Oklahoma, as a visiting professor. In addition to his academic pursuits, Dr. Lycurgo is an attorney and the founder and president of Defesa da Fé Ministries, where he serves as pastor. Lycurgo has held several positions throughout his career, including the national director of the Intangible Cultural Heritage Department and the national director of the Department of Cooperation and Promotion at the National Historic and Artistic Heritage Institute (IPHAN) in Brazil. In these roles, he was responsible for managing international and domestic relations with other institutions, such as UNESCO. Lycurgo earned a doctorate of education in mathematics and logic from UFRN in 2002, and an MA in analytic philosophy from the University of Sussex (UK) in 1999. He also completed postdoctoral studies in Christian apologetics at ORU and sociology of law at the Federal University of Paraíba (UFPB) in Brazil. He has a specialization in material and procedural labor law from Anhanguera University (UNIDERP) and holds degrees in law (URCA), philosophy (UFRN), advanced leadership (Haggai Institute in Thailand), pastoral ministry (Rhema Bible Training College in Broken Arrow, Oklahoma), and biblical studies (Rhema Bible Training College). Tassos has written several books on various topics, including philosophy, law, education, culture, and Christian apologetics. He frequently travels domestically and internationally to speak at conferences in the secular academic and public arenas. There he advocates for faith with the aim of presenting the historical, scientific, and philosophical justifications for following Jesus Christ. Tassos is married to Camila and they have three children: Orlando, Lissa (in memoriam), and Tasya.
Thomas has served the local church for over 20 years in roles ranging from office assistant to senior pastor. Currently, he is the president of Families of Virtue, a ministry that exists to cultivate virtuous disciple makers to strengthen the family and build the church. Thomas also serves as program director for professional studies at Carolina College of Biblical Studies in North Carolina and as adjunct professor at Tri-State Bible College in Ohio. Thomas is active in his local church as pastor of families and education while he and his wife homeschool their three boys.
Arizona native Tim Boyle is a retired missionary to Japan. He holds MDiv and DMin degrees from Fuller Theological Seminary and a BS in physics from Arizona State University. From 1967 to 1968, Tim studied Japanese at the East-West Center in Hawaii and went on to serve as a short-term missionary on Hokkaido, Japan’s northern island, where he met his wife, Juji. From 1976 to 1982, Tim was a Japanese language pastor at churches in California. He is a member of the California-Pacific Conference of the United Methodist Church (UMC). Beginning in 1982, Tim and Juji were assigned, by a dual appointment of the UMC and the Presbyterian Church USA, to serve as missionaries in Japan. Their first assignment was to a rural church in Shintoku, Hokkaido. They went on to serve at the Tsukuba Christian Center in Tsukuba Science City for 21 years. Since 2007, they have lived in the Osaka-Kobe area, where Tim was first assigned to the Buraku Liberation Center and then to Kwansei Gakuin University. Writing has long been part of Tim’s life. In 1994, he authored Bible Stories Hidden in Chinese Characters, a Japanese language book that explores “the origins of many Chinese characters and how their makeup fits in so beautifully with basic biblical truths.” An English version was released in 2001, under the title The Gospel Hidden in Chinese Characters. On behalf of Reasons to Believe, Tim has translated and published Japanese versions of The Creator and the Cosmos, Creation and Time, and The Genesis Question, and provided Japanese subtitles for Journey toward Creation (DVD). Tim retired from missionary work in 2016. He continues to serve on the board of directors and handle communications with the Japanese branch of the Make-A-Wish Foundation. He also maintains a bilingual website at www.konkyo.org, which includes numerous RTB-related articles translated into Japanese. Tim and Juji are the parents of two adult daughters, Lisa Megumi and Jennifer Mari.