Christian Apologetics 101

J. Warner Wallace

J. Warner Wallace is a Cold Case Homicide Detective, Sr. Fellow at the Colson Center for Christian Worldview, Adjunct Professor of Apologetics at Biola University, and author of Cold-Case Christianity, God’s Crime Scene and Forensic Faith. He’s been featured repeatedly on Dateline, FOX News, and Court TV. J. Warner was awarded the Police and Fire Medal of Valor “Sustained Superiority” Award, and the California Peace Officers Association COPSWEST Award for Cold-Case Investigation of the Year. He also continues to appear as an expert in a number of crime-based television series and was featured in God’s Not Dead 2. J. Warner is part of a three-generation law enforcement family and has a master’s degree in Theological Studies from Golden Gate Baptist Theological Seminary.

J. Warner Wallace has dedicated his life to making the case for God’s existence. Come join us as he unravels the reasons why Believers must defend their faith and the tangible ways to accomplish that. He is an expert in training believers in the best ways to communicate and become case makers, how to dive deeper into the Word of God.

J.P. Moreland

J. P. Moreland is Distinguished Professor of philosophy at Talbot School of Theology, Biola University. He received a B. S. in physical chemistry from the University of Missouri, a Th.M. in theology from Dallas Theological Seminary, an M.A. in philosophy from the University of California at Riverside, and a Ph.D. in philosophy at the University of Southern California. He has spoken and debated on over 200 college campuses and taught in 500 or so churches around the world. In addition, he has authored, edited, or contributed papers to ninety-five books, including Does God Exist? (Prometheus), Universals (McGill-Queen’s), Consciousness and the Existence of God (Routledge), The Blackwell Companion to Natural Theology, The Blackwell Companion to Substance Dualism, and Debating Christian Theism (Oxford.) He has also published over 85 articles in journals such as Philosophy and Phenomenological Research, American Philosophical Quarterly, Australasian Journal of Philosophy, MetaPhilosophy, Philosophia Christi, Religious Studies, and Faith and Philosophy. Moreland was selected in August 2016 by The Best Schools as one of the 50 most influential living philosophers in the world.

Craig Hazen

Craig Hazen is the founder and director of the master’s program with a concentration in Christian apologetics and director of the master’s program with a concentration in science and religion at Biola University.

Craig is the editor of Philosophia Christi, a philosophy journal. He is also the author of the monograph The Village Enlightenment in America; the acclaimed apologetics novel Five Sacred Crossings; and dozens of articles and chapters in various books and journals. He is a recipient of the Fischer Award, the highest faculty honor at Biola, and has lectured across North America and Europe on key apologetics topics, including lectures on Capitol Hill and in the White House. He is a popular church and conference speaker and a former co-host of a national radio talk program.

Carlos Francis

Carlos Francis currently serves as Evangelist Specialist for African American Ministries for Texas Baptists. Graduated from Texas Tech University in December 2003 with a Bachelor of Science Degree in Exercise and Sport Science. Graduated from Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary with a Master of Arts degree in Christian Education. Carlos was drafted by the Oakland Raiders in the 2004 NFL Draft and served the team with distinction for four seasons. Served as Youth and Young Pastor for Bethlehem Baptist Church in Mansfield, Texas for 13 years. Rev. Francis Carlos Francis resides in Mansfield, Texas with his three children, Carlos II, Carlee, and Carter.

Rani Espanioly

Rani Esp. is an Arab Christian born and raised in Nazareth, Israel. He graduated from Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary in 2014 with a Masters in Islamic Studies and he currently works as a Cross Cultural Mobilizer with the Baptist General Convention of Texas, concentrating on equipping and mobilizing the church for an effective outreach to Muslims. He is married to Hannah, a native Texan, and father to Samuel, Eliza, Lydia, and Rhoda.

Eric Hernandez

Eric Hernandez is a dynamic evangelist and apologist with a heart for proclaiming the gospel and defending his faith on theological and philosophical grounds. He is a licensed minister, certified formation therapist, on the Denison Forum Advisory Board, and is the Apologetics Lead and Millennial Specialist for The Baptist General Convention of Texas. He has spoken and debated on a public level at university and college campuses where he adamantly and adequately defends the Christian faith against atheist, agnostic, and deistic professors of different worldviews. He holds an associate degree in social science, a bachelor’s degree in theology, and a certificate in apologetics from Biola University.