This year, I have discovered an unique mission trip that Brett Kunkle of Stand to Reason offers for church youth groups. It is called “The Berkeley Mission.” See the video link below. Students are trained in apologetics, including logical thinking, and then taken to The University of California, Berkeley to hear opposing viewpoints by presenters. The presentations are followed by a question and answer session in which students get to interact with the opposing viewpoints. This follows with Stand to Reason Ministries approach of not isolating ourselves from the world as Christians, but rather of interacting with the arguments and learning how to think well. The students meet together at night and go over the presentations with Christian apologists. They also venture out onto the campus to interact with the college students about their beliefs.
Not only has this been life changing for the Christian students involved, but it has impacted the presenters, as well. Kunkle quotes David Fitzgerald of the San Francisco Atheists,
“Just wanted to send a quick note to say what a great time we had meeting you and your group yesterday. I was really knocked out by the quality of the questions everybody raised. Very refreshing…I was really impressed with your group.”
First of all, kudos to Brett Kunkle and J. Warner Wallace (PleaseConvinceMe.com) for pioneering such an incredible experience for students! Secondly, if you want to know more details about the program and the affect it had on the students, please check out Kunkle’s thoughts in “A Glimpse into the Berkeley Mission Experience.”
Mary Jo will be presenting “Is the Story of Christ a Copy of the Pagan Mystery Stories?” Saturday, November 21st at New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary (Sellers Recital Hall) from 10:50 – 11:45am. Come to the earlier session (9:45-10:40) and catch Mike Licona of the North American Mission Board or Sean McDowell for the Youth Track. Come at 8:30 and catch Greg Koukl of Stand To Reason Ministries.
The EPS/ETS and EPS Apologetics Conference has been packed with great knowledge and concern for the lost. The connection between Apologetics & Evangelism is striking. Make plans to attend next year’s conference in Atlanta!