PEP Talk
113 episodes - English - Latest episode: 27 days ago -The Persuasive Evangelism Podcast equips listeners to share their faith more effectively in a sceptical world. Andy Bannister (Solas) and Kristi Mair (Oak Hill College) chat to a guest who has a great story, a useful resource, or some other expertise that helps equip listeners to talk persuasively, winsomely, and engagingly with their friends, colleagues and neighbours about Jesus.
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Episodes
With David Hutchings
March 30, 2022 05:00 - 24 minutes - 33.3 MBApart from toddlers, teenagers probably ask the most questions about difficult subjects! Spare a thought, then, for Christians teaching adolescents in our schools. What can we learn about how to handle faith-questions in such an environment, where a mis-step can land you in hot water so easily? Today we hear from a science teacher about using questions like "Do you believe in aliens?" to encourage gospel conversations. David Hutchings is a Fellow of the Institute of Physics and physics teac...
With Tracy Cotterell
March 16, 2022 08:00 - 26 minutes - 36.9 MBJesus didn't spend his life in church, he ministered in the real world. How can we think about life with Jesus as an adventure in the real world, not just someone we meet in church? Today's guest Tracy Cotterell speaks to Andy and (filling in for Kristi) Gavin from Solas. She encourages us to identify our primary role as God's child, participating in the Father's business to reach the world. Tracy Cotterell is a former advertising planning director and served the London Institute for Conte...
With Mitch and Amanda
March 02, 2022 08:00 - 23 minutes - 31.9 MBToday on PEP Talk we hear from an inspiring couple in evangelistic ministry together. Andy and Kristi cover all sorts of ground with them, from experiences in street evangelism, the gospel opportunities across Ireland, to the joy of working together. Mitch and Amanda have been married for 22 years and together they lead Crown Jesus Ministries in Ireland. Their passion for evangelism drives the ministry to fulfil its vision; to see the people of Ireland Crown Jesus Lord of their lives. They...
With Lee McDade
February 16, 2022 08:00 - 20 minutes - 28.6 MBTop Tip: If you want to start a conversation, give yourself an unusual ministry job title that gets people intrigued! Today's guest tells us about the fantastic opportunities his unique position affords him in the armed services. What is it like sharing the gospel amongst service personnel? Lee McDade has worked with SASRA (Soldiers' and Airmen's Scripture Readers Association) for 13 years, based at Wattisham Flying Station near Colchester. His official title is “Army Scripture Reader”, an...
With Pete Nicholas
February 02, 2022 08:00 - 22 minutes - 31 MBPete Nicholas joins us today to speak about sharing Jesus in a diverse part of London. What are the questions cropping up and challenges to be had when sharing the gospel? Pete Nicholas is Senior Minister at Inspire Saint James Clerkenwell in London and Chair of Trustees of City to City UK. After working for Christians in Sport, Pete co-led the church plant 'Inspire London' which started back in 2013 and when Inspire combined with Saint James Clerkenwell as a revitalisation the two church...
With Chris Sinkinson
January 19, 2022 08:00 - 23 minutes - 31.7 MBChris Sinkinson chats with Andy and Kristi about using your passions to share the gospel. For him, archaeology and the history of the ancient world opens up the Bible as a rich historical document - where we discover the amazing person of Jesus Christ. Chris Sinkinson is on the teaching staff at Moorlands College. He has been involved in Christian ministry with UCCF as a Regional Staff worker and as a Church pastor. He was the senior pastor of Alderholt Chapel in Dorset for over ten years. ...
With Andrew Roycroft
January 05, 2022 08:00 - 21 minutes - 30 MBToday on PEP Talk we explore the changing relationship of culture and Christianity, with a look into the example of Northern Ireland. How do we adapt as Christians and churches to be authentic salt and light whether we are a cultural majority or marginalised minority? Andy and Kristi speak to a pastor, author and poet for some great thoughts on reaching out. Andrew Roycroft recently became pastor at Portadown Baptist Church, before that he served 10 years at Millisle Baptist Church. He is m...
With Sharon Dirckx
December 22, 2021 08:00 - 25 minutes - 34.4 MBWhen sharing the gospel, perhaps no response is more common or more scary than "How can God allow suffering?" It's an ancient question, but can relate to the present moment more than anything else. Sharon Dirckx joins us today to think about how to navigate this particularly sensitive and personal area of evangelism. Sharon Dirckx is a Senior Tutor at the Oxford Centre for Christian Apologetics (OCCA). She has a PhD in brain imaging from Cambridge and has held research positions in the UK a...
With Derek McIntyre
December 08, 2021 08:00 - 19 minutes - 26.9 MBWith all the topics, arguments and questions one could address in speaking about the gospel, sometimes it's hard to know where to start. Today we hear from someone who decided to investigate the simple question "Was Jesus the Son of God?" and was surprised at the overwhelming amount of convincing evidence he found. Derek McIntyre comes from a science background and came to Christianity in middle-age when he discovered the wealth of compelling evidence pointing to Jesus being the Son of God...
With Rahil Patel
November 24, 2021 07:00 - 23 minutes - 32.2 MBThe life of a Hindu monk can seem extreme–celibacy, poverty, thousands of miles of pilgrimage–but what are they searching for? Today we hear from a former priest about how Christianity met his heart's desire. He offers some important guidance on how to reach out to others from Eastern religions, when the cultural gap can seem so daunting. As a Hindu priest Rahil Patel was a renowned international speaker whose spiritual counsel was received by politicians, industrialists and celebrities. Hi...
With Richard Gibb
November 10, 2021 07:00 - 19 minutes - 27.3 MBDuring the periods of restrictions we've had during the pandemic, some churches have become very creative with their outreach activities. Today Andy speaks with the pastor of a small church plant about their "drive-in church" and Christmas carols on the back of a tractor and trailer. Full of ideas and enthusiasm, it's great to hear how a small church is having a big impact. Richard Gibb is on the leadership and preaching team at Loch Leven Church in Kinross. He is married to Alison and work...
With Dom Muir
October 27, 2021 06:00 - 24 minutes - 33.2 MBStreet Evangelism. A phrase conjuring up images of crazy preachers with placards reading "The End is Nigh", one that strikes fear in many Christians. Is it a thing of the past, with no place in our multicultural 21st century cities? Or is it still a means that God can use, even one He still calls us to? Dominic Muir is an evangelist, teacher, author ('God Hunger: Meditations from a Life of Longing' and ‘Firebrand: Devotions from a Life of Burning’) and revivalist with a passion for street...
With Mike Licona
September 29, 2021 21:00 - 20 minutes - 28.2 MBToday we are joined by historian and academic Mike Licona to discuss his specialist topic, the resurrection of Christ. Although we'd expect our secular society to dismiss such a miracle, Mike shows us that the supernatural is a real part of more people's lives that we might expect. Michael R. Licona, Ph.D. is associate professor of theology at Houston Baptist University and president of Risen Jesus, Inc. He is the author of several books, including The Resurrection of Jesus: A New Historio...
With Michael Ots
September 15, 2021 07:00 - 22 minutes - 31.2 MBFor many people, God and faith aren't the things they're most interested in. But most people are interested in (and have an opinion on!) big questions about life. What are those questions? How have they changed over the years? And how can we show that a Christian worldview makes the best sense of these life questions? Michael Ots was Minister of Evangelism at Lansdowne Baptist Church in Bournemouth for five years before becoming a travelling evangelist. He is passionate about sharing his fa...
With Kyle Beshears
September 01, 2021 07:00 - 21 minutes - 29 MBWhat has driven the shift in recent years from hostility towards apathy in relation to the gospel? When people don't care about the questions of God and faith anymore, what DO they care about? Answering that can help us return our conversations back towards the joy in our salvation and pique the interest of the apathetic. Kyle Beshears is teaching pastor at Mars Hill Church in Mobile, Alabama and teaches courses on worldview and religion at the University of Mobile. He holds a Master of The...
With Mark Meynell
July 21, 2021 07:00 - 24 minutes - 33.3 MBOne of the biggest reasons for people to reject Christianity is because of their experience of the Church or other Christians behaving badly. How can we deal with abuse of power, hypocrisy and loss of trust? In an age of scandal, misinformation and conspiracy theories how can we point people to the love, truth and safety of Jesus Himself? Andy and Kristi speak with author and pastor Mark Meynell about these incredibly important questions. Mark Meynell is Director (Europe and Caribbean) for...
With Georgie Coster
July 07, 2021 07:00 - 24 minutes - 33.4 MBMedical professions can often be useful for overseas mission work, but today's guest tells us all about the mission field here in today's NHS. In her work with the Christian Medical Fellowship, we hear about how young doctors and nurses are learning to share their faith - and seeing God at work! Georgie Coster is an intensive care nurse in the English Midlands and Associate Head of Nurses and Midwives at the Christian Medical Fellowship. Support the show (https://www.solas-cpc.org/podcast-b...
With Ed Shaw
June 23, 2021 07:00 - 22 minutes - 31.1 MBWhy are we afraid of talking about sexuality, especially when sharing our faith? Probably because many people today see religion as oppressive to their sexuality, and, by extension, their personal identity. However, today's guest suggests that marriage and sexuality is one of the quickest routes into telling people about how much Jesus loves them and the hope He offers them. Ed Shaw is the pastor of Emmanuel City Centre in Bristol and leads the team behind www.livingout.org. He loves his fa...
With Jeremy Marshall
June 09, 2021 07:00 - 21 minutes - 29.4 MB"And then something strange happened..." probably means you're about to hear about what the Holy Spirit has been doing in someone's life. As today's guest reminds us, God is at work in far, far more people than we know. With some fantastic thoughts on sharing faith, especially in the face of suffering, Jeremy Marshall chats with Andy and Kristi on today's PEP Talk. Jeremy Marshall worked in banking, his last job was CEO of C Hoare & Co, the UK's oldest private bank. Six years ago he was dia...
With Justin Brierley
May 26, 2021 07:00 - 26 minutes - 36.6 MBToday on PEP Talk, we interview the great interviewer himself, Justin Brierley. For years he has hosted discussions with top Christian thinkers and thought leaders from other backgrounds. What has he learned from this, and how has it impacted his personal gospel conversations? Justin Brierley is an international speaker, author and much-loved host of the podcast Unbelievable? His show on Premier Radio has aired weekly for over 15 years, growing to become a popular podcast and serving as t...
With David Galloway
May 12, 2021 07:00 - 21 minutes - 29.3 MBWhat happens when the dreaded "God and science" topic comes up when you're speaking about Jesus? Today's guest reassures us that most people who assume that science explains away the need for God, are only merely assuming it. He encourages us to dig deeper and points us towards some resources that will help give us confidence if the subject arises. David Galloway is a gastroenterological surgeon, formerly President of the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons Glasgow. He has worked in Za...
With Mark Oliver
April 28, 2021 07:00 - 21 minutes - 30.2 MBIn this "down to earth" episode we speak with a career dairy farmer who has only recently become a local church pastor. As you'd stereotypically expect, he is full of practical wisdom and a can-do attitude when it comes to sharing faith, both in new ways online and in the age-old ministry of feeding the needy. Mark Oliver spent the first 40 years of his life living on dairy farms in Devon or Cornwall. Alongside the farm, Mark and his family have always been heavily involved in church life, ...
With David Nixon
April 14, 2021 07:00 - 21 minutes - 29 MBIt seems that in our culture today, it is all too easy to offend a person by disagreeing with their ideas. This fuels our fear of rejection, broken relationships, consequences for career or reputation when it comes to discussing our faith. What can we do to foster respect, humility and love that wins the heart of a person, instead of winning an argument? Today's guest urges us to look to Jesus for a great example. David Nixon is Associate Pastor at Carrubbers Christian Centre on Edinburgh's...
With Craig Dyer
March 31, 2021 07:00 - 22 minutes - 30.3 MBToday we hear from Craig Dyer about how the popular Christianity Explored courses have adapted to life in a pandemic. How can we best use these evangelistic tools, still make connections online, and meet people where they're at during a difficult period for us all? Craig also shares about the unique opportunities his home church in Glasgow has to reach out to asylum seekers. Craig Dyer is the Training Director for Christianity Explored, where he provides evangelism training for gospel-heart...
With Stephen McAlpine
March 17, 2021 08:00 - 24 minutes - 33.3 MBWhat happens when presenting the Gospel puts you on the wrong side of 'cancel culture'? In places like our work or university, we can sometimes feel like the 'bad guys' when we try to espouse Christian truths. Today's guest has thought long and hard about how we can adapt to these difficult environments with his book Being the Bad Guys. Stephen McAlpine is a blogger and ex-journalist who writes on issues of theology, culture and the church. He is a pastor at Providence Church in Perth, Aus...
With Tony Watkins
March 03, 2021 08:00 - 21 minutes - 29.9 MBIn today's episode we think about the relationship between the Gospel and our culture. Is there merit in finding touchpoints between the two, or should we always seek to share the "pure" or "transcendent" Gospel? Our guest Tony Watkins finds that arts and media can provide helpful inroads for the Gospel into individual lives, as we consider the values, needs, and aspirations found in our shared culture. Tony helps Christian leaders relate media and the Bible through his writing and teach...
With Susie Ford
February 17, 2021 08:00 - 20 minutes - 28.7 MBWhen we hear from those with degrees in theology and positions in ministry, it can be tempting to feel inadequate or guilty about our own efforts in evangelism. So how can we make efforts at sharing the gospel without falling into a performance-driven mindset? Susie Ford works in ministry and studies theology part time with Highland Theological College. She is a member of the Passion for Evangelism community which mentors and encourages women in public proclamation of the gospel, and loves...
With Duncan Cuthill
February 03, 2021 07:00 - 20 minutes - 27.8 MBWe can sometimes make too much of the distinction between practical ministry and spiritual ministry, emphasising one at the cost of the other. But what is it about meeting physical needs (especially in a deprived urban environment) that lends credibility to our spiritual efforts in the area of evangelism? This time on PEP Talk, Andy and Kristi hear about how both are being put into action at Edinburgh City Mission. Our guest is the CEO of Edinburgh City Mission, Duncan Cuthill. He was conve...
With Stuart and Cameron McAllister
January 20, 2021 07:00 - 22 minutes - 31 MBIs there any mission field as close to our hearts as our own family? If you are a parent, it can be an overwhelming burden to pass on your faith to your children. It is a unique form of "evangelism", much different to sharing with other adults but still has some similarities. Today Andy and Kristi speak to the authors of Faith That Lasts: A Father and Son on Cultivating Lifelong Belief where they outline three dangerous myths that we all too easily buy into: that fear can protect our child...
Highlights of 2020
January 06, 2021 07:00 - 21 minutes - 29.8 MBWhew! It is finally 2021 and everyone is glad 2020 is behind them. But wait, something good must have happened. Although it was different and challenging, there was still a lot to thank God for in terms of how His gospel was advancing. Whether it was reaching new people online or a new openness brought about by difficult circumstances, Andy and Kristi reflect on the highlights of sharing the gospel in 2020. Support the show (https://www.solas-cpc.org/podcast-book-offer/)
With Murray McNicol
December 09, 2020 06:00 - 20 minutes - 27.9 MBChurch outreach events and evangelism courses sound like a great idea, but do they actually work? Here on PEP Talk we discover that, yes, they can! We hear today from an ordinary guy (chartered accountant, no less) from an ordinary church that is developing an amazing culture of outreach - and seeing God at work through it all! Murray McNicol is a member of Maxwell Mearns Castle Parish Church, just south of Glasgow in Scotland. His background is accountancy but currently runs a small softwa...
With Dez Johnston
November 25, 2020 08:00 - 22 minutes - 30.4 MBIf you haven't heard of the Alpha Course, it's a popular tool used by churches and small groups to create a welcoming place for others to ask questions. This year has seen an sudden move to online Alpha courses, which continue to be effective places for ministry. In this episode, Kristi and Andy welcome the Director of Alpha Scotland to learn about his journey to faith and the various ways he's seeing the gospel at work today. Dez Johnston was a Glaswegian bouncer with a drug problem who c...
With Jim Grimmer
November 11, 2020 06:00 - 22 minutes - 30.8 MBThe workplace is not a place for rocking the boat by discussing politics or religion, is it? Not always the case, as today's guest has found the business environment incredibly ripe for ministry. Jim Grimmer chats with Andy and Kristi about how he's using his Christian faith to fill the voids of personal and spiritual support found in many workplaces. Jim Grimmer has over 40 years work experience, firstly 20 years as a Police Officer, including roles in serious crime and major incident inve...
With Alasdair Macleod
October 28, 2020 08:00 - 24 minutes - 33.1 MBFor those involved in church leadership, getting evangelism and outreach into the natural life of the church family can sometimes be a challenge. In today's PEP Talk we hear from Inverness pastor Alasdair Macleod, speaking about the extension of discipleship and preaching into the culture of outreach in his congregation. Alasdair Macleod has been the lead pastor at Culduthel Christian Centre in his hometown of Inverness since 2014. He was a fellow student with Andy Bannister at London Schoo...
With Ruth Jackson
October 14, 2020 07:00 - 24 minutes - 34.2 MBWhat are the issues and challenges around young people and faith? Whether we're thinking about peer-to-peer evangelism, parents passing faith to their children, or the impact of growing up in a digital environment, both the opportunities and the pitfalls are immense. Here to offer her insight is Ruth Jackson, speaking with Andy Bannister and stand-in co-host Gavin Matthews. Ruth Jackson is a producer and youth specialist for Premier Christian Radio’s Unbelievable? programme and podcast, whi...
With Andy Bannister
September 30, 2020 05:00 - 20 minutes - 28.2 MBWhen you're a "professional" evangelist and "qualified" apologist, that means it all comes easy when sharing your faith, right? But we all have to start somewhere. This time on PEP Talk, Kristi interviews her normal co-host Andy Bannister about how God called him into public ministry and what he's learned along the way. Andy Bannister is the Director of Solas and an adjunct speaker with Ravi Zacharias International Ministries. Having ticked the wrong box on his university admissions form, h...
With Aaron Edwards
September 16, 2020 05:00 - 21 minutes - 29.9 MBIn our Christian churches today we often extol the virtues of "friendship evangelism". But does the low-key, latte-sipping, long-term approach really do justice to the gospel? Aaron Edwards joins Andy and Kristi to help us navigate between awkwardness, courage, sincerity, fear, and initiative in our relationships with others. Aaron Edwards is the MA Programme Lead and lectures in Mission, Theology and Preaching at Cliff College. He has specific interests in the theological work of Kierkega...
With Andy Steiger
September 02, 2020 05:00 - 19 minutes - 26.3 MBThis time on PEP Talk, Andy and Kristi speak with Andy Steiger from Apologetics Canada. Drawing especially from Paul's letter to the Colossians, Andy unpacks the importance of how we see God and how we see ourselves as human beings. From this flows our view of human purpose, relationships and community - which can be so attractive when we share them with others. Andy Steiger is the founder and president of Apologetics Canada, an organisation dedicated to helping churches across Canada bette...
With Michael Harvey
August 19, 2020 06:00 - 20 minutes - 28.4 MBEveryone is afraid of evangelism. But guess what? Almost everyone in the Bible expressed fear when God called them. Maybe it is time to re-evaluate the role of fear in evangelism. For a bit of a re-think, and information on great practical initiatives like the Weekend of Invitation and ACORN groups, we welcome Michael Harvey to the podcast. Michael Harvey is married to Eike and they have three adult children Ben, Kirsty and Lydia. In 2004 Back to Church Sunday was birthed and Michael starte...
With Karen Swallow Prior
August 05, 2020 05:00 - 20 minutes - 27.9 MBFrom classical literature to throw-away tweets, communication and language are part of how we reflect the image of a God who is revealed by his Word. This time on PEP Talk, Andy and Kristi speak with US academic and author Karen Swallow Prior, exploring the touchpoints we have with the entire human race in the great books and stories of our culture. How can we make use of these when sharing the gospel? Dr Karen Swallow Prior is Research Professor of English and Christianity and Culture at S...
With Gareth Black
July 22, 2020 05:00 - 23 minutes - 31.8 MBNew Solas Speaker Gareth Black joins the podcast for a wide-ranging discussion. Touching on his own experience growing up in Northern Ireland, Gareth explains to Andy and Kristi how he moved from an insular faith in a divided society to one that embraces questions and seeks to connect deeply with others. Formerly a Fellow of the Oxford Centre for Christian Apologetics, Gareth Black holds an MTh from the University of Oxford and an MSc in Bioethics from Kings College London. In autumn 2020, ...
With Glen Scrivener
July 08, 2020 05:00 - 23 minutes - 32.5 MBWhen sharing the gospel, where do you start? Today on PEP Talk, Andy and Kristi speak with Glen Scrivener about his book 3-2-1: The Story of God, the World and You and how he works from the love of the Trinity down to our ultimate goal of union with Christ. Glen Scrivener is an evangelist and directs Speak Life, a ministry reaching out with the gospel through preaching and media. They're recruiting creative evangelists now for an internship called the Speak Life Foundry. Glen has written se...
With Nay Dawson
July 01, 2020 05:00 - 19 minutes - 27.2 MBToday we hear from Nay Dawson who leads Passion for Evangelism, a mentoring and networking group for women evangelists. She speaks with Andy and Kristi about her own passion for evangelism, building community and how we can encourage both men and women to develop their evangelistic gifting in their local church context. Naomi (Nay) Dawson is the Regional Training Coordinator for IFES Europe. She has been one of the writers behind the UCCF Uncover project and is part of the UCCF Leadership N...
With Phil Knox
June 17, 2020 00:00 - 22 minutes - 30.3 MBStories resonate deeply with human beings and we all have two powerful stories in our lives: God's story and our story. What does it mean to bear those stories through our lives in a way that impacts those around us? Phil Knox speaks with Andy and Kristi to unpack his latest book, Story Bearer. Phil Knox is the head of mission to young adults at the Evangelical Alliance UK. He has a passion for his generation, the local church, loves learning and has degrees in law and mission and evangelis...
With Cameron McCartney
June 03, 2020 00:00 - 24 minutes - 33.1 MBUniversities and colleges can provide incredible opportunities, not just for education and career, but also developing one's relationships, worldview and values. Bringing the gospel into this environment can be challenging but very rewarding, as we hear from a former Christian Union leader about his experiences. Cameron McCartney is a Primary Education student at the University of Stirling in Scotland. He has been involved in CU leadership and student evangelism throughout his time at unive...
With Paul Gould
May 20, 2020 00:00 - 20 minutes - 28.4 MBIs there room for imagination, romance, even enchantment, in our evangelistic endeavour? In this episode we speak with Paul Gould about the concept of cultural apologetics and how it deals with the desirability of the gospel as it connects with deep-rooted cultural ideals. Paul M. Gould (Ph.D. philosophy, Purdue University) is the author or editor of ten scholarly and popular-level books including Cultural Apologetics, Philosophy: A Christian Introduction, and The Story of the Cosmos. He ha...
With Anne Witton
May 06, 2020 00:00 - 20 minutes - 28.8 MBThis time on PEP Talk, Andy and Kristi speak with Anne Witton about Iranian home-cooking, discussing aliens and giving out donuts in your front garden. It's all part of reaching out, building community and sharing the love of Christ! Anne Witton is based in Newcastle, UK and is one of the leaders of Living Out and heads up mission at her local church (Durham Road Baptist). She also speaks on behalf of True Freedom Trust and is studying for an MA in Contemporary Missiology at Redcliffe Colle...
With David Barrie
April 22, 2020 00:00 - 22 minutes - 30.8 MBWith the Coronavirus lockdown, many of us are having our relationships deeply disturbed as we struggle to connect with others from a distance. What impact does this have on the gospel? This time on PEP Talk, Andy and Kristi speak with small town pastor and football chaplain David Barrie about connecting and sharing with others in our churches, sports clubs and our communities. David Barrie is one of the pastors of Pitlochry Baptist Church in Highland Perthshire. He has served as a chaplain ...
With Greg Ganssle
April 08, 2020 00:00 - 22 minutes - 30.6 MBSometimes Christians focus on proving that Christianity is true, failing to realise that many people don't care that it's true. But what do they care about? Andy and Kristi are joined by Greg Ganssle to discuss how focussing our conversations on the deepest human desires can bring us right to the heart of the gospel. Greg also reminds us that "Any conversation that continues is a successful conversation." Greg Ganssle is Professor of Philosophy at Biola University in Los Angeles. Greg work...
With Randy Newman
March 25, 2020 01:00 - 23 minutes - 32.3 MBKristi found the book "Questioning Evangelism" by Randy Newman to be a fantastic tool in her work ministering with university students. Today Andy and Kristi welcome Randy to the podcast to answers questions about questions with questions! Randy Newman is Senior Fellow for Apologetics and Evangelism at the C.S. Lewis Institute near Washington D.C. He served for over 30 years with Campus Crusade for Christ and has taught at a number of seminaries. He has written five books and numerous arti...