Conference Speakers, Presenters, Featured Guests

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Plenary Speakers

Ravi Zacharias

Ravi Zacharias is a speaker, author, and dynamic defender of historic Christian truth. His books include the Gold Medallion Book Award winner, Can Man Live Without God?, and other bestsellers such as Light in the Shadow of Jihad and The Grand Weaver. He is the founder and chairman of the board of Ravi Zacharias International Ministries (RZIM) which produces two widely-aired radio programs: Let My People Think and Just Thinking.

Dr. Zacharias is also a visiting professor at Wycliffe Hall of Oxford where he teaches apologetics and evangelism. He and his wife, Margie, live near Atlanta GA.

SEE MORE AT: http://www.rzim.org

Lee Strobel

Lee Strobel is a Christian author, journalist, speaker, and highly respected apologist for the Christian worldview. His numerous books including four that have received the ECPA Christian Book Award. Four of the most familiar are The Case for Christ, The Case for Faith, The Case for the Creator, and The Case for the Real Jesus. For some time Strobel hosted a television program called Faith Under Fire. He has been interviewed on national television programs such as ABC’s 20/20, Fox News, and CNN. His conversion to Christ grew out of his own personal search for truth about matters of faith when he was working as an investigative journalist for the Chicago Tribune.

SEE MORE AT: http://www.leestrobel.com

Randy David Newman

Randy David Newman is a nationally-known Christian disciple, evangelist, apologist, and author. He has served on staff with CRU (formerly Campus Crusade) since 1980. He has taught seminars at locations ranging from college campuses to the Pentagon. Newman often uses humor to make a point and his books offer a proven and practical approach to Christian witnessing. They include Questioning Evangelism, Bringing the Gospel Home, and Corner Conversations. He lives with his wife near Washington D.C.

SEE MORE AT: http://www.randydavidnewman.com

Thomas E. Woodward

Tom Woodward is a research professor and department chair at Trinity College in Trinity, Florida. He is an author, an increasingly popular speaker, director of the C.S. Lewis Society, and a prominent Christian apologist. Woodward’s BA is from Princeton University, his ThM is from Dallas Theological Seminary, and his PhD is from the University of South Florida. His books defend intelligent design and powerfully refute Darwin’s theory of evolution. They include Doubts About Darwin, Darwin Strikes Back, and The Mysterious Epigenome: What Lies Beyond DNA.

Dr. Woodward lives in Florida with his wife, Normandy. He has served as a Resource Associate with the AIIA Institute since 2002.

SEE MORE AT: http://www.apologetics.org

Richard Keyes

Dick Keyes has been Director of the L’Abri Fellowship in Southborough, Massachusetts, since 1979. He holds a BA in History from Harvard University and an MDiv from Westminster Theological Seminary. He has served at the L’Abri campuses in Switzerland and England, and as an adjunct professor at Gordon Conwell Seminary and Westminster Theological Seminary. His books include Beyond Identity, True Heroism, and Seeing Through Cynicism. Keyes has lectured widely in the U.S., Europe, and Korea.

He lives with his wife, Mardi, in Southborough MA, and has been a Resource Associate with the AIIA Institute since 1997.

SEE MORE AT: http://www.labri.org/mass

Featured Guests

Oasis 2014 Choir

Oasis Chorale

The Oasis Chorale (OC) is a part-time touring company of approximately 40 singers and staff hailing from ten American states and one Canadian province. For over ten years the group has ministered to audiences across the U.S. and internationally — from Colorado, Kansas, and Virginia to Ireland, England, and Wales.Under the direction of Wendell Nisly, the Oasis Chorale encourages thoughtful worship through artistic choral music, sung a capella and with skill to the glory of God.Chorale members are of Mennonite and Beachy Amish affiliation, but unlike much of fringe Amish life being portrayed recently by sensational media outlets (e.g. Amish Mafia, Breaking Amish), OC singers live their faith with consistency and conviction. Their Anabaptist background goes beyond even Beverly Lewis fiction; it is the rich heritage out of which their vital and authentic ministry of sacred music springs today.We believe that the Oasis Chorale will bring something unique and powerful to the WHY JESUS? 2016 conference. We believe that it will, in their own words, “reflect God’s excellent beauty and serve as a lens through which those present will be better able to perceive, understand, and relate to God Himself.”

SEE MORE AT: http://www.oasischorale.com

LISTEN ON YOUTUBE AT: http://www.youtube.com/user/OasisChorale

Conference Emcees

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Steve and Debby Daman

Emcees for the conference will be Steve and Debby Daman of Bolton, Massachusetts. The Damans have served on the Board of Directors of the AIIA Institute since 1994. For nearly 30 years, Steve has worked as an urban missionary with the Emmanuel Gospel Center in Boston as a writer and communications director. The Damans are active members of the Holden Chapel in Holden, Massachusetts. They have three adult children and six grandchildren. Steve and Debby are committed to using their gifts and experience in communication and hospitality to assure that the conference program will flow smoothly and that the focus will remain on Jesus Christ as His Spirit ministers through the speakers, the Oasis Chorale, and other program participants.

Noonday ElectiveS | PANEL DISCUSSION

WHY JESUS? ON CAMPUS
A Panel of Campus Ministry Leaders talk about apologetics. Includes Q&A period.

Rob Gregory, Moderator

Attorney, Inter-Varsity leader at Bowdoin College in Brunswick ME

Joe Cousins

serving with Cru at the University of Maine, Orono

Nate Daman

Serves with Navigators at the University of Massachusetts, Amherst MA

Doug Palmeter

Serving with Life Ministries at the University of Maine, Orono

Ben Pascut

Serving with the Consortium of Christian Study Centers; based at Bowdoin College in Brunswick, Maine.

Lori Peters

Northern New England Director of Ratio Christi; based at UNH in Durham NH

Joel Wentz

Serving with InterVarsity as Area Director for Southern Maine.

Alycia Wood

Apologist and speaker with Ravi Zacharias International Ministries in the greater Boston MA area

Kevin Young

Serving with Challenge UMaine, NAMB/SBC, at the Univ. of Maine, Orono

NOONDAY ELECTIVES | SEMINARS

WHY NOT JESUS?
How Non-Christian Worldviews Ultimately Fail

Terry Smith

Itinerate speaker; adjunct professor at New England Bible College; taught two seminary courses in apologetics.

WHY JESUS? WHO CARES?
Contending for Faith When Religion Is Judged Irrelevant

Bill Johnson

Professor of Philosophy at Husson University; Senior Pastor of First Baptist Church, Pittsfield, Maine; Director of Pine Tree Leadership Development Network

NOONDAY ELECTIVES | Drop-By Sessions

WHY JESUS? IN SPORTS & RECREATION

Henri Aldunate

Serving with Heartbeat AT, ministry to Appalachian Trail hikers

Phil Tuttle

Fellowship of Christian Athletes, Area Representative, NH; Regional International Coordinator

Craig Clapper

Author, speaker, former pastor & Appalachian Trail Chaplain; lives in Bremen IN

Jarrod Lynn

Serving with Athletes in Action & Cru; based at Brown University in Rhode Island

WHY JESUS? IN YOUR LOCAL CHURCH
Especially Designed for Pastors & Church Leaders

Daryl E. Witmer

Executive Director of AIIA Institute, conference coordinator and co-sponsor

Rick Carver

Representing AIIA Institute; director of Reason & Rhyme; lives in Wrens, Georgia

Bob Valiant

Representing AIIA; director of Evidence for Hope; lives in Chester NH

HOW TO EQUIP KIDS WITH EVIDENCE FOR FAITH
Resources and Practical Guidance for Christian Educators, SS Teachers, Homeschoolers, and Others Working with Kids from Grade 1 thru High School