Apologetics Leadership Seminar
(2024 – 2025)
How do we persuasively communicate the Gospel in Europe today?
What did the Apostle Paul do when Pre-Christian Europe was pagan, relativistic, and pluralistic? He did apologetics. With the Jews, Paul argued from the Old Testament Scriptures that Jesus was the Christ. With the Greeks, he used their literature and cultural artifacts to argue that the "unknown God" has been revealed. In every context Paul persuasively communicate the Gospel.
Europe in the 21st century is in a state very similar to Paul's time. Just as Paul engaged non-believers where they were, Europe today needs gifted apologists and evangelists who can persuasively communicate that Christianity is true and relevant.
The Apologetics Leadership Seminar will provide an overview of the importance and strategy of apologetics and give leaders strategies to more persuasively communicate the Gospel. Each seminar will be jointly led by Stefan Gustavsson and Andy Bannister, esteemed among Europe’s most influential apologists, and will take place over two days. Participants should be apologists, evangelists, pastors and leaders who are seeking to learn how to more persuasively communicate the Gospel. We encourage you to consider hosting a seminar in your country to help your fellow leaders receive the teaching and training on how to persuasively communicate the Gospel in their contexts and ministries.
Here is what past participants say about the seminar.
“The whole seminar was very well prepared. The content is beneficial and plentiful yet not overwhelming. Both speakers are very knowledgeable and well-spoken. The notes are simple and organized. It is also very good that they recommended some books. It is very straight to the point that we as Christians should live and listen more than just say what we want to say.”
“Enjoyed and appreciated all topics and both speakers are excellent in how they explain their subjects and outline their material. I really appreciated learning there are differences between the Muslim God and our God. Took lots of notes to go back to.”
Commitment & Cost: Hosts will be responsible for promoting and recruiting key apologists and leaders from across their country and covering the cost for speakers of lodging, food, facilities, and transportation within their country. There is also a fee of 300 euros for Central, Eastern, and Southern European countries and 400 euros for Western European countries to help cover the cost of travel.
Speakers
Stefan Gustavsson
Stefan Gustavsson is a member of the European Leadership Forum Steering Committee. He is the director for Apologia – Centre for Christian Apologetics and makes his home in Stockholm. He was the founding General Secretary for the Swedish Evangelical Alliance. Stefan travels widely with apologetic teaching and training and is often involved in university evangelism and public debates. He is the author of several books on Christian apologetics and the Christian mind. Stefan is married to Ingrid and they have three grown children.
Andy Bannister
is the Director of Solas in Scotland. Prior to working with Solas, Andy was Director and Lead Apologist at the Canada office of RZIM. Andy holds a Ph.D. in Islamic studies. Andy is the author of An Oral-Formulaic Study of the Qur’an and his latest book, The Atheist Who Didn’t Exist (or: The Terrible Consequences of Really Bad Arguments), is a humorous engagement with the New Atheism. He is married to Astrid; they have two children, Caitriona and Christopher.
If you are interested in Hosting an Apologetics Leadership Seminar,
please fill out this form.
For questions, contact Emanuel Țundrea at initiatives@euroleadership.org.