Cambridge Apologetics
Serving the church in Cambridge as we prepare to engage the thinkers around us with the gospel message
Upcoming Events:
Events hosted by Cambridge Apologetics or our sister project Life in the Round
2024 Summer conference
Cambridge is full of thinking people. What do they think about Christianity? From the University to the Science Park, from Addenbrooke’s to the City Council: our colleagues and friends all live with assumptions about our faith.
But what assumptions do we have about their questions? In our rapidly changing culture, are we tracking with their thinking? How might we commend and defend the gospel in Cambridge today? The 2024 summer conference explored these questions, and featured talks and seminars from Dr Rebecca McLaughlin, Prof John Lennox, Andrew Fellows, Clare Williams, Mark Meynell, and others. See the conference page for more details.
Community
Termly training seminars at the Round Church allow us to hear from specialists and develop the conversation.
Our most recent seminars featured Andrew Fellows on ‘Apologetics as Meaning’ and Peter Williams on ‘The Surprising Genius of Jesus’.
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Outreach
We also learn through practical experience.
Cultural outreach events are hosted through our partner ministry Life in the Round.
2024 Summer Conference
How Christ Answers the Questions of Today
McLaughlin
Lennox
Fellows
Williams
Date and Location
28-29 June | Venue: St Andrew the Great, Cambridge
About
How can we effectively initiate conversations with friends and co-workers that point to Christ? In today’s rapidly changing cultural landscape, how can we persuasively share our faith amidst objections and challenges to the Bible? How can we engage in apologetics in everyday life, connecting meaningfully with the questions and interests of our neighbours, family, and colleagues, and guide them towards a deeper appreciation of Christ?
The Cambridge Apologetics Summer Conference returns this June, exploring how Christ answers the questions of today. Join us as we:
- Learn how to communicate the gospel effectively and persuasively in today’s cultural moment
- Discover how to invite people to appreciate the person and work of Christ
- Consider the live questions people are asking, and be better prepared to give a defence for the hope we have
- Think creatively about the opportunities presented within our culture for sharing the gospel
Registration is open - be sure to book your place today
Friday
- 09:30 Confidence in the Christ of the Gospel - John Lennox
- 10:00 Apologetics through Dialogue - Andrew Fellows
- 11:15 Coffee break
- 11:45 Introducing Jesus by talking about the arts - Tony Watkins
- 13:00 Lunch
- 14:00 Apologetics through Hospitality - Daniel and Alexandra Gilman
- 15:00 Coffee break
- 15:30 Panel discussion - John Lennox, Andrew Fellows, Tony Watkins, Alexandra Gilman
- 16:30 Apologetics through Academia: Can We Trust the Gospels? - Peter Williams
Saturday
- 09:30 Listening well to the questions of the next generation - JP Sivertsen-Wright and Ben Chang, and responses from Andrew Fellows, Susannah Redmayne and Emma Penwright
- 11:00 Coffee break
- 11:30 Apologetics and Artificial Intelligence - John Lennox
- 13:00 Lunch
- 14:00 Seminars
- The Plausibility of Sin - Andrew Fellows
- Christ and the culture wars: speaking about Jesus in a world of identity politics - Ben Chang
- Some challenges to naturalism from nature - Zachary Ardern
- Evangelism through the arts: the stories we tell - Tony Watkins
- Apologetics through hospitality (repeat) - Daniel and Alexandra Gilman
- 10 Lessons from recent European student missions - Michael Ots
- 15:30 Coffee break
- 16:00 Small groups (discussion and prayer)
- 16:30 Confidence in the Christ of the Gospel, part 2 - John Lennox
We must give honest answers to honest questions. Christianity is Truth, Truth that God has told us, and if it is Truth, it can answer questions."
Speakers
We are thrilled to host a worldclass lineup of speakers for the conference. They bring with them a wealth of experience in public witness and apologetics training, and actively engage with contemporary cultural issues.
John Lennox
A Cambridge alumnus, John Lennox is a world renowned author and speaker, mathematician, philosopher of science and Emeritus Professor at the University of Oxford.
Bio
Peter J. Williams
Peter Williams is Principal of Tyndale House and a member of the Faculty of Divinity in the University of Cambridge, who recently authored "Can We Trust the Gospels?"
Bio
Andrew Fellows
Andrew Fellows is best known for having directed the work of English L'Abri for 15 years, and serving as chairman of L'Abri International. He is now an author and pastor who regularly gives training in apologetics.
Bio
Tony Watkins
Tony Watkins is Fellow for Public Engagement at Tyndale House, and a speaker and writer on media, culture, and the Bible. Previously at the Damaris Trust he is pursuing PhD research on the relationship between the biblical prophets and today’s media.
Bio
Benjamin Chang
Benjamin Chang is a speaker, writer and emergency medicine specialist doctor working in London. He also has a Masters degree in Bioethics and Medical Law. He is author of the new book “Christ and the Culture Wars: Speaking for Jesus in a World of Identity Politics”.
Bio
Alexandra Gilman
Alexandra Gilman is completing her Master's in Biblical Counselling at Westminster Seminary. She has done missions in China, Russia, and Canada, and is passionate about equipping people to be evangelists in everyday life.
Bio
Daniel Gilman
Daniel Gilman served as a fulltime apologist, and is now the director of the Centre for Public Speaking, as well as a PhD student at Cambridge University on the role of public speaking in the campaign to end the slave trade.
JP Sivertsen-Wright
JP Sivertsen-Wright is the Interim Co-Director of Student Ministries at UCCF, and oversees student work across the fellowship. With his experience and passion for student ministry, he is dedicated to supporting and encouraging believers in their walk with Christ and sharing the hope of Jesus among the university communities.
Emma Penwright
A Cambridge graduate in Natural Sciences, Emma Penwright is Assistant Head of Leadership Network and Science Network Co-ordinator for UCCF. She finds great joy in seeing science being used for the glory of God, and students learning to connect their faith with their studies.
Susannah Redmayne
Susannah Redmayne is the Christian Union Staff Worker in UCCF's Central region. She has spent the last three years working as UCCF staff worker mainly serving the Christian Union at Cambridge University. An Oxford graduate, she has also worked as a teacher prior to her time at UCCF.
Michael Ots
Michael Ots is the Field Director of the FEUER Evangelists Network. He travels widely around the UK, Europe and Eurasia speaking mainly on University Campuses on the relevance of the Christian faith to all areas of life.
Zachary Ardern
Zachary Ardern is a postdoctoral fellow in evolutionary genetics at an institute in Cambridge. His undergraduate training was in philosophy and molecular biology and he has spoken in universities, schools, and other settings on science and Christian faith, in the UK, Europe, and NZ.
A 20-year Heritage
We ran our first Cambridge Summer School of Apologetics in 2006, when The Foundations Trust was still known as Christian Heritage. Over the years we have hosted main speakers including Bill Edgar, John Lennox, David Robertson, Andrew Fellows, Jock Mcgregor, Ted Turnau, Greg Koukl, Stephen Meyer and Ard Louis.
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Academics in Public Evangelistic Speaking
Partnering with UCCF and IFES Europe, we are delighted to host the British gathering of the FEUER Academic Speakers' Network at our annual conference.
The network meets in parallel with us sharing relationships, plenary speakers, seminars and logistics support.
Featuring communications coaching
Tim Benton is a former actor and theatre director, now executive communications coach at GSB Comms. He has worked with businesses including Microsoft, KPMG and BCG, and ministries including Keswick and Oak Hill.
Christian academics have a unique opportunity to introduce Christianity with credibility at student events. The Network provides vision, training, peer support and introductions to event organisers.