CrossExamined Instructor Academy

Have skill and a passion for apologetics?
Learn how to impact your world with I Don’t Have Enough Faith to be an Atheist
Attend the CrossExamined Instructor Academy (CIA)

Next CIA training program: August 5–7, 2010

Application deadline is July 2. Apply Online »
Check your application status and pay your tuituion balance. Check Application Status »

Why do we conduct the CrossExamined Instructor Academy (CIA)?

As you know, 75% of churched youth leave the church after high school. Intellectual skepticism is a major reason they leave, much of which they get at college. This will be the last Christian generation in America unless the Body of Christ acts immediately.

CrossExamined.org exists to engage primarily colleges, but also high school campuses and churches, with a reasonable and engaging case for Christianity. We do that by conducting I Don't Have Enough Faith to Be an Atheist seminars at college, high schools, churches and other venues to which we are invited. Due to the magnitude of the problem, we are training a team of other qualified people to do this as well. That’s why we have established the CIA.

What is the CrossExamined Instructor Academy?

CIA is an intense three-day program where you will learn how to present I Don't Have Enough Faith to Be an Atheist—which involves four main topics: Truth, God, Miracles and the New Testament—and how to answer questions about those topics in a hostile environment. During those three days, in addition to hearing lectures and participating in discussions, you will be asked to present portions of I Don't Have Enough Faith to Be an Atheist and answer questions from several instructors including Frank Turek, Greg Koukl, Richard Howe, Gary Habermas, and others.

What are the qualifications?

CIA is not a course where beginners learn apologetics, but a place where those with a solid foundation have their skills deepened and sharpened. While it is not an absolute necessity to have a degree in apologetics or philosophy, we are looking for people with those kinds of qualifications who have good presentation skills.

How can I prepare?

Don’t just read or listen, but study and outline our book, I Don't Have Enough Faith to Be an Atheist (can be purchased along with the 10-show DVD series at impactapologetics.com) and Gregory Koukl:  Tactics: A Game Plan for Discussing Your Christian Convictions (there is also a DVD version available at STR.org).

 There are several other important works. But for now, these additional works are essential:

• Lee Strobel:  The Case for the Real Jesus; The Case for Faith; The Case for the Creator (these are great because you get the main arguments from the best scholars)
• William Lane Craig:  Hard Questions, Real Answers; God: A Debate Between a Christian and an Atheist; Reasonable Faith (Third edition)
• Gary Habermas and Mike Licona:  The Case for the Resurrection of Jesus
• Timothy J. Koegel: The Exceptional Presenter: A Proven Formula to Open Up and Own the Room
• The Norman L. Geisler Library on CD (available from impactapologetics.com), which contains 12 of his most essential books, including The Baker Encyclopedia of Christian Apologetics, Answering Islam, and When Critics Ask (This CD is more for reference, not necessarily to read through.)
• Start listening to the STR, William Lane Craig, and CrossExamined podcasts.
• You also will need to be familiar with the works of the popular atheists such as Richard Dawkins and Christopher Hitchens.

During CIA, we are not going to present all portions of the presentation to you. We are going to spend more time helping you with presentation skills and how to answer questions. However, YOU will be asked to present a short portion of I Don't Have Enough Faith to Be an Atheist. As a result, you'll want to get the I Don't Have Enough Faith to Be an Atheist TV series on DVD and the PowerPoint from impactapologetics.com. Then practice presenting 15 minutes of it from any section of the presentation you want. (More details will come if you are accepted to CIA.).

What happens after completing CIA?

We would like you to present I Don't Have Enough Faith to Be an Atheist wherever you can—your church, youth groups, middle and high schools and anywhere else people will hear you. We are also looking for seasoned apologists that CrossExamined may call on to present I Don't Have Enough Faith to Be an Atheist on college campuses. CIA will help us identify potential candidates, but attending CIA does not guarantee you will be offered such a role. If after attending CIA you are interested in such a role, you may submit your name for consideration.

When is the next CIA training program?

The next CIA training program will be August 5-7, 2010. Details will be announced in our ministry email. To be notified, join our mailing list.

How do I apply?

Apply online using the CIA Application form.

How much is tuition?

Tuition for the three-day program is $695. Students or alumni of Southern Evangelical Seminary (our host) may attend for $495. Graduates of previous CIA classes may attend for $350. This fee includes course notebook, lunches each day, dinner one night, and the non-refundable application fee of $25. See application above for details and the possibility of financial aid.

What about transportation and lodging?

Transportation and lodging are your responsibility. For lodging options near SES see their lodging page. Another option a bit further away (about 20 miles) but cheaper, is the Heritage Grand Hotel in Fort Mill, SC. Call the hotel directly at 1-800-542-0278 for rates.

Once the final class has been selected, we will send out an e-mail to everyone to allow students to coordinate sharing accommodations.

Questions?

If you have any questions, please drop us an e-mail at . I hope to see you at our next CIA training program!!

In His Service,
Dr. Frank Turek