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 9-11, 2012

Further details will be announced in our ministry email. To be notified, join our mailing list.

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 a portion of I Don't Have Enough Faith to Be an Atheist and answer questions from several instructors including Frank Turek, Greg Koukl, Richard Howe, and others.

This year you will also have the benefit of interacting with one of the founders of the Intelligent Design movement, Dr. William Dembski. Dr. Dembski is a scholar of international prominence. In fact, there is probably no one better in the world who identifies problems with atheism/Darwinism and provides positive evidence for an Intelligent Designer.

Since the CIA class is deliberately kept small, this will be a unique opportunity for you to be instructed personally by some of the world's best Christian apologists. Don't miss out. Apply now!

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. It is NOT necessary to have a degree in apologetics or philosophy, but you should have a good working knowledge of the material. It you have good presentation skills, that will help too (CIA will improve those as well).

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)
• William Dembski: Evidence for God (with Mike Licona); Intelligent Design Uncensored (with Jonathan Witt)
• Paul Copan: Is God a Moral Monster?
• 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 13 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 get invited—your church, youth groups, middle and high schools and anywhere else people will hear you. Bloom where you are planted! You will also become part of the CIA network of instructors that gives you exclusive access to our email forum where you can ask questions and exchange ideas about apologetics, Christianiity and related topics.

CrossExamined is not a speaker agency--we don't schedule speaking opportunites for you. However, we are looking for seasoned apologists that CrossExamined may call on to present I Don't Have Enough Faith to Be an Atheist on college campuses or other venues. CIA will help us identify potential candidates, but attending CIA does not guarantee you will be offered such opportunites. If after attending CIA you are interested in speaking when such opportunities arise, then you may submit your name for consideration.

When is the next CIA training program?

August 9-11, 2012 at Southern Evangelical Seminary near Charlotte, NC.
Details will be announced in our ministry email. To be notified on this and future CIA programs, join our mailing list.

How do I apply?

Click here to apply by June 25, 2012.

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 the 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 CIA@CrossExamined.org.. I hope to see you at our next CIA training program!

In His Service,
Dr. Frank Turek