ABOUT

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OUR STORY

When Andy Steiger and his wife, Nancy, founded Apologetics Canada in 2010, they were motivated to stop the exodus of young people leaving the church. God however had much more in store. This generation of young people both Christians and non-Christians alike have questions and are seeking truth.  The challenge in Western culture is communicating the message of Jesus in a way that people can understand and appreciate. Sharing the gospel requires us all to understand and speak the language of culture and address the questions being asked with intellectual honesty, gentleness and respect. When we do this in the love and winsomeness of Christ Jesus, lives are impacted and culture is changed.

OUR TEAM

Andy Steiger

PRESIDENT
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Andy is the founder and president of Apologetics Canada, dedicated to helping Christian communities grow in their faith and share their hope.

Dr. Andy Steiger is the founder and president of Apologetics Canada. He is the author of Reclaimed: How Jesus Restores Our Humanity in a Dehumanized World released in 2020, which was awarded runner up to evangelistic resource of the year. Currently, Andy is working on a new video series, Branded: A Series on Identity, that addresses our personal, communal, and spiritual identity. Preceding this, he created The Human Project video series. In 2018, The Human Project debuted at film festivals around the world and won a number of awards including Best Short Film and People's Choice. Andy also created and hosted The Thinking Series and is the author of Thinking? Answering Life’s Five Biggest Questions.

Andy speaks on gospel questions internationally at universities, conferences, churches, prisons, and coffee shops. Between his 20 years of experience as a pastor and his completion of a PhD at the University of Aberdeen in Scotland, Andy brings both experience and research to his work.

He currently lives in Abbotsford, British Columbia with his wife, Nancy, and their two boys.

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Steve Kim

ALBERTA DIRECTOR
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Steve is a follower of Christ with a heart for apologetics which he views as the "intellectual care of the soul." He serves from the Edmonton area.

In his early 20s, Steve experienced a faith crisis due to intellectual undernourishment. Through this experience, he has come to see apologetics as the “intellectual care of the soul” and now feels a personal burden to walk with others who may be struggling with doubt and/or seeking sincerely. Steve holds a diploma in Worship Arts and a BA in Biblical Studies from Columbia Bible College in Abbotsford, BC. He has completed a master’s degree in Christian Apologetics through Biola University in La Mirada, CA.

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Troy Lydiate

CREATIVE DIRECTOR
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Troy is a recording artist and public speaker. He joins Apologetics Canada as the Creative Director and Podcast Host.

Troy Lydiate is a Jamaican-born recording artist, speaker, and mentor who currently lives in the Greater Vancouver area of Canada. Troy has a BA in Social Sciences from Providence University and a professional background in Youth Support Work. This has prepared him well for his current ministry with Apologetics Canada—working with youth, college students and young adults as the Creative Director who oversees Youth Engagement. He can also be heard weekly as one of the hosts of the AC Podcast. Troy also brings valuable past experience of speaking at conferences, concerts, and schools, as well as preaching or teaching at ministerial events.

Under the moniker of Scribe Music, he has released 3 studio albums and a variety of songs, which he uses as a bridge to minister the gospel. His music production has been recognized with awards and nominations for several GMA (Covenant Awards), as well as numerous blog features and placements on Canadian Christian radio. This has led to a variety of concerts and speaking engagements, with a wide range of focus about the music industry, artist
accountability, and identity issues.

When not creating and performing music, Troy also greatly enjoys the game of soccer. In earlier years, he had the privilege of taking part in a Madrid summer academy and university play in
both Canada and the United States.
Adopted as a toddler by Pastors Bob and Gwen Lydiate, Troy’s early years were spent on the prairies of Canada in Regina, Saskatchewan. His experience in Western Canada included a lot of his ministry happening within the Indigenous community.

He is a husband to Jasmine and a
father of two young children. Troy is committed to serving and building the local church; he serves as part of his church leadership and on the worship team. He seeks to live a lifestyle of influencing cultural and global transformation, rooted in love and releasing hope, while loving God and loving people.

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Wesley Huff

CENTRAL CANADA DIRECTOR
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As a New Testament PhD student, Wesley is the unofficial resident historian of the AC team. He comes with extensive public speaking experience.

Wesley Huff was born in Multan, Pakistan and spent a portion of his childhood in the Middle East. After being diagnosed with a rare neurological condition at the age of eleven that left him paralyzed from the waist down Wes experienced a miraculous recovery that the doctors themselves said they had no medical explanation for. This experience, along with a great deal of study and soul searching in his later teens solidified his interest in the subjects of faith and engaging the beliefs and worldview perspectives of others. He spent his high school years in the Northern Ontarian town of Elliot Lake, and currently lives in Toronto, Canada with his wife, Melissa, their son Eli and daughter Everly.

He holds a BA in sociology from York University, a Masters of Theological Studies from Tyndale University, and is currently doing a PhD in New Testament and Christian origins at the University of Toronto’s Wycliffe College. For five years Wes worked as a writer, researcher, and speaker for Power to Change - Students (formerly Campus Crusade in Canada) and has made online contributions to Apologetics Canada, Power to Change - Students, The Gospel Coalition Canada, and the Apologetics Academy Webinar. Along with being involved in the collective with Talk About Doubts, he has been a curriculum contributor with Trans World Radio and written multiple entries (including those on Rastafarianism, Canadian Druze Society, and Kathok Conpa Buddhism) in the Melton’s Encyclopedia of American Religions (Ninth Edition, Vol 2: Canada).

Wesley is currently the Director of Central Canada for Apologetics Canada and has participated in numerous talks and interfaith dialogue events at universities and colleges across North America. He has been participating in public dialogues on issues of faith, belief, and religion for the last ten years.

He enjoys canoeing, archery, and cats (although not all three at the same time).

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Nancy Steiger

OFFICE MANAGER

As Andy Steiger’s wife, Nancy has been with Apologetics Canada right from the start. Together they make a great team. She holds the team together with her gift in administration.

Andy is the dreamer and visionary Nancy is the administrator and together they make a great team. Nancy is also the mother of two amazing boys, Tristan and William. While this takes up much of her time she is excited to be actively involved in the ministry of Apologetics Canada. She has a B.A. from Northwest Baptist Theological College.

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ADJUNCT SPEAKERS

Apologetics Canada partners with a group of speakers from various places to serve you. To invite them to your event, please click the button below to fill out the speaker request form.

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Andy Bannister, PhD

DIRECTOR
Solas Centre for Public Christianity

Andy is the Director of the Solas Centre for Public Christianity and is an experienced international speaker. He has authored many books and other resources.

Andy holds a PhD in Islamic studies and has taught extensively at universities across Canada, the USA, the UK and further afield on both Islam and philosophy. He is also an Adjunct Research Fellow at the Arthur Jeffery Centre for the Study of Islam at Melbourne School of Theology and is also Adjunct Faculty at Wycliffe College, University of Toronto.

He is also a co-presenter of Pod of the Gaps, a popular podcast that combines theology, culture and humour, and aims to help Christians explore the challenges (and opportunities!) of living in the 21st century.

When not travelling, speaking, or writing, Andy is a keen hiker, mountain climber and photographer. He is married to Astrid and they have two children, Caitriona and Christopher.

Andy on AC Podcast: Baptists, Beards and Burqas: An Interview with Andy Bannister 

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Paul Chamberlain, PhD

PROFESSOR
Trinity Western University

Dr. Paul Chamberlain is a professor of ethics, philosophy of religion, leadership and Christian Apologetics at TWU. He is an effective communicator both in and out of the classroom. His humorous, down-to-earth manner appeals to a wide variety of people. Drawing from the media and using a professional power point presentation, his seminars are both interesting and relevant. Dr. Chamberlain has appeared on numerous radio and television talk shows, debated on university campuses, and is a frequent guest speaker at public functions. He is the author of five books: Can We be Good Without God, Final Wishes, How To Talk About Good and Bad Without Getting Ugly: A Guide to Moral Persuasion, Why People Don’t Believe: Confronting Seven Challenges to Christian Faith, and Why People Stop Believing, as well as a number of articles addressing current social and moral issues. He is also the coeditor of Everyday Apologetics. He enjoys outdoor activities such as riding motorcycle, swimming, camping, and doing most anything outside with his family.

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Kiri Erb

CO-LEADER
Soul Edge Ministries

Having been Co-Leader of Soul Edge Ministries (Canada) for over a decade, Kiri has had the privilege of investing into hundreds of young Christian leaders, equipping them for resilient church leadership. With a multidisciplinary approach to apologetics, she is passionate about the clarity, beauty and relevance of the Gospel message gaining traction in human hearts-not in spite of, but in relation to the lived human experience. Her upcoming novel: Love, War and the Mess In Between carries this same heartbeat, nestled in historical fiction. She is currently completing her MA Systematic and Philosophical Theology at the University of Nottingham.

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Logan Gates

CHRISTIAN APOLOGIST

Logan is a PhD student in Political Theory at the University of Toronto. His research and teaching is in the history of Western political thought, from Plato to Nietzsche, with a focus on the legacy of Christianity in shaping modern political ideas, such as human rights.

Logan has a heart for people to encounter God for themselves by exploring tough questions about the Christian faith. He has spoken at universities and churches in North and South America on topics such as "Is God against our freedom?," "Why would a loving God judge me?," and "Is Christianity exclusive?"

Logan holds a BA from the University of Virginia, an MTh from the University of Oxford, and is a graduate of OCCA The Oxford Centre for Christian Apologetics.

He speaks English, Spanish and French, and lives in Kitchener, ON with his lovely wife Samantha, where he likes to drink tea and go running—rain, shine, or snow!

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Daniel Gilman

SPEAKER, SCHOLAR

Daniel Gilman is the Director of the Centre for Public Speaking, an advisor to Members of Parliament on human rights projects, and also speaks in diverse settings on questions of justice, exploitation, identity, and human value as part of Apologetics Canada. The bulk of Daniel's time given to his forthcoming PhD at Cambridge University, exploring how the gospel-centred Member of Parliament, William Wilberforce, used the art of public speaking to combat the slave trade.
 
Daniel is married to his best friend Alexandra and they together with their four month old baby Miriam currently live in Cambridge, England.
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Ewan Goligher, MD, PhD

CRITICAL CARE PHYSICIAN
ASSISTANT PROF. OF MEDICINE

Ewan Goligher is a physician-scientist practicing intensive care medicine. He writes and speaks on faith, science, suffering, ethics, and conscience.

Ewan is Assistant Professor of Medicine at the University of Toronto. He earned his MD at the University of British Columbia and a PhD in Physiology at the University of Toronto. He trained in internal medicine and critical care medicine.

His research program studies lung function and respiratory muscle function in patients with acute respiratory failure, and he is heavily involved in clinical trials testing new treatments for respiratory failure. He is author or co-author of more than 100 peer-reviewed publications and book chapters. His research has been published in a leading scientific journals in medicine and in his subspecialty of intensive care medicine.

He is involved in efforts to advocate against the practice of euthanasia (also known as medical aid-in-dying) and for the protection of conscience in healthcare. He writes and speaks on these issues for both academic and lay audiences.

When not writing, analyzing data, or looking after patients, Ewan is likely to be found sailing on Georgian Bay, Ontario. He and his wife Rachel have four children and one dog and live in Toronto. He attends Christ Church Toronto.

Ewan on AC Literary Expedition: Doctor-Assisted Suicide & Canada's Crisis of Conscience

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Mike Hiscock

CHRISTIAN APOLOGIST

Mike is a retired pilot. Ever since he's had a taste of it, he has come to appreciate the value and the role of apologetics in Christian discipleship and faith formation.

Mike came to faith through the apologetics ministry of Lee Strobel. He now has a passion to bring apologetics to the larger Church because he has seen firsthand how it changes lives. Mike is a former Royal Canadian Air Force pilot, holds a BSc  from the Royal Military College of Canada, and holds a master’s degree in Christian Apologetics from Columbia Evangelical Seminary. Mike lives in Victoria, BC with his wife Shirley.

Mike on AC Podcast: Interview with Mike Hiscock

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Max Jeganathan

Priyan "Max" Jeganathan

DIRECTOR
Thinking Faith

Max is an international speaker who is passionate about helping people make sense of current issues and life’s big questions through the lens of the Christian message.

Max has spoken around the world in banks, businesses, universities and political institutions, including Facebook, Google, Goldman Sachs and Credit Suisse. He has also addressed advisors in Singapore’s Economic Development Board and Canada’s National Parliament. He regularly responds to invitations to speak at churches and conferences.

Born in Sri Lanka, Max’s family moved to Australia as refugees in the mid 1980s. He has worked as a lawyer and a political & policy adviser in the Australian National Parliament.

Max was educated at the Australian National University and the University of Oxford, and he is currently undertaking a PhD in Law. His research interests relate to the relationships between faith, politics, public policy, economics, and moral reasoning.

Max lives in Singapore with his wife, Fiona, and their two young children. He loves movies, watching basketball with friends and playing with his kids.

Max on AC Podcast: Why Bother with God if I'm Happy?: An Interview with Max Jeganathan

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Garth Jestley

AUTHOR
More Than Your Business Card

Garth Jestley earned his MBA from Richard Ivey School of Business in London, ON and a BSc from University of British Columbia and holds the Chartered Financial Analyst designation. In 2013, he attended the Business Programme at the Oxford Centre for Christian Apologetics. He came to faith in God in his mid-thirties as the result of a dramatic encounter with the person of Jesus.

Over the course of his business career, he has held many senior leadership positions in investment management, venture capital, corporate banking, international project financing, private debt placement, and investment banking. 

After serving as Vice President Project Financing at Bank of Montreal and Vice President of Citibank responsible for Corporate Banking in Eastern Canada, he joined Middlefield Group in 1985. Based in Toronto with offices in Calgary, AB and London, England, Middlefield provides investment services to individual and institutional investors across Canada and internationally. For many years, he served as CEO of the group’s core investment management business. 

After stepping back from his full-time duties at Middlefield in 2012, Garth assumed the role of Executive Director of LeaderImpact for several years. The mission of LeaderImpact is to help marketplace leaders across Canada and around the world explore the relevance of faith in God in their professional and personal lives. This involvement was a catalyst for his book, More Than Your Business Card: A Wake-up Call for Leaders Desiring to Follow Jesus in the Marketplace.

Garth is currently Vice Chairman of Middlefield Group and Special Advisor to the senior management team. He also serves on the national board of directors of Teen Challenge Canada based in London, ON and the board of Catch The Fire Church in Toronto.  Previously, he served as Vice Chairman of Crossroads Christian Communications in Burlington, ON.  

Garth and his wife Mary are involved in various church leadership roles, including ministering and speaking in Canada and around the world. They place a high priority on family and, in particular, enjoy spending time with their children and grandchildren. 

Garth on AC Podcast: More than Your Business Card: Interview with Garth Jestley

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Rachel Mackenzie

TEACHER
AUTHOR

Rachel is an elementary school teacher and Instructional Coach who co-authors children's books with Andy Steiger, and helps produce children's resources for AC.

Rachel is currently completing her Masters of Education, focused on Christian Education and Instructional Coaching. She works as an Instructional Coach where she mentors her teaching colleagues and provides Professional Development workshops for teaching staff. Her work focuses on supporting teachers and parents in learning how to integrate a Biblical perspective into the conversations they are having with their students. She has spoken to both teachers and parents with practical ideas of how to raise children to develop habits of thinking that allow them to engage in apologetics from a young age.

She is the co-author of The Human Project for Kids books, What Am I? and What Am I Worth? and co-hosts topical podcast episodes with Troy Lydiate and some of her students with the goal of sparking conversations amongst families and encouraging children to think through their big questions about God, themselves and relationships with others.

Rachel lives in Surrey, BC and enjoys exploring the mountains whenever possible.

Rachel on THPK Podcast: The Human Project for Kids Podcast

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Jon Morrison

Jon Morrison

AUTHOR, SPEAKER

Jon Morrison has spent his life as an educator and entrepreneur. Jon is passionate about helping people and organizations achieve clarity in life and business.

Jon is the Lead Consultant at Get Clear, a consulting agency located just outside of Vancouver, B.C.
Get Clear Consulting uses the StoryBrand framework to create outstanding marketing collateral for your business.

Get Clear uses the StoryBrand framework to help business leaders all over the world increase their income and impact with clear messaging. A business with a clear message is more effective at reaching their ideal clients.

Jon is the author of Now Start With Who, Life Hacks, and Clear Minds & Dirty Feet. He has 10 years of pastoral ministry experience in the Greater Vancouver area.

Jon now lives with his wife and three daughters in Abbotsford, BC.

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Alanzo Paul

CHRISTIAN APOLOGIST

Alanzo is an international speaker with extensive public speaking experiences. He is passionate about making sense of life through the message of the gospel of Jesus Christ.

Born and raised in Calgary, AB, Alanzo Julian Paul became a Christian in 2009 after wrestling with drug addiction (opiates) for over a decade.

Before full-time ministry Alanzo worked in the Oil & Gas sector. He held a corporate position for several years before entering the e-commerce world. In what was Alanzo’s first private sector venture as an entrepreneur, he and his wife founded a men’s grooming brand. Concurrently, Alanzo has always been particularly passionate about engaging with student’s questions about God. For over a decade he has spoken to crowds of youth around the world and mentored many over the years.

When Alanzo entered into full-time apologetics ministry in Oxford, he focused on speaking about the big questions of life like the existence of God, meaning, suffering/evil, and much more. Over the years he has spoken at prison, churches, universities, and schools all over Canada, the United Kingdom, and continental Europe.

Alanzo has a deep love of the arts. From childhood he has had a love for poetry. After his conversion to Christianity, he wrote a book of poetry called “An Ethereal Walk with God”. Alanzo is likewise passionate about cinema. He has done background acting in nearly a dozen films/T.V. shows and can be found on both Netflix and Apple T.V. (iTunes).

Alanzo has a degree in theology (BTh.) from the University of Oxford and is currently working on his MA in theology at the University of Toronto. He now lives in British Columbia with his wife Khadija.

Alanzo on AC Podcast: When Grace is Sufficient: A Conversation with Alanzo Paul

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Raphael Samuel, MD

ANESTHESIOLOGIST
CHRISTIAN APOLOGIST

Raphael Samuel is a Christian speaker, apologist and anesthesiologist. Born in Durban, South Africa, he obtained his medical degree and a Master’s degree in Medicine there. He further obtained Fellowships in Anesthesiology from the Colleges of Medicine of South Africa and the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada. He is currently completing his Master’s degree in Christian Apologetics at Talbot School of Theology, Biola University, Southern California.

Raphael on AC Podcast: When Medicine Meets Metaphysics: An Interview with Raphael Samuel, M.D.

Having lived, worked and ministered in three different countries on three respective continents, he testifies to the transformative power of, and universal need for the Gospel of Jesus. By presenting evidence for the moral, logical, historical, and scientific coherence of the Christian worldview, he aims to help the fellow believer to love the Lord God with all his mind (Mk 12:30), as well as address barriers to belief faced by the skeptic.

Raphael lives in Hamilton, Canada with his wife, Reshmi, and two sons.

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FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

Apologetics comes from the Greek word apologia, meaning to give an answer or reason, specifically for Christian truth claims. The Apostle Peter exhorts all Christians to be prepared to give answers and reasons for the hope we have in Christ and to do so with gentleness and respect (1 Peter 3:15). In other words, apologetics is about Christians understanding what they believe and why, and knowing how to communicate those beliefs effectively. We believe apologetics is a key task of discipleship and for the health and growth of the church. Apologetics is not a new trend but a Christian tradition. It has been a critical task of Christians for millennia and is as important today as ever before.

For answers to frequently asked questions about apologetics, click here.

Apologetics Canada Ministries (ACM) is a registered Canadian charity (#79927 1143 RR0001). Andy Steiger is the founder and president, and the organization is overseen by a board of directors.

View our statement of faith & practice here.

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