History of the European Apologetics Network

In January 2001, Dr. Greg Pritchard, the Director of Communication Institute (CI) asked the General Secretary of the Evangelical Alliance, Gordon Showell-Rodgers, “Why isn’t there a European Network which is focused on training Apologists?” Gordon responded, “That’s a great idea, why don’t you do it?” The entire EAN history to date is a response to this question.

Greg initiated the first meeting in May 2001 of the European Apologetic leaders listed below, which then established the EAN. The EAN Steering Committee in turn asked Greg to remain in the Coordinator role. Because many of the EAN participants could not afford the EAN conference fee, scholarship money was raised by Communication Institute to support individuals’ participation in the first EAN conference.

Who are the leaders of the European Apologetic Network (EAN)?

The individuals who participated in the original strategic planning session and became the Steering Committee of the EAN, are some of the central leaders of Apologetic ministries from across Europe:

Richard Cunningham (Executive Director of the Christian Persuaders),
Lars Dahl (Academic Dean and Acting Rector of Gimlekollen School of
Journalism and Communication in Norway)
Stefan Gustavsson (Director of Credo Academy and Chairman of the
Evangelical Alliance in Sweden).
Dr. Greg Pritchard (Executive Director of Communication Institute)
Michael Ramsden (European Director of Ravi Zacharias Ministries),
Wim Rietkirk (International Chairman of Trusteees of L’Abri Fellowship),
Dr. Peter Saunders (Director of Christian Medical Fellowship, an association
of 5000 Christian Medical doctors and students)

Network Conference

This EAN leadership team concluded that the best way to initiate this network was to individually select and invite spiritually mature apologists (or apologists in training) and bring them together at the first European Apologetic Network (EAN) conference. Each participant invited was known by one of Steering Committee members or by someone the Steering Committee knows and trusts. The purpose of this was to ensure that participants were spiritually mature, gifted in apologetics, and had similar vision and passions.

In May 2002, the first European Apologetic Network was held in Budapest, Hungary with 115 Apologists from over 20 countries attending. Countries represented included: Ireland, United Kingdom, Denmark, Norway, Sweden, Germany, France, Belgium, Holland, Portugal, Italy, Switzerland, Austria, Bulgaria, Hungary, Croatia, Czech Republic, Slovakia, Poland, Ukraine and Russia. These individuals included:
Presidents and Professors from evangelical seminaries and colleges
Professors from leading secular universities
Pastors who have major apologetic ministries
Leaders of Para-church organizations
Leading European Evangelists and Apologists
Missionaries working in apologetic ministries
Key Student leaders from campus ministries
Leaders of regional and national apologetic centers

Some of the top apologists in the world spoke at the conference and helped lead the participants, including:
Dr. William Lane Craig - Current President of Evangelical Philosophical Association and one of the world’s leading Christian Apologists,
Dr. David Cook - Oxford University Professor and outstanding debater at Oxford University and on the BBC and other media,
Dr. Elaine Storkey - former Director of London Institute for Contemporary Christianity and former theological advisor to the Archbishop of Canterbury,
Stuart McAlister - International Director of Ravi Zacharias Ministries and former General Secretary of the European Evangelical Alliance.
In addition, all the members of the EAN steering committee also gave presentations.

What was the Impact of EAN’s First Conference?

The overwhelming response from conference participants was a great sense of encouragement and excitement for the future. One participant who is a medical doctor, and is often interviewed in British national media, wrote at the close of the conference.
“I am really thrilled by this conference. It has been like a dream come true.
For 30 years I have had a desire for an initiative like this with wide and lasting implications. This has the potential to be a great and important
work. Thank you for making it possible.” Dr. Peter May, U.K.

A major difficulty facing Apologists in Europe is that many feel isolated and alone. They have been faithful for years, and sometimes decades. To be with like-minded brothers and sisters for four to five days of fellowship and fresh teaching was a great encouragement. One University teacher in the Czech Republic explained the value of this fellowship in an appreciative comment after the Conference.
“I teach at a college in the Czech Republic and I get into all sorts of apologetic conversations with students both inside and outside of the classroom. One thing that I struggle with is the sense of isolation I have as an apologist. The Czech Republic is very poor in apologetic resources and support. This conference was of great encouragement to me. I leave here (Budapest) feeling both challenged and deeply affirmed by the like-minded brothers and sisters.”
Yours in Christ,
Dr. Ted Turnau

Participants also were inspired from hearing how God is moving across Europe. For example, Dr. Peter Saunders, the Executive Director of Christian Medical Fellowship, explained that over the last 10 years he has focused a significant portion of his time training medical students in apologetics. He described the effect of this training on Speakers Corner in London where hundreds of individuals are gathered each Sunday afternoon to interact with various public speakers. For years, Muslims have dominated this gathering. Over the last few years, 40 medical doctors and medical students, who have gone through the Christian Medical Fellowship apologetic training, are going out each Sunday afternoon to stand up and explain why Christianity is true. The Muslims are now on the defensive. Older Muslims pull away young Muslims and don’t allow them to listen to these persuasive young Christian doctors.

God is raising up new Apostle Pauls to speak with power and conviction why Christianity is true and how God has changed their lives. It is difficult to describe just how encouraging this was for the struggling and lonely apologists from across Europe. This is a large part of the purpose and vision of the EAN, to create an environment where the Spirit of God can use the gifts of one member to teach and encourage others across borders and languages.

At every meal individuals were able to get together with top scholars and apologists who have wrestled for years with difficult questions. Individuals were crowded around Bill Craig, Elaine Storkey, David Cook, Wim Rietkirk and other senior Christian leaders. Specialty meetings over meals focused on particularly difficult apologetic questions and profiled solid groups that the Lord has been using in powerful ways.

What was the result of these many lectures, conversations and relationships? The participants and leaders of EAN’s first conference were overwhelmed that the Lord was moving in such a powerful way. For example, Ranald Macaulay, founder of English L’Abri, wrote in an email soon after the event:
“I think it was the most significant event I've been involved in - or even
heard about - during the past 2 decades. It was simply thrilling.”
Richard Cunningham, one of the leaders of the EAN, likewise wrote;
“I can’t tell you how important this initiative will be to the UK (my home) let alone the whole of continental and Eastern Europe. We have been stretched, nourished, and equipped for the task of reaching our needy continent. This is one of the most exciting things I have been part of in 15 years of full time Christian ministry. This could be (under the Lord) one of the most significant developments of the 1st half of the 21st century.”