We have an incredible lineup for 2024 with a combination of International and homegrown speakers.
2024 Keynote Presenters
Dr Melissa Cain Travis
Author and Fellow at Discovery Institute’s Center for Science & Culture
Melissa Cain Travis earned a Ph.D. in Humanities with a Philosophy concentration from Faulkner University, where her dissertation research focused on the natural philosophy and natural theology of Johannes Kepler. She earned a Master of Arts degree in Science and Religion from Biola University and a Bachelor of Science in general biology from Campbell University. She serves as a Fellow at Discovery Institute’s Center for Science and Cuture, and has taught university courses since 2014.
Melissa is the author of Thinking God’s Thoughts: Johannes Kepler and the Miracle of Cosmic Comprehensibility (2022), Science and the Mind of the Maker: What the Conversation Between Faith and Science Reveals About God (2018), and contributed a chapter to The Story of the Cosmos (2019).
Melissa Cain Travis will be presenting in
Rebekah Valerius
Author and Podcaster with Mama Bear Apologetics
Rebekah earned a BS in Biochemistry from the University of Texas at Arlington and an MA in Apologetics from Houston Christian University. Her academic interests include the works of G.K. Chesterton, philosophical and literary apologetics, and the philosophy of science. You can find her writing at The Christian Research Journal, An Unexpected Journal, Perennial Gen, and Worldview Bulletin. A favorite Bible passage for her is from the book of Job when God answers him out of the whirlwind: “Where were you when I laid the foundation of the earth … when the morning stars sang together and all the sons of God shouted for joy.” (Job 38: 4-7.)
She lives with her husband and two daughters in a suburb of Dallas, Texas. She teaches biology and chemistry at a university model, classical Christian school in the area.
Rebekah Valerius will be presenting in
Gregory Koukl
Greg founded Stand to Reason in 1993 and currently serves as President. He has spoken on more than 90 university campuses both in the U.S. and abroad and has hosted his own call-in radio show for over 30 years, advocating for “Christianity worth thinking about.” He has debated atheist Michael Shermer on national radio and Deepak Chopra on national television.
An award-winning writer and best-selling author, Greg has written seven books, including Street Smarts—Using Questions to Answer Christianity’s Toughest Challenges, The Story of Reality—How the World Began, How It Ends, and Everything Important that Happens in Between; Tactics—A Game Plan for Discussing Your Christian Convictions, and Relativism: Feet Firmly Planted in Mid-Air. Greg has been featured on Focus on the Family radio and has been interviewed for CBN and the BBC. He’s been quoted in Christianity Today, the U.S. News & World Report, and the L.A. Times.
Greg Koukl will be presenting in
Alisa Childers
Alisa Childers is the author of Another Gospel? A book in which she describes the years-long journey she took as she wrestled with questions that struck at the core of the Christian faith and found the truth. Her new book is called Live Your Truth, and Other Lies: Exposing Popular Deceptions that make us Anxious, Exhausted, and Self Obsessed, in which she examines modern lies that are disguised as truth in today’s culture.
She is a wife, mom, author, podcaster, blogger, and speaker. She was a member of the award-winning CCM recording group ZOEgirl. She is currently a respected speaker at apologetics and Christian worldview conferences, as well as the host of her popular YouTube channel. Alisa’s story was featured in the documentary, American Gospel: Christ Crucified. She has been published at the Gospel Coalition, Crosswalk, the Stream, For Every Mom, Decision Magazine, and the Christian Post. You can connect with Alisa online at alisachilders.com.
Alisa Childers will be presenting in
Mary Jo Sharp
A former atheist who came to faith, Mary Jo Sharp has experienced two worlds of American culture: the post-Christian culture of the Pacific Northwest and the evangelical culture of the Bible Belt. She first encountered apologetics in her own spiritual search while seeking answers. She is the founder and director of Confident Christianity Apologetics Ministry which is an educationally focused ministry that engages the hard questions of faith through research, writing, training, and conversation. She lives with her husband and family in Portland, Oregon. Connect with Mary Jo at maryjosharp.com
Mary Jo Sharp will be presenting in
Matthew Mittelberg
Director of Content and Speaker for Apologetics, Inc.
Matthew Mittelberg is the Director of Content and a Speaker for Apologetics, Inc. He is an experienced Christian teacher and apologist who has spoken to thousands at universities, churches, conferences, and youth events in both the US and the UK. He has led international missions teams in Europe and Asia. His talks have been seen online hundreds of thousands of times. Matthew is passionate about helping people break through their intellectual barriers to belief, understand that faith in God makes sense, and begin a real relationship with Jesus.
Matthew completed his MA in Philosophy of Religion at Palm Beach Atlantic University, received his BA from Grand Canyon University, and a certificate in theology from Wycliffe Hall at Oxford University.
Matthew Mittelberg will be presenting in
OUR HOME GROWN EXPERTS
Dr Jeff Tallon will be presenting in
Dr Jeff Tallon
Professor Jeff Tallon is known internationally for his research and discoveries in high-Tc superconductors (HTS), which are currently being developed for applications across all sectors—health, transport, energy, mining and minerals processing, telecommunications and information technology, as well as research. He was previously a Distinguished Scientist at Industrial Research Limited and concurrently Professor of Physics at Victoria University of Wellington. He is now concurrently an Emeritus Investigator at the MacDiarmid Institute for Advanced Materials and nanotechnology.
Brendan Malone will be presenting in
Brendan Malone
Brendan has been working full-time in pro-life, marriage, and family ministry for the last 14 years where he speaks at churches, universities, high schools, and conferences on bioethics and sexuality issues throughout New Zealand and Australia. During that time he has delivered over 500 presentations, and spoken to more than 30,000 people. He is one of the founders of ACTIV8 Pro-Life Training Week – an annual philosophy, apologetics, and media/social-media training event for young adults which has been running for 10 years in New Zealand and over 7 years in Australia. He is married to Katie and they have five children. Brendan also has a background in communications and media training, and he regularly connects with people in the online space via his YouTube channel which has approximately 20,000 subscribers.
Dr Sam Bloore will be presenting in
Dr Sam Bloore
Dr. Sam Bloore grew up, and still returns to holiday, in the Far North and has a deep appreciation for small town and city life. After graduating from medicine and bioethics at Otago University, he worked as a doctor for five years before a gradual career change saw him join the staff of his church and complete a Master of Arts in Pastoral Theology. Sam is passionate about the intersection of faith and culture, in particular how individuals establish and enhance a personal spirituality that is stable and sustainable.
He recently completed a Doctorate of Ministry through Fuller Theological Seminary—including papers that explore Sexuality and Ethics, Technology, the Visual Arts, and the Discipling of Emerging Adults. He is a teaching pastor at St. Paul’s Symonds Street and has joined the board of the Parenting Place. At Venn, Sam previously contributed to the Residential Fellowship and Resources, including Venn Presents and Common Ground.
Henare Whaanga will be presenting in
Henare Whaanga
With a heart for service and community impact, Henare strives to make a positive difference. As a loving father and frequent church speaker, he shares wisdom and insights to inspire and encourage.
Henare’s personal journey towards Christianity was influenced by his parents’ remarkable transformations. His father, an ex-mobster turned Christian evangelist, and his mother, a former Jehovah’s Witness, instilled in him a deep curiosity and desire to search for truth. However, his path was not without obstacles. As a teenager, he encountered numerous doubts and lingering questions that challenged his newfound Christian faith. Additionally, he faced formidable encounters with stern atheists, further shaking his convictions.
Grace MacKenzie will be presenting in
Grace McKenzie
Grace Mackenzie graduated in 2014 with a Bachelor of Arts in Developments Studies, International Relations and French from Victoria University in Wellington. These days she calls Wellington home. She relishes helping people discover the wonder of how God has uniquely wired them to be a gift to the world.
