Apologia Report
Reader Responses
I am the Africa/Europe Area Director for World Team, a church-planting agency based in Warrington, PA.
As soon as I first saw Apologia Report, I subscribed with enthusiasm. It has helped me greatly several times. Most recently, it alerted me to an important article in the Faith and Mission journal that is going to prove very helpful. I do not use all the material included in the Report but I file it preciously away for later use if needed. I am responsible for about 100 missionaries in Africa and Europe who are constantly coming up against tough issues. Items in the Report help give us perspective and direction. We obviously do not have access to a library that would allow us to find them ourselves. This way, after reading the Report, we can write our contacts in the States and have the articles sent to us.
Thank you VERY much and may God continue to bless you in this important work.
Kermit Horn
Paris, France
I consider both Apologia Report and AR-talk invaluable resources for my ministry. My own work is focused primarily on evangelistic outreach to the Mormon community, but also includes a response to other heretical and heterodox religious groups.
The value of Apologia seems to be the result in equal measure of two distinctive features of its unique ministry:
(1) It is based on an eminently sound idea: Christian apologists in the Information Age need an easily accessible and highly reliable resource that sifts through the mass of information constantly issuing forth from a vast array of sources.
(2) The superb skill and judgment with which Rich Poll annotates and manages this information. I consider his credibility in this field unmatched.
Rich Poll and Apologia are making a unique and very important contribution to the Christian community and its witness for Jesus Christ in the Information Age.
Luke Wilson, Executive Director
Institute for Religious Research
Phone: 616/451-4562 Fax: 616/451-8907
1340 Monroe Ave. N.W. E-mail: Luke@irr.org
Grand Rapids, MI 49505 Internet: http://www.irr.org
My present area of interest is the Unification Church. On November 29, 1997, Moon is planning on marrying 3.6 million couples. Unfortunately most of the people involved are coming from our Christian churches. Apologia Report was one of the very few to carry this story where it can do the most good in saving some of those lost sheep.
While there are many (although not near enough) ministries in our area of calling, we do not as of yet, have any network set up to keep us all abreast of what we need to know. Your report gives us much of that information while it is still new and important to us, rather than something we gather long after its too late. If any thing I would love to see Apologia Report doubled as there are so many things that need to be watched.
Most ministries like mine, have limited staff and time. Therefore we concentrate on what we are doing, or think is important and often do not become aware of more important problems. Your Report keeps us up to date on the news we need to know and is covered as part of our staff meeting. Please, if anything increase the much needed information.
Frederick H. Miller Th.M
Director, True Light Educational Ministry
Shirley, New York
I have subscribed to Apologia Report for only a few months, and I have already benefited in several areas. I have learned of the existence of several books which I have purchased to further my study in 3 areas: (1) the Evangelical-Catholic dialog and trends towards compromise, (2) issues regarding the Toronto Blessing counterfeit revival, and (3) information regarding Creation, which I have taught in adult classes in church and home Bible studies. I appreciate being able to get this information with little effort on my part. This gives me more time to study and prepare for teaching.
Art Cunningham
Mission Viejo, CA
I am a professor at a nursing college and have been involved in writing and speaking on alternative medicine. I have training in the sciences, theology, and medical ethics. I evaluate alternative medicine from all these angles.
The Apologia Report helps me to sift through the huge amounts of material which is being published in areas related to my ministry. I could never get through all the journals which might contain articles that would be relevant to my research, studies and writing.
The Report is like having my own research assistant, and frees me up to read the most relevant material and write about it in ways that I hope can impact people's lives and make a difference in the Kingdom.
Feel free to contact me for further details.
Dónal P. O'Mathúna, Ph.D.
Associate Professor of Medical Ethics & Chemistry
Mount Carmel College of Nursing
127 S. Davis Ave.
Columbus, Ohio 43222
614-234-5414 - office
614-234-2875 - fax
e-mail: donalo@compuserve.com
I work as the World Religions Specialist for International Students, Inc. I appreciate the Apologia Report because it has exposed me to resources on the world religions, such as articles, books, and Web sites, that I would never have been aware of without it. It has also made me aware of experts in the world religions and the new religions that I had not known about before. Also, some of the discussions that have taken place on AR-talk have increased my knowledge of the issues in a particular teaching or religious group. I am in the process of setting up a resource newsletter for the ISI staff, and Apologia has expanded my file of resources more than anything else. Apologia and AR-talk have become integral parts of my ministry.
Dean C. Halverson
Colorado Springs, CO
I find Apologia Report to be a useful adjunct to our own information collecting. Although we get a lot of articles from many different sources, I find that each of your issues has at least four or five entries that I have not seen. What adds to their utility is your summaries of the material. Keep up the good work!
Michael Langone, Ph.D., Editor, Cultic Studies Journal
Executive Director, American Family Foundation
(a secular cult-watching group)
I appreciate the Apologia Report for several reasons.
It keeps me up to date on issues in theology, religion, and ethics I might not otherwise have known.
Several times I have be alterted to materials that I have used either in class lectures or for my research.
Douglas Groothuis, Ph.D.
Assistant Professor of Philosophy of Religion and Ethics
Denver Seminary
Having reliable information is essential to this mission field. AR-talk and Apologia Report meet this need by providing an essential resource in keeping us up to date in an ever changing and complex field. There have been times when we received inquiries regarding groups with which we had no previous experience. A message to AR-talk quickly put us in touch with other ministries that had done research and produced materials on the group in question.
Rich Poll and Apologia are providing a much-needed, though often neglected, service to the body of Christ. TruthQuest Institute appreciates this service and encourages prayer and financial support in their behalf.
John W. Morehead
Executive Vice President
TruthQuest Institute
Loomis, California
e-mail: jwmorehead@juno.com
I benefit greatly from your AR-talk discussion group on the Internet. I am a layman and AR-talk gives me almost instant access to information and people I would not have without it. For the most part, I am in "listen only" mode. I simply read about the latest happenings and the current discussions. But this is tremendously beneficial, as I get directions on the latest about events like Promise Keepers, James White's work with Mormons, relevant news stories, etc. But a few times I do need to ask a question, and someone on AR-talk comes through with help. I believe that AR-talk is a tremendous asset in providing a Christian presence on the internet.
Philip W. Miller, Engineer pwmiller@motown.lmco.com
Lockheed Martin/GES, MS 137-123 voice: (609) 722-6979
199 Borton Landing Rd, PO Box 1027 fax: (609) 273-5185
Moorestown, NJ 08057-0927
Thanks for the AR-talk discussion list; I receive much valuable information from it. I know it's extra work for you, but it's been valuable for me.
Harry McFarland
Fairbanks, Alaska
I find AR very informative and helpful. Keep up the good work and THANKS!
Pastor Jack Oliver
Louisville, Kentucky
Thanks for sharing this service with the larger Christian community!
Derrah Jackson, Regional Team Leader for Training
International Students,Inc. (ISI) -- Dallas, Texas
I spent some time on your web site, learning a bit about "Apologia Report" .... (My compliments, by the way to--your wife, if I remember rightly--for the excellent design of your site.)
From the information provided, it seems clear that your publication provides useful reports on research sources, in a calm and scholarly way, with brief comments appropriate to the evangelical orientation of the readers.
Jayadvaita Swami
Editor, BACK TO GODHEAD (a Hare Krishna magazine)
Alachua, FL