In 1 Peter 3:15 we read that Christians should “sanctify Christ as Lord in your hearts, always being ready to make a defense to everyone who asks you to give an account for the hope that is in you, but with gentleness and respect.”

That word “defense” is the Greek word “apologia” from which we get our terms “apology” and “apologetics.”

In one sense, giving an “apology” to someone is offering a defense of certain behavior or words.

But the term “apologetics” is a more formal and broader term referring to the kind of defense the Apostle Peter was talking about to the first-century believers. He wasn’t telling them to apologize for their faith in the sense of saying “I’m sorry.” He was urging them to be prepared to give a rational, gentle and respectful defense of their faith at all times in both behavior and words to unbelievers.

There are many skeptics who doubt the existence of God, the truth of the Bible or the redemptive work of Jesus Christ. For them, life is an accident with no real purpose or meaning.

So, when we talk about “Christian Apologetics,” we’re referring to the field of study which equips believers to give a defense, or a logical reason, for their faith. It is obedience to the command to always be ready to defend the truth of the gospel and Christianity in a culture of increasing and aggressive atheism.

Christian Apologetics covers areas of science, history, philosophy, and other studies to equip the believer to defend his or her faith. We believe that every Christian should be able to give a reasonable defense of his or her faith in Christ. Not every Christian has to be an expert in apologetics. Every Christian, though, should know what he believes, why he believes it, how to share it with others, and how to defend it against lies and attacks.

Having said that, we believe the Church has been losing ground in this regard with believers of all ages, but especially among our young people. We believe the atheistic and agnostic aggressiveness of our culture is causing many to leave the Church subsequently, their faith. And while many may leave for moral reasons, we wish that none would leave for lack of an answer in defense of the truth.

This is why, through generous donors who love the Lord, the Church, and Apologetics, we are offering scholarships to qualified students who wish to pursue a graduate level certificate or degree program in Apologetics.

 At this time, we have partnerships with Southern Evangelical Seminary through the Frank Turek Scholarship (www.ses.edu) and
Palm Beach Atlantic University (www.pba.edu)  but other institutions may also qualify.

Both SES and PBA have applications for our scholarship on their website. 

 A qualified scholarship recipient will be someone who is not only pursuing a formal program of study but is also planning to use his or her education in a productive way in the local church or some related ministry on the front lines of the battle in which we find ourselves.

 If you have any questions, send us an email at apologetics@gatewaychurch.net. 

Both SES and PBA have applications for our scholarship on their website, and you can also find it here:

If downloading and printing, please submit this application to:
The Christian Apologetics Scholarship Committee
422 B Street
St. Albans, WV 25177

Please be aware that you cannot save this form and come back to complete it. If applying online, please allow the necessary time to complete the application & submit it.