A Retrospective on the Past, a Vision for the Future
The Areopagus was founded in 2003 by Dr. Jefrey
Breshears as a Christian education teaching ministry. For
several years Dr. Breshears had taught seminars on Christian
history, apologetics, and cultural issues in various Atlanta-area
churches, and the Areopagus was established with the intention of
creating a Christian study center that would function as a community
of scholars, students, and spiritual seekers as well as an
apologetics-based networking center for the metro-Atlanta area. Dr.
Breshears chose the name “The Areopagus” for its
significance in the ministry of the apostle Paul as he propagated
the gospel among learned Greeks in the city of Athens (ref. Acts
17:19) and because of its historical connotation as an intersection
of Christian faith and secular culture. In 2004 the Areopagus was
incorporated as a 501(c)(3) non-profit Christian ministry, and since
that time we have sponsored nearly 140 seminars, forums, workshops,
and other events that have served nearly 5,000 attendees.
Jefrey
Breshears
Prior to founding The Areopagus, Dr. Breshears taught U.S.
history, the American political system, medieval European history,
and ancient history, philosophy and religion at Georgia State
University and Kennesaw State University. In the last few years
before he left GSU to concentrate on the Areopagus, Dr. Breshears
often met informally with students in a local tavern near campus for
focused discussions on history, philosophy, politics, social and
cultural issues, and the Christian faith. As a result of these
sessions he began to sense the need for a Christian education
ministry that would integrate cultural studies with a biblical
worldview such as the philosopher Francis Schaeffer had pioneered
with his L'Abri Christian study centers.
It was also during this time that Dr. Breshears and his wife,
Dollie, were hosting the Tolstoy Society, a monthly book club that
focused on spirituality literature. Following one of these sessions,
Jack Baggett suggested that they rent a vacant
storefront in a local shopping center and begin showing and
discussing Teaching Company DVD lectures on history, philosophy,
religion, and other topics. Over the next few days Dr. Breshears
ruminated on the idea and was inspired to propose something more
comprehensive: a Christian study center in the metro-Atlanta area
that would sponsor forums with notable Christian scholars and
thinkers along with offering advanced-level seminars in Christian
history, apologetics, and spirituality.
The vision for the Areopagus germinated over the next couple of
years as Dr. Breshears researched the idea to determine if there was
an existing model for an urban study center that could be adapted
for the Atlanta area or a network of study centers that the
Areopagus might join. His research revealed that most Christian
“study centers” were actually just ministries of particular
churches, and virtually all were located on the church campus. This
not only compromised the concept of a Christian study center as an
interdenominational ministry but also limited its appeal in terms of
attracting spiritual seekers and non-Christians. Furthermore, the
classes that many of these study centers offered were typically
little more than Bible studies or topical discussion groups. Dr.
Breshears envisioned a seminary-level curriculum that would
challenge and inspire Christians to broaden and deepen their
understanding of the Christian faith through a systematic offering
of courses in church history, apologetics, comparative religions,
Christian spirituality, and literature and the arts – and
supplemented by forums and workshops with outstanding Christian
scholars, thinkers, and artists. Eventually, he concluded that the
Areopagus should be a totally unique ministry with a dual emphasis
on Christian apologetics and spirituality, and that its mission and
methods should to be innovative and Spirit-led rather than imitative
and formulaic.
David
Ott
Along with Dr. Breshears, the founding members of the Areopagus
board of directors included David Ott,
Billy Ray Burkett, and Rev. Spencer
Haygood. The first Areopagus-sponsored event was a 12-week
seminar early in 2003 on the topic, “Alternative Universes: A Survey
of Basic Worldviews,” at Cumberland Community Church in Smyrna. This
was followed by similar seminars on “The Historical Quest for the
Real Jesus,” “A Seminar in Christian History,” “Beyond the Bible: A
Survey of Early Christian Literature,” “C. S. Lewis's Mere
Christianity,” and “Original Intent: Restoring a Proper
Relationship Between Church and State” – all taught by Dr.
Breshears. Many of those involved in these early courses were drawn
from an apologetics ministry at Cumberland Community Church that had
been founded by Christian philosopher Dr. William Lane Craig during
his tenure at the church, but over time these Areopagus seminars
began to attract serious students and a loyal core group of
supporters from throughout the metro- Atlanta area, many of whom
have been involved in the Areopagus ever since.
Beginning in 2003 the Areopagus developed an extensive and
substantive curriculum of seminary-level courses in Christian
history, apologetics, and spirituality. Many of these courses are
taught by Dr. Breshears, but others have featured a number of guest
instructors including pastors and professors from local seminaries
and universities. (Please see pages 6-9 for a complete listing of
seminars, forums, and workshops.) The core curriculum is the
Areopagus Christian Studies Institute (ACSI), a
trilogy of courses that includes:
- Seminar in Christian History: A
two-year (four-semester) study of the major people, events, and
themes in Christian history from Jesus through the Reformation
era.
- Frontline Apologetics: A two-year
(four-semester) study of the biblical, rational, and factual bases
of the Christian faith that equips Christians to understand their
faith and communicate the unique truth-claims of the Christian
faith more effectively in the midst of our increasingly
pluralistic and skeptical culture.
- The Inner Journey: An Introduction to Christian
Spirituality: A two-year (four-semester) study that
focuses on the great classic literature in Christian spirituality
and the cultivation of traditional spiritual disciplines.
In September of 2003 the Areopagus sponsored the first
Areopagus Forum at Mt. Bethel United Methodist
Church featuring Christian philosopher Dr. Paul Copan on
the topic, “Defending the Christian Faith: Responding to Challenges
from Skeptics.” Since then, the Areopagus has sponsored more than a
dozen Forums including:
- “The Great Resurrection Debate,” a DVD presentation featuring
Dr. William Lane Craig and Bishop John Shelby Spong;
- “Intelligent Design: A Scientific Challenge
to Neo-Darwinian Evolution?” by NASA engineer and author, Dr. Mark
Whorton;
- “Who Were Adam and Eve? The Question of Human Origins” by Dr.
Fazale Rana, a biochemist with the science-based Christian
apologetics ministry, Reasons To Believe;
- “Christianity in Eastern Europe Under Communism,” by Romanian
scholar and apologist, Dr. Alexandru Neagoe;
- “Upon These Rocks: The Current State of Biblical Archaeology,”
by Dr. Ed Bez, archaeologist and president of the Legacy Museum;
- Obsession: Radical Islam's War Against the West, a
film presentation and panel discussion with a local Muslim imam
and Dr. Sasan Tavasoli, one of the world's foremost scholars of
Islam;
Sasan
Tavasoli
- “Why Atlanta Needs an Active Apologetics Community,” by Ranald
Macaulay, a son-in-law of Francis Schaeffer and the director of
Heritage House, a Christian apologetics ministry in Cambridge,
England;
- “Current Controversies in Science and Christian Faith,” with
Christian apologist and author Dr. Paul Copan;
- Expelled: No Intelligence Allowed, a review and
critique of the controversial Ben Stein documentary on Intelligent
Design and academic freedom featuring a panel discussion with Dave
Richardson of Faculty Forum at Georgia Tech, Dr. Richard Howe,
professor of philosophy at Southern Evangelical Seminary, and
Bruce Phillips of the Areopagus; and
- “The Renovare Conference on Spiritual Renewal,” an Areopagus
co-sponsored conference with Richard Foster, president of Renovare
and the author of Celebration of Discipline, and Dr.
Dallas Willard, a professor of philosophy at the University of
Southern California and the author of The Divine Conspiracy:
Rediscovering Our Hidden Life in God.
In the fall of 2008 the Areopagus will sponsor two forums: a
conference on “Contemporary Issues in Biblical Archaeology” with Dr.
Ed Bez of the Legacy Center in Suwanee, Georgia, and Dr. James
Fleming of the Explorations in Antiquity Center in LaGrange,
Georgia; and a forum with Ravi Zacharias International Ministries on
“Understanding Islam,” featuring three of the world's foremost
Christian scholars in Islamic studies, Dr. Josh Lingel, Dr. Sasan
Tavasoli, and Dr. Jay Smith.
Beginning in 2004 the Areopagus began hosting a
monthly God In the Arts (GITA) session exploring
theological themes in movies and popular music. Since then, we have
offered reviews and critiques of thought-provoking films such as
The Mission, About Schmidt, The Life of
Brian, Luther, Crimes and Misdemeanors,
Munich, and Babette's Feast – among others. GITA
presentations have also included several music reviews, including
two by Dr. Breshears: “The Jesus Movement Off the Record,” an
historical retrospective on the Jesus movement of 1968-76 based on
the popular “Jesus music” of the period, and “The Gospel According
to Dylan,” an analysis of spiritual and biblical themes in the music
of Bob Dylan. In addition, the Areopagus has hosted annual
SongSharing Sessions at Thanksgiving and in December with “The Best
The (and Worst) Christmas Music Ever!” (For a complete listing of
GITA presentations please see pages 6-9.)
In the summer of 2006 the Areopagus inaugurated another monthly
presentation, The Areopagus Book Review Forum
(ABRF), which provides reviews and critiques of significant books
that informed Christians should know. Most ABRFs include a
PowerPoint presentation along with an interactive discussion of the
book, and among the featured selections have been Stephen Barr's
Modern Physics and Ancient Faith, Bart Ehrman's
Misquoting Jesus, Hugh Ross' Creation as Science,
Alister McGrath's The Twilight of Atheism, Ronald Sider's
Rich Christians In an Age of Hunger, Francis Collins'
The Language of God, Juan Williams' Enough: The Phony
Leaders and Culture of Failure That Are Undermining Black
America, Dinesh D'Souza's What's So Great About
Christianity? and Antony Flew's There Is a God: How the
World's Most Notorious Atheist Changed His Mind. In addition to
these and other notable books in history, theology, apologetics,
science, and culture, the Areopagus also featured author Wayne
Federman in May 2007 for a discussion of his biography of the life
and spiritual odyssey of basketball superstar Pete Maravich. (For a
complete listing of ABRFs please see pages 6-9.)
The Areopagus House
The ministry of the Areopagus extends beyond the seminars,
forums, and workshops that we sponsor. In November 2005 we moved
into a beautiful lake-front office at 3095 Johnson Ferry Rd. in
Marietta that was donated by Lynn and Fred Hanna, and the “Areopagus
house” has served ever since as the venue for our board meetings and
contemplative prayer workshops as well as a meeting place for Sunday
evening worship services for CentrePointe Christian Community. In
April 2006 Dr. Breshears led an Areopagus-sponsored Christian
History of Israel, and in May he lectured in Romania at the
Areopagus Christian Study Center in Timisoara (no affiliation with
our Areopagus) and at the Baptist Seminary in Bucharest, the largest
of only three evangelical seminaries in the country. As a result of
these contacts, the Areopagus now sponsors the Areopagus Scholarship
in Christian Apologetics to educate and train students at the
Baptist Seminary to defend the integrity and truthfulness of the
Christian faith in a nation where Christians have suffered so much
repression throughout the 20th century.
The continued expansion of the Areopagus has been made possible
by an exceptionally gifted board of directors that has provided
guidance and support for the ministry from the outset. In 2005
attorney Mike McKeithen joined the board, and the
following year he helped oversee a
reorganization of the ministry that has been vital in terms of our
ongoing development. Bruce Phillips also joined the
board in 2006, and the following year Bob
Christensen came on board as our website manager and IT
specialist. In addition, the Areopagus added three more directors
early in 2008: Cathy Stebbins, Jim
Motter, and Richie Willard.
Mike
McKeithen
Bruce
Phillips
Bob
Christensen
Cathy
Stebbins
Jim
Motter
Richie
Willard
The Areopagus schedule for 2008 features a full slate of seminars
and forums as we continue to expand the scope of our ministry into
more churches and other venues and help equip more Christians for
effective ministry. Over the past five years the Areopagus has built
an impressive seminarylevel curriculum in Christian education,
brought together a talented and gifted staff, and established a
reputation for for providing first-rate seminars, forums, and
workshops on issues of vital concern to Christians who want to
broaden their understanding of the Christian faith and deepen their
commitment to Jesus Christ.
Looking ahead, the time has come to establish a permanent
Christian study center in the metro-Atlanta area that will serve as
an interdenominational community and networking center for Christian
apologetics, spirituality, and the arts. In order to accomplish
this, as well as to sustain our current level of ministry and
continue to broaden our outreach, we need to solidify our funding
base, which requires the financial support and involvement of
individuals, churches, and charitable foundations that share our
vision for ministry. In the midst of a society that has lost its
moral bearings and is being irreparably corrupted by the insidious
forces of secularism, compulsive materialism, and mindless hedonism,
the ministry of the Areopagus is all the more essential in terms of
equipping Christians to engage our culture intelligently and
effectively with the transforming truth of the gospel of Jesus
Christ.