Prior to founding The Aréopagus in 2003, I taught history, philosophy and religion for eighteen years at Georgia State University, Kennesaw State University, and Reformed Theological Seminary.

I attended Jacksonville State University on a baseball scholarship, and following my graduation in the early 1970s I worked for Capitol Records in Atlanta for two years before becoming the Southeastern regional representative for the companies that produced most of the “Jesus Music” of the ’70s. In the early ’80s I co-founded and edited Crossroads: An Atlanta Christian Forum, a monthly publication that focused on religious issues and events in the metro-Atlanta area, while also enrolling in the doctoral program at Georgia State University to prepare for a career as a history professor.

Following the completion of my doctoral studies I taught at Georgia State University, and later at Kennesaw State University and Reformed Theological Seminary. Over the years I taught courses in Church History; Ancient History, Philosophy & Religion; Medieval Europe; American History; and the American Political System. I also developed an original course, “American History Off the Record: How Popular Music Echoes American History in the 20th Century.”

Over the years I felt led into more direct areas of ministry, and in the early ’90s I pastored the Marietta Community Church, a nondenominational house church that later met for worship at MUST Ministries, a local homeless shelter. I left Georgia State in 2001, whereupon I founded The Aréopagus and began an itinerant teaching ministry in churches and other venues in the metro-Atlanta area, offering courses in bibliology, Christian history and apologetics.

Over the past ten years I have authored several books, including Introduction to Bibliology: What Every Christian Should Know About the Origins, Composition, Inspiration, Interpretation, Canonization, and Transmission of the Bible Through the Centuries; The Case for Christian Apologetics; Francis Schaeffer: A Retrospective on His Life & Legacy; C. S. Lewis on Politics, Government, and the Good Society; and American Crisis: Cultural Marxism and the Culture War — A Christian Response.

Among the many influences on my life and work over the years, foremost are the lives and testimonies of my parents, Edd and Lucille Breshears, and my wife, Dollie, who has been my faithful soul-mate. Other significant influences on my Christian life included the Jesus Movement of the early ’70s, the Berkeley Christian Coalition and Radix magazine, and the apologetical writings of C. S. Lewis and Francis Schaeffer. Later, The New Oxford Review provided some welcomed spiritual and intellectual stimulation, Mother Earth News helped retain some connection to sixties’ idealism, and The Wittenburg Door provided many hours of sober reflection and comic relief.

Among the books that most impacted my life were Gene Edwards’ The Early Church; Dietrich Bonhoeffer’s The Cost of Discipleship; C. S. Lewis’ Mere Christianity; William Estep’s The Reformers and Their Stepchildren; E.F. Schumacher’s Small Is Beautiful; Francis Schaeffer’s How Should We Then Live? Ron Sider’s Rich Christians In An Age of Hunger; Viktor Frankl’s Man’s Search for Meaning, and The Road Less Traveled by Scott Peck. Beginning in the 1990s I discovered the contemplative Christian tradition, which has served as a source of great spiritual nourishment and inspiration ever since. In more recent years I have particularly enjoyed revisiting the works of Francis Schaeffer and C. S. Lewis, along with books such as Chuck Colson and Nancy Pearcey’s How Now Shall We Live?, Nancy Pearcey’s Total Truth, Rod Dreher’s The Benedict Option, and Eric Metaxas’ Letter to the American Church — just to name a few.

I am very thankful for the opportunity to serve in the ministry of The Areopagus, for our Areopagus associates, and for all the wonderful Christians who have been involved in our ministry over the past 20 years.