Born in Baltimore, Maryland in 1961, Mike became a Christian at the age of 10 and grew up in a Christian home. He attended Liberty University where he earned his Bachelor's Degree in Music Performance (Saxophone). During his undergraduate studies, he had a strong desire to know God, devoting himself to studying the Bible daily. He decided to learn Koine Greek in order to read the New Testament in its original language and later completed a Master's Degree in Religious Studies.
Toward the end of his graduate work in 1985, Mike began to question the veracity of his faith and wondered if there was any evidence to support it. He decided not to go into Christian ministry at that time. Finding answers to his questions consumed him and he almost jettisoned his faith. He investigated the evidence for Christianity and a number of other major world religions. He also considered the arguments for atheism. His investigation solidified his belief that God exists and that he has actually revealed himself to mankind in Jesus Christ and that the Christian view provides the most plausible and unified theory of reality.
In July of 1997, Mike formed TruthQuest Ministries in order to give an official name to his growing ministry and to allow future donors to make tax-deductible gifts. In October 2001, the ministry was renamed "RisenJesus" in order to avoid confusion with other ministries named "TruthQuest" and more closely reflect its vision of equipping 100,000 Christians to share their faith using the evidence for Jesus' resurrection.
Mike is the author of four (4) books: Paul Meets Muhammad (Baker, 2006) which is a debate on the resurrection of Jesus between the apostle Paul and the prophet Muhammad, the award winning The Case for the Resurrection of Jesus (Kregel, 2004) which is a comprehensive self-study course, Cross Examined, a legal novel defending the historicity of Jesus' resurrection, and Behold, I Stand at the Door and Knock which lays out in a concise manner what to say to Mormons and Jehovah's Witnesses when they knock on your door. He also contributed a chapter in Buried Hope or Risen Savior: The Search for the Jesus Tomb, Charles L. Quarles, ed. (2008), an entry in The Popular Encyclopedia of Apologetics, Ed Hindson and Ergun Caner, eds. and a chapter in The Big Argument: Twenty-Four Scholars Explore How Science, Archaelogy, and Philosophy Have Proven the Existence of God, John Ashton, Michael Westacott, eds. (Master Books, 2006). He is a featured scholar in Lee Strobel's new book The Case for the Real Jesus (Zondervan, 2007) and his DVD The Case for Christ (2007). Mike was also one of the authors selected for the Erasing Hate 2007 tour (www.erasinghate.com).
Mike has a Ph.D. in New Testament Studies at the University of Pretoria. He completed all requirements "with distinction" and the highest marks. Mike also has an M.A. in Religious Studies from Liberty University. He is a frequent speaker on university campuses, churches, Christian groups, retreats, frequently debates, and has appeared as a guest on numerous radio and television programs. He is a member of the Evangelical Philosophical Society, the Institute for Biblical Research, and the Society of Biblical Literature.
Follow Mike on Twitter: @DidJesusRise
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At a Glance
Speaking: Mike is a national speaker with a busy travel schedule. He has been a guest speaker on numorous university campuses, has appeared as guest on numerous secular and Christian radio talk shows including nationally syndicated The Bible Answer Man Hank Hanegraff, Janet Parshall’s America, Truths That Transform with Dr. D. James Kennedy, The Current, is asked to speak frequently for parachurch ministries such as Young Life, MOPS (Mothers Of Pre-Schoolers), FCA (Fellowship of Christian Athletes), and has been the keynote speaker for multiple church retreats. Mike was twice a guest on Lee Strobel’s program Faith Under Fire (PAX TV), and numerous times on D. James Kennedy’s Sunday morning program The Coral Ridge Hour.
Published: Author of Paul Meets Muhammad: A Christian-Muslim Debate on the Resurrection (Baker: 2006); Co-author of The Case for the Resurrection of Jesus, recipient of Christianity Today’s 2005 “Award of Merit” (ie, 2nd place “Book of the Year” in apologetics/evangelism); Contributed chapters in two other published books. Also a featured scholar in Lee Strobel's book The Case for the Real Jesus and DVD The Case for Christ.
Education: Ph.D. in New Testament Studies (University of Pretoria): April 2009, M.A. in Religious Studies (Liberty University): April, 2000.
Debating: Mike has debated the following in public forums: Shabir Ally, twice (leading Muslim apologist), Ali Ataie (Muslim apologist), Dan Barker (Founder of the Freedom from Religion Foundation), Richard Carrier (atheist), Bart Ehrman, twice (Distinguished Prof. of Religious Studies: UNC Chapel Hill), Elaine Pagels, twice (Distinguished Prof. of Religion: Princeton), Steve Yothment (President of the Atlanta Free-Thought Society).
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