Alex McFarland is an American public speaker, author, educator, and advocate for Christian apologetics. He currently serves as Director of the Christian Worldview Center at North Greenville University in Greenville, South Carolina and as organizer of the Truth for a New Generation Conferences. He also co-hosts the radio program "Exploring the Word" that airs on American Family Radio.

McFarland was President of the Southern Evangelical Seminary from 2006 - 2011. He is director of the Center for Christian Worldview and Apologetics at North Greenville University.[1]

McFarland is a speaker for evangelical Christian audiences.[2][3][4][1]

Childhood and education

Alex McFarland was born and raised in North Carolina where he attended the University of North Carolina at Greensboro. He later completed a master's degree from Liberty University in Lynchburg, Virginia in Christian Thought and Apologetics.[5] In 2017 he returned as the university's Convocation speaker.[5]

He lives in North Carolina with his wife.

Career

McFarland's 2000 Tour of Truth saw him preach the Gospel in all 50 states in 50 days.[6][7] Hawaii was the first stop in a 17,000-mile tour during which McFarland preached in one church in each of the fifty states.[6][8] McFarland and his wife traveled in an RV accompanied by three college students working as interns, and a married couple who did the driving.[9] In Easley, South Carolina on day 32, a lightning strike fried the computer modem, and a German Shepherd bit McFarland's arm outside a Chase, Maryland church.[10][11] He wrote his first book, 50 States in 50 Days: The "Tour of Truth" Story, and How 9 People Made the Journey of a Lifetime Across America.

McFarland later served at James Dobson's Focus on the Family as Director of Teen Apologetics based on Colorado Springs, Colorado. In 2006, he accepted the position as third president of Southern Evangelical Seminary in Charlotte, North Carolina where he served for nearly five years.

Since 2011, McFarland has served as Director of the Christian Worldview Center at North Greenville University in Greenville, South Carolina. In addition, he co-hosts a radio program called "Exploring the Word" on American Family Radio.[12]

McFarland created the Truth for a New Generation apologetics conferences. He argues that the United States, especially on university campuses, has become hostile to Christian believers.[13] In his 2017 book 2017 Abandoned Faith: Why Millennials Are Walking Away and How You Can Lead Them Home, McFarland and his co-author Jason Jimenez argue millennials drift away due to "the breakdown of the family," in America.[14][15][16]

Bibliography

  • Abandoned Faith: Why Millennials Are Walking Away and How You Can Lead Them Homewith Jason Jimenez (Focus on the Family, 2017) ISBN 978-1589978829[17][18]
  • 10 Issues That Divide Christians
  • 10 Answers for Atheists: How to Have an Intelligent Discussion About the Existence of God
  • 10 Answers for Skeptics
  • 10 Questions about Prayer Every Christian Must Answer: Thoughtful Responses about our Communication with God
  • 10 Questions Every Christian Must Answer: Thoughtful Responses to Strengthen Your Faith (with Elmer Towns)
  • 50 States In 50 Days: The "Tour of Truth" Story, and How 9 People Made the Journey of a Lifetime Across America
  • Stand Strong: In College
  • STAND: Core Truths You Must Know for an Unshakable Faith
  • Stand: Seeking the Way of God: A Discovery of Genesis 37-47
  • Stand: Diving into God's Words: A Discovery of Psalm 119
  • The 10 Most Common Objections to Christianity
  • The 21 Toughest Questions Your Kids Will Ask about Christianity: & How to Answer Them Confidently
  • The Assault on America
  • 100 Bible Questions and Answers

References

  1. 1 2 Robinson, Terry (October 5, 2018). "Faith Matters: Truth for youth". The Advocate. Retrieved May 30, 2019.
  2. ↑ Moffatt, Margaret (April 23, 2000). ""Tour of Truth": Soul-saving out of an RV the Rev. Alex McFarland, A Greensboro-Based Evangelist, Believes His Upcoming Nationwide Crusade Will Either Make His Ministry - Or Break It". News & Record.
  3. ↑ Gryboski, Michael (February 24, 2015). "Alex McFarland's Apologetics Tour 'Stand Strong' Aims to Equip Young Christians With Biblical Wisdom to Defend Their Faith in Secular Culture". The Christian Post. Retrieved May 30, 2019.
  4. ↑ Strand, Paul (April 17, 2019). "The Jesus Evidence that Turns Atheists into Followers of Christ". CBN. Retrieved May 30, 2019.
  5. 1 2 Gryboski, Michael (October 30, 2017). "Alex McFarland to Liberty U. Students: 4 Important Christian Life Lessons". The Christian Post. Retrieved May 30, 2019.
  6. 1 2 "Preacher Wraps Up Hi 'Tour of Truth'". Chicago Tribune. July 14, 2000.
  7. ↑ Martin, Kathy (June 8, 2000). "Tour of Truth to Visit 50 States". The Commercial Appeal.
  8. ↑ "Evangelist to bring 'truth tour' to isles". Honolulu Star-Bulletin. May 13, 2000.
  9. ↑ Callison, Jill (June 5, 2000). "N.C. clergyman takes crusade across country". Argus Leader.
  10. ↑ "Evangelist Ends Whirlwind Tour". Ottawa Citizen. July 15, 2015.
  11. ↑ Moffatt, Margaret (July 9, 2000). "Evangelist Returns from Tour; The Rev. Alex McFarland Finishes the 50-States-Iin-50-Days Tour of Truth with a Sermon at Pleasant Garden Baptist Church". News-Record.
  12. ↑ Hamilton, Deborah (April 7, 2015). "Diverse Christian Leaders Make 'Heart-Cry for Revival'". Charisma News. Retrieved May 30, 2019.
  13. ↑ Lifezette Staff (November 26, 2018). "Censorship of Faithful Students at Our Colleges Must End". LifeZette. Retrieved May 30, 2019.
  14. ↑ Blair, Leinardo (September 20, 2018). "Parent Failure to Transmit Faith to Kids Helping Fuel Growth of Religious 'Nones,' Study Suggests". The Christian Post. Retrieved May 30, 2019.
  15. ↑ Showalter, Brandon (March 8, 2017). "Millennials Abandoning Christianity Because of Family Breakdown, Author Says". The Christian Post. Retrieved May 30, 2019.
  16. ↑ "Katy Perry Has Christian Parents Thinking: Here's How to Help Kids Keep Their Faith". CBN News. April 21, 2017. Retrieved May 30, 2019.
  17. ↑ "Millennials abandoning Christianity because of family breakdown, author claims". Fox News Channel. July 5, 2017. Retrieved May 30, 2019.
  18. ↑ FaithZette Staff (April 25, 2017). "Faith and Millennials: Bringing Them Back into the Fold". LifeZette. Retrieved May 30, 2019.
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