Educate For Life With Kevin Conover

Have you ever wished you could introduce a friend or relative to the basic concepts of Christianity in a welcoming environment that’s less intimidating than a church service?  The Alpha program was created to provide just such an opportunity.  In this episode, Kevin talks to Dana Kloo and Chris Gaudi, two people who have seen countless lives (including their own) benefit from the program. So many people are unbelievers not because they have thoughtfully rejected the gospel, but because they never understood it to begin with.  Inviting people to church is a great way to introduce them to the faith, but some may not be comfortable accepting the invitation, whether due to bad past experiences or a general aversion to church.  That’s where Alpha comes in. Alpha is an engaging, low-pressure Bible study program that is geared towards people who are totally new to faith.  It is totally free and open to anyone who wants to know more about Christianity, from open-minded spiritual see

If all Christians share a biblically-based worldview, how can they disagree so strongly on every major political issue?  Kevin discusses this question with his guest Dran Reese, founder of the Salt and Light Council.  Being a faithful Christian may not require that you belong to a certain political party, but it should lead you to vote in a way consistent with Christian values.  Sadly, many Christians are unable to do so because they don’t even have a good idea of what a biblical worldview is!  Because of this, the church is failing to fulfill its duty as the salt of the earth.  We are losing our unique flavor as the people of God and assimilating into a bland, worldly culture that’s turning further and further away from Him. That is why Dran Reese created the Salt and Light Council, a ministry that trains Christians all across the country to apply a biblical worldview to culture and politics.  The Salt and Light Council provides programming tha

What do a conservative Christian Republican and a religiously-unaffiliated Democrat have in common when it comes to divisive political issues?  More than you might think.  This week Kevin talks with Steve Fink, who for the past 15 years has been a “None”—someone who answers “none” to the survey question “what is your religious affiliation?”.  Steve is certainly not alone in America, where Nones have been on the rise for quite some time. According to the Pew Research Center, Nones were the single category in religious affiliation surveys with the most growth between 2007 and 2014, going from 12.1% to 15.8% (+3.7).  In the same period, those identifying as any type of Christian decreased from 78.4% to 70.6% (-7.8). Steve grew up in a conservative Christian home, and even worked as a youth pastor for a time as a young man.  He then spent years living abroad in Mexico and Japan, and as he met more and more good people of different faiths, he ceased to identify with Christia

Knowing what you believe is a good start, but having good reasons why you believe it is the real challenge.  A great way to give your faith the acid test is to converse with a knowledgable person from an opposing worldview.  This week Kevin facilitates just such a dialogue between Christian apologist Jay Seegert (author of Creation & Evolution: Compatible or In Conflict?), and returning guest Sean Taylor (of the Humanist Fellowship of San Diego). Throughout the episode Jay explains different reasons why he believes in God, and Sean offers his own counter-perspective.  The two discuss many fascinating questions of faith and reason, such as: does evidence speak for itself, or do our presuppositions determine our beliefs?  Could using DNA as evidence for God be just as misguided as when ancient people used thunder and lightning?  Must a rational person withhold judgment on the God question, or is the

Are the stories of the Bible history, or mythology?  The science of archaeology can help to provide the answer.  This week Kevin speaks with Dr. Scott Stripling (a returning guest) and Dr. Bryant Wood, archeologists with the Associates for Biblical Research (ABR).  They discuss some exciting new archeological finds, including the signet ring of King Hezekiah (the same Hezekiah who had a 533-meter-long tunnel constructed under Jerusalem). The three of them also discuss a compelling new documentary that Dr. Wood was involved in: Patterns of Evidence: Exodus.  This film, created by Tim Mahoney, explores the evidence for Israel’s arrival, prosperity, enslavement, and exodus from Egypt as described in the Bible.  Although there is abundant archaeological data supporting the biblical account, secular historians write it off as appearing far to early to match up with the rest of ancient history.  But could it be that the archaeological establishment has erred in its&

How does a lifelong Muslim named Muhammad, who comes from a Muslim family and lives in a Muslim country, wind up in prison for preaching Christianity?  In this episode Kevin’s guest, Pastor Daniel Massieh (author of the autobiographical work Traitor), provides the answer. Before changing his name, Daniel grew up as Muhammad in the predominately Muslim country of Egypt.  He had a single Christian friend, but in 12 years this friend never once shared the gospel with him or invited him to church.  Daniel consequently had no idea what Christians believed, and assumed that the primary faith of the USA was accurately represented in Hollywood movies.  Curious to witness the zoo that he imagined a Christian worship service to be, Daniel invited himself to his friend’s church.  When he didn’t see any guns, hard drinks or bikini-clad women, he decided to investigate further and find out what the Christians were really up to behind closed doors.  As p

A recent change to New York City’s anti-discrimination laws has added fines of up to $250,000 as a penalty for one particular offense.  This fine isn’t incurred by discriminating based on age, sex, race, religion, or even sexual orientation; it is for failing to treat someone according to their self-determined gender (regardless of their biological sex). This week Kevin discusses the growing issue of transgenderism and transsexualism.  In the legislation, the New York City Commission on Human Rights states that a person’s gender is about what they feel, not what biology or the law says.1  This relativistic way of thinking is a sign of our culture’s descent into solipsism: the idea that reality is defined by the feelings of the individual, regardless of the facts.  Though God told us long ago that He created humans male and female (Genesis 1:27-28), mankind begs to differ.  But once you remove God from authority, where does solipsistic reasoning lead? &nbs

The Syrian Civil War has created an overwhelming refugee crisis, displacing millions upon millions of people from their homes.  Men, women and children have been forced to leave their jobs, schools, and possessions behind — just to stay alive.  Though a large number of refugees have been accepted into neighboring countries, the majority still face severe hardship and lack basic necessities.  Elsewhere in the Middle East and Africa, civilians are being forced to leave their homes due to the threat of ISIS and other radical Islamic groups.  As the hands and feet of Jesus Christ, what should Christians be doing to reach out to this enormous population of people in need? A situation as devastating and large in scale as the current refugee crisis can seem utterly hopeless—what can any one person possibly do to address a need so great?  But in this episode, Kevin talks with someone who has resolved to do her part non

It’s not easy to keep a marriage healthy and vibrant for the long term, as anyone who has tried it can attest.  There are so many things that can come between two spouses, like careers, overbooked schedules, family obligations… and pornography.  Porn is a multi-billion dollar industry (more profitable than all the major league sports in the US), and it affects countless individuals, couples and families.  There is a lot of misinformation about pornography: that it can be consumed without a negative impact, that it is not a real addiction, and that it does not harm marriages (and can even help them).  But in reality, porn usage by either partner in a marriage causes them to find sexual fulfillment somewhere other than their spouse, and this has grave consequences.  It drives a wedge between the two people, dissolving intimacy, communication, and trust.  Often this damage is never undone: porn is a major factor in over half of

America knows that freedom doesn’t come cheap.  There is always a high price to pay for liberty — and those who serve in the military bear the brunt of the expense.  Putting your life on the line for your country takes a heavy toll physically, psychologically, and spiritually.  That is why, in addition to the many other services provided for military personnel, our government funds a chaplain corps to meet their spiritual needs.  Military chaplains help service men and women to live out their constitutional right to the free exercise of religion, even while deployed. This week Kevin talks with Bob and John Freiberg, a father and son who both serve as Navy chaplains.  Bob and John explain the duties of a chaplain, and why they provide a service that other types of counselors simply cannot.  As a military corps, chaplains are deployed with soldiers wherever they go.  They understand firsthand what servicemen go through, unlike professional counsel

Islam is utterly opposed to Christianity at its core, denying the message of Jesus’ deity, his death for our sins, and his resurrection to give us new life.  Yet across the world, Muslims are converting to Christianity in record numbers.  How is it that people who have been taught from a young age to reject the gospel wind up being transformed by it? In this episode Kevin talks to a formerly Muslim, now Christian woman who goes by the name Tach (to protect her privacy, some of her personal information will not be disclosed).  Tach is a motivational speaker and television program director who brings the good news of Jesus Christ to women around the world.  She was raised by a Muslim family in a Soviet-ruled country, at a time when the government had made the practice of religion illegal.  Tach’s mother (her only family member who was serious about their religion) instilled a spiritual awareness in her from a young age, and she began to searc

From God’s first acknowledgement that it is not good for man to be alone, the Bible affirms the importance of marriage through and through.  If Christians look to God’s word to understand His plan for marriage, they will be able to experience the true joy of having a God-honoring relationship with their spouse.  This week Kevin’s guest is Hobby Howard, who has been on staff with Family Life for 20 years.  Hobby is a ministry representative for Family Life’s Weekend to Remember marriage conference.  Weekend to Remember can equip any couple, whether their marriage is going strong or falling apart, with knowledge and tools to strengthen their bond.  It has brought many struggling couples back from the brink of divorce, and in some remarkable cases (as Hobby explains) even brought already divorced couples back into a strong marriage bond! What is so special about this conference?  Even though marriage is the cornerstone of society, we spend little time throughout

In the previous episode Kevin talked with Dr. Gary Cass about the doctrine of the lesser magistrate, and how it is the duty of lesser authorities to stand up to higher authorities when they become tyrannical.  This principle applies to all kinds of bodies, including families, businesses, churches, and nations.  Those who hold power do not have absolute and unquestionable authority, but are constantly kept in check by the ones who gave it to them. This time Kevin and Gary continue the conversation by looking at other relevant principles of government, exploring how our understanding of federal authority has been corrupted, and discussing how we can respond proactively to the alarming trend of the Supreme Court vastly overstepping its authority.  They talk about the Supremacy Clause, which states that federal law is the supreme law of the land if the federal government is acting within its legitimate powers.  They also discuss the actions bei

You’ve probably heard of Kim Davis, a Kentucky county clerk who made national news when she was sent to jail for a unique crime.  Davis was the first notable case of a person facing criminal charges for refusing to issue same-sex marriage licenses.  Davis argues that it is not herself but the Federal Government who has violated the law, by infringing upon her religious freedom.  Her case revives a question that Americans have faced since before we were even an independent nation: when does it become appropriate (and necessary) for citizens to disobey their government? Kevin’s guest this week is Dr. Gary Cass, founder of the Christian Anti-Defamation Commission.  Dr. Cass has ministered behind the Iron Curtain of the Soviet Union, acted as the Director of the Center for Reclaiming America for Christ, appeared on various national television networks, and written multiple books (including Gag Order).  In 2004 he was awarded the Salt and L

Can a biologically male transgender student be denied access to facilities intended only for girls? Can a public high school football coach pray on the field after games?  Can a Christian photographer or baker decline to provide services for a homosexual wedding?  Questions like these now arise with increasing frequency, and underlying all of them is the issue of separation of church and state. This week Kevin talks with Frank Kacer, an expert on the relationship between politics and religion.  Frank is a pastor and elder at Grace Bible Church in Escondido, a long-time Christian activist, the author of over 150 columns and op-eds on Biblical politics, and also a trained physicist!  He is the founder of the Christian Statesman Internship Program, which he designed to transform believers into biblically based, politically conscious leaders of society. Kevin and Frank talk in depth about the ubiquitous concept of separation of church and state.  If these two bodi

In this episode, Kevin talks with Ananthapadmanabhan  Kandhadai (who goes by Ananth) and Johnny John, two friends who have a lot in common. Both were born and raised in India, both have lived in San Diego for over 20 years, and both work as engineers for Qualcomm. But there is one notable difference between them: Ananth was born into the ~80% of India’s Hindu population, and he is a practicing Hindu. Johnny, however, was born into the ~2% of India’s Christian population, and he is a practicing Christian. As they grew up in differing worldviews, Ananth and Johnny gained distinct perspectives on life, religion, salvation, and God. They discuss (not debate) their philosophies on these and other topics, in addition to explaining some key components of Hindu beliefs and culture (such as reincarnation, cow reverence and vegetarianism). This episode provides an excellent firsthand perspective on the differences between Hinduism and Christianity, not only in terms of specific belief

This week Kevin talks with Jerry Huson of 7 Day Hero, an organization that takes American Christians to overseas mission fields.  Jerry has found many ways to occupy himself throughout his life, from coaching high school and college sports, to earning a PhD, to driving floats at Disneyland.  But there is one pursuit he will never be able to give up: ministering to the needy in far-off places.  Jerry has been to over 40 countries, and has seen countless transformed lives among both the impoverished people in need of aid, and the volunteers who come along to help them. Jerry’s organization, 7 Day Hero, is all about teaching people how to be a hero seven days a week.  What is a hero?  Someone who gives himself away, helping those who can’t help themselves, without expecting anything in return.  This is something that can (and should) be done around the world, but it can also be done in one’s own neighborhood, street, and household.  Those who go on Jerry’s trips experience what

Would you choose to follow Jesus even if it meant being rejected by your culture, disowned by your family, and cut off from all financial support?  Kevin’s guest this week, Onesmus Ngoboka, had to make that choice—when he was only 14 years old.  In this episode Onesmus shares his incredible testimony, and discusses what his ministry is doing to spread the gospel to the fringes of society in Uganda. Onesmus was technically brought up in the church, but in his village even churchgoers looked to the local witch doctor rather than God to solve their problems.  At age 12 he had a troubling dream in which God showed him that despite his nominal Christian faith, he was headed for hell.  Onesmus realized that he needed a personal relationship with Jesus, something his church had never emphasized.  He decided to obey the call of God, but soon this choice cost him everything he had, including his family.  With no one else to rely on, he fully placed his trust in Go

If you are familiar with the New Testament or church history, you know that Christians have been persecuted for their faith in many times and places.  Starting with the murder of Stephen soon after the resurrection, countless followers of Jesus have been tortured and killed for spreading the gospel and refusing to give up their faith.  But did you know that there are more Christians facing harsh persecution right now than at any other point in history?  This week Kevin’s guest is Todd Nettleton, the Director of Media and Public Relations for Voice of the Martyrs.  This organization exists to raise awareness and provide aid for persecuted Christians around the world. Voice of the Martyrs was founded by Romanian Pastor Richard Wurmbrand in 1967, after he was finally released from a 14-year stay in a communist prison.  What crime did he commit to deserve such a sentence?  He refused to surrender control of his church’s teachings to the communist government, and said that his first l

Kevin recently moderated a debate between Jeff Archer (president of the Atheist Coalition of San Diego) and Dr. Andy McIntosh that focused on the question: Can an atheistic worldview make sense of reality?  In the previous episode he talked to Jeff Archer about why he thinks the answer is yes; this time he talks to Dr. Andy McIntosh about why it is most definitely a “no.” Eric Hovind of Creation Today is also present to weigh in on some of the issues. Kevin, Andy, and Eric discuss why it is impossible for the universe as we know it to exist without God.  They respond to a variety of arguments that atheists commonly use, including (but not limited to): life could increase in complexity without breaking down because the earth is an open system with energy coming in; the existence of intelligence doesn’t require God, because humans are just a complex AI; crystals are an example of a natural increase of complexity apart from intelligence; and lastly, creationists aren’t real sci