Lent looks at the 40 days leading up to Easter. We think of Jesus spending 40 days fasting in the wilderness before he began his earthly ministry. The word ‘lent’ is the shortened form of the Old English word ‘lencten’ which means spring season. It starts on Ash Wednesday. The day before Ash Wednesday is Shrove Tuesday which is celebrated as Pancake day or Mardi Gras. On this day, the day before fasting begins, the rich, fatty food are eaten up - the last day of ‘fat eating’ or ‘gorging’, in readiness to start fasting. Pancakes are tossed then eaten. On Ash Wednesday, the first day of Lent, the palm crosses distributed the previous year at the Palm service, are burnt and the ashes places on people’s foreheads during the service. Lent is a penitential season and many people fast - they cut out/cut down or abstain from eating. It could also include abstaining from drinking alcohol or smoking. it could include praying more, reading more Bible studies instead of watching a favourite television programmes. (Read ‘Fasting and abstinence’) I have included list of other 40 days mentioned in the Bible. Source Wikipedia See also Pancake day & Shrove Tuesday Easter

Saint Agatha of Sicily (c.231-251 AD) is a Christine saint. She was born in Catania or Palermo in Sicily. According tot the 13th century Golden Legend by Jacbus de Voragine, Agatha, aged 15, from a rich and noble family made a vow of virginity. She rejected the amorous advances and persistent proposals of marriage to the Roman prefect Quintianus. This was during the persecutions of emperor Decius so he reported her to the authorities for being a Christian. In the first place, to force her to change her mind, He imprisoned her in a brothel but Agatha never lost her confidence in God. He tried again. On being rejected he had her imprisoned and tortured - this included cutting off her breasts with pincers. He then sentenced her to be burnt at the stake but an earthquake saved her from that fate. Although her martyrdom is authenticated there is no reliable information concerning her death. She may have died in prison aged just 20. She is buried at the Badia di Sant’Agata, Catania. Her patronage is wide -these are examples. She is the patron saint of breast cancer patients and earthquakes She is the patron saint of Catania, Malta, Molise, San Marino, Gallipoli and Zamarramala. The tradition of making shaped pastry on the feast of St Agatha-5th February, such as Agatha breads or buns Breasts of St. Agatha is found in many countries. Saint Agatha of Sicily is one of the most highly venerated virgin martyrs of Christian history. She is one of several martyrs who are commemorated in the Canon of the Mass.

According to Apocryphal tradition Saints Anna and Joachim were the parents of Mary, and therefore the grandparents of Jesus. Anna is the a version of the Hebrew name Hanna. Anna means grace. According to tradition Joachin went to the temple to pray but was not allowed in because he did not have a child. Anna heard, prayed and sacrificed. She promise God she would bring up a child in in God’s name. An angel came to them and were told they would be granted a baby. When the baby was born they named the child Mary Anna became the mother of the Blessed Virgin Mary. Source Saint Anne Facts for Kids

Saint Vincent of Saragossa, also known as Vincent martyr, Vincent of Hauesca or Vincent the Deacon was deacon of the church of Saragossa, Spain in the 3rd century (died c.302AD). Vincent spent most of his life in the city of Saragossa. He was educated and ordained to the diaconate by Bishop Valerius of Saragossa. Valerius had a speech impediment so Vincent acted his spokesman. When Roman Emperor Diocletian began persecuting Christians the two of them were brought before Dacian , the Roman Governor in Valencia. Both were confined to prison. He was offered release if he would burn the holy Scriptures -he refused. His outspoken manner so offended Dacian that he was tortured in various ways- stretched on the rack and his flesh torn with iron hooks- wounds rubbed with salt - burned alive on a red hot gridiron - cast into prison and laid on a floor of broken pottery - where he died. He preserved such peace and tranquility during these tortures that his jailer repented of his sins and was converted. His broken body was thrown into a sack and thrown in the sea but later recovered by Christians. His body was buried outside of the town. His veneration immediately spread throughout the church. (Read Legacy and Veneration) The aged Bishop Valerius was sent into exile. Sources The Church’s Year by Charles Alexander Wikipedia

Saint Oswald ( c.604-642)was king of Northumbria (634-642) until his death and is venerated as a saint. As a youth he was exiled to Iona, Columbia’s island, in the Scottish kingdom of Dal Riata in Northern Britain, where he was converted to Christianity. His brother Eanfrith became king of Bernicia but was killed by Cadwallon in 633/4 after attempting to negotiate peace. Oswald fought Cadwallon in the battle at Heavenfiels, near Hexham. He had a vision of Columba before the battle which he described to his council. They all agreed to be baptized and accept Christianity after the battle. Before the battle he erected a wooden cross. He knelt down, holding the cross in position until enough earth had been thrown to make it stand firm. He then prayed and asked his small army to join him. In the battle which followed Oswald was victorious. Cadwallon was killed. The tall, fair, blued eyed King Oswald reunited Norhthumbria and re-established the Berniccian supremacy. He established himself as the most powerful king in Britain. Adomnan describes Oswald as ‘ordained by God as Emperor of all Britain’. He was able to speak the 4 languages of Britain- Britons, Scots, Picts and English. He was on good terms with the West Saxons. He stood sponsor tot the baptism of king Cynegils and married his daughter Kyneburga. Oswald asked for a bishop from the Irish of Dal Riata. The first, an ‘austere’ bishop, was not successful. The second, Aidan proved to be very successful. He was given the island of Lindisfarne as his episcopal see. The Venerable Bede mentions that Oswald initially interpreted Aidan’s preaching because he did not know English well. Bede recounts Oswald’s generosity to the poor and strangers. One Easter, while dining with Aidan. he hears from a servant that there is a crowd in the streets begging for alms from the king. Oswald gives his * silver dish full of dainties* to them and the dish is broken up. Aidan is so impressed he takes Oswald’s right hand and says May this hand never perish. Saint Oswald died fighting the pagan Mercians under Penda in 642 in the battle of Maserfoeld. Bede says he ended his life in prayer when he realised he was about to die. His head and limbs were placed on stakes. His bones were dispersed as relics, but his head was buried at Lindisfarne - later taken to Durham when the monks fled before the Danish invasion. . After his death, according to Bede, the site where he died * Oswestry or Oswald’s Tree became associated with miracles and legend. Sources used The Churches Year by Charles Alexander Wikipedia

14 Holy Helpers is a group of venerated saints in Roman Catholicism. In my research for well known saints this group has been regularly mentioned so rather than add them as an appendage I have given them separate recognition. Saints Blaise, Cyriacus, Eramus, George, Giles, Panteleon and Vitus the rest may only be legends. See separate information on the 6 given. Apparently this group of * helpers in need* originated in the 14th century as a result of epidemic which became known as the Black death.

Saint Blaise was a physician and bishop of Sebaste in Asia Minor. it is believed he was martyred in 316 AD. People came ‘flocking’ to him because he was able to cure them of bodily and spiritual ills. Apparently he could also heal animals. l The Roman Emperor Licinius believed that arresting and punishing important leaders like Saint Blaise would prevent other people from becoming Christians. One of the stories told about him was that on his way to prison he cured a boy who had a bone stuck in his throat. The legend reads- As he was being led to jail, a mother set her son, choking to death of a fish-bone, at his feet, and the child was cured straight away. Regardless, the governor, unable to make Blaise renounce his faith, beat him with a stick, ripped his flesh with iron combs and beheaded him Up until 1825 a Bishop Blaize festival and procession were held at Bradford. A child would recite these words- Hail to the day when kind auspicious rays Deigned first to smile on famous Bishop Blaize. He is the patron saint of people with diseases of the throat. On February 3rd many parishes bless the throats of their parishioners in a special ceremony. Two unlit candles are held next to each person’s throat as the priest or deacon says - Through the intercession of Saint Blaise, bishop and martyr, may God deliver you from every disease of the throat and from every other illness: in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. His name is found on inn signs in towns which became centres of the wool trade such as Cirencester and Exeter. It is believed he was tortured by having his body torn apart with the iron combs then used by woolcombers, then beheaded. Saint Blaise is one of the 14 Holy helpers and became one of the most popular saints of the Middle Ages.

Ezana was the ruler of the kingdom of Aksum. an ancient kingdom centred in what is now Ertres and the Tigray Region of northern Ethiopia. Ezana was the first monarch of the kingdom of Aksum to embrace Christianity. Ezana is regarded as saint by the Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo Church with a feast day of 1st October. Sources Helbrunn Timeline of Art History Wikipedia

Ben Witherington III is an American New Testament scholar and writer. He is Professor of New Testament Interpretation at Asbury Theological Seminary in Wilmore, Kentucky, (1995- present), He is an ordained pastor in the United Methodist Church. Ben was born on 30th December 1951 in High Point, North Carolina. He graduated from the University of North Carolina in 1974 with a B.A. in English. He holds an M.D. degree from Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary-1977. He has a Ph.D. from Durham University in England -1981. 1982 ordained as a Methodist elder 1982/3 he was a faculty member of the Duke Divinity School and the High Point College. 1984-1995 he was Professor of New Testament at Ashland Theological Seminary. 1992 research fellow and member (1996) at the Robinson College, Cambridge University 1995- present Professor of New Testament Interpretation at Asbury Theological Seminary. Ben has presented seminars for churches, colleges and biblical meetings in 8 different countries and led tours in the Holy Lands, Italy, Greece and Turkey. He has appeared on the television channels including the History and Discovery channels. he was featured in the BBC and PBS special entitledThe Story of Jesus.** He has written over 60 books. His books *The Jesus Quest and The Paul Quest were selected as top biblical studies by Christianity Today. (See ‘Selected Books’) He is a member of the Society of Biblical Literature, Institute for Biblical Research and the Society for the Study of the New Testament. ( See notes) In his book Biblical Theology he shows a large coherent Biblical world view, one that progressively reveals the character and action of God. - Amazon Ben Witherington III is a prominent, current, evangelical Biblical scholar of the late20th/early 21st century. Sources Amazon Wikipedia

Elaine Storkey is an English philosopher, theologian and sociologist. She is known for her lecturing, writing, broadcasting and charity work. Elaine, born in 1944, grew up in Ossett, West Yorkshire and was head girl at Ossett grammar School (now Ossett Academy), Elaine studied at the University of Wales, Aberystwyth and doing postgraduate work in philosophy at McMaster University, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada and York University, England. In 1968 she married Alan Storkey, an economist, writer and lecturer. After research on Ludwig Wittgenstein’s work her first academic post was in philosophy in Oxford University, as a tutor at Manchester College, Oxford. With her husband she then joined the faculty of the University of Stirling. They then did a period of lecturing at Calvin College, Michigan and Covenant College in Tennessee, USA. In 1986 she began broadcasting documentaries, arts, news and current affairs programmes with the BBC. For more than 20 years she was presenter on Radio 4’s Thought for The Day. She currently broadcasts on BBC Radio Ulster Sunday Sequence (See notes on both programme) Elaine has been a member of the General Synod of the Church of England (1987-2016) (See notes) Currently she is president of Fulcrum ( See notes On Fulcrum ‘Anglican think tank’) For many years she spent time teaching and writing with the Open University and presenting radio and television documentaries on gender, race and ethnicity As a result In 1991 she became the Executive Director of the London Institute for Contemporary Christianity (LICC) (1991-9). ( See notes About LICC) In 1997 Elaine became president of Tearfund, a Christian relief and development charity and as a result has been monitoring aid, relif and advocacy work in countries of the Global South. ( See notes of ‘Tearfund’) In 2010, with her husband Alan, they founded Restored an organization committed to advocating against violence to women. (See notes) She has taught at King’s College, London. She has been a lecturer with the Montgomery Trust since 2001. She has lectured across the world- Haiti, India, Nepal, Turkey and Ethiopia and is a prominent feminist evangelical. She continues to teach on the Christian Mind course at Oxford University. Elaine for many years wrote for The Independent, Dagen and the Church Times. Her writings have brought a biblical perspective to the feminist movement. Scars Across humanity; Understanding and overcoming Violence Against Women (2015) was widely acclaimed. The 2nd edition in 2019 won the Christianity Today Book of the Year award for Politics and public Life in the USA Her work has been recognized by Aberystwyth and Cambridge colleges where she has been given fellowships, From Princeton Theological Seminary in 2016 she was awarded the Abraham Kuyper prize for her work as a scholar, writer and journalist. A faithful servant of Christ

Stephen Howe Webb was a theologian and philosopher of religion best known for his work on animal rights… He is recognized for being a leader of the animal theological movement and in the field of religious rhetoric in the late20th/early 21st century. He was born on the 13th March 1961 in Indianapolis, Indiana. His local church was Eaglewood Christian Church, an evangelical church in the Restoration Movement. He wrote about his experiences there in Taking Religion to Schooland an essay *Recalling: A Theologian Remembers his Church. He changed churches several times. At college he joined the Disciples of Christ. Foe a brief time he was a Lutherian. On Easter Sunday 2007 he officially came into full communion with the Roman Catholic Church. Stephen graduated form Wabash College in 1983 and earned his Ph.D. at the University of Chicago. He taught at Wabash College as Professor of Religion and Philosophy from 1988 to 2012 ( 24 years). Besides theology he also taught on Bob dylan, men and masculinity and existentialism. He also delivered lectures all over the USA (See ‘Lectures’). He was on leave from the college 2012/13 and retired early to pursue writing opportunities full-time. He was known for his scholarship and journalism on animals, vegetarianism and diet. He wrote the book On God and Dogs; A Christian Theology of compassion for Animals(1998) and has been listed as one of the leaders of the animal theological movement. (See ‘Oh God and Dog’) He co-founded the Christian Vegetarian Association (CVA) in 1999 with Nathan Braun. (See notes on CVA). Stephen also contributed to The Other Journal founded in 2003 which was to provide space for Christian graduate students to share their work in a spirit of dialogue and mutual criticism. (See notes ‘The Other Journal’) He was also known for what he called theo-acoustics or theology of sound. The Divine Voice: Christian proclamation and the Theology of Sound (2004) was named Christianity Today Top 10 Book for 2004, and the Religious Communication Association’s Book of the Year 2005. Stephen wrote about C.S. Lewis in The Chronicles of Narnia and Philosophy (2005). Dylan Redeemed: From Highwat 61 to Saved (2006) focused on Dylan’s mid-life conversion to Christianity. He also wrote many essay on the intersection of rhetoric and religion. In 2008 Andrea Lunsford lists him as a leader in the field of religious rhetoric ( the study of using language effectively). ( See ‘Bibliography’ for a list books) After a long struggle with depression Stephen committed suicide on 5th March 2016 just before his 55th birthday. He left behind the love of his life, Diane Timmerman, who he had married on 16th July 1988 and their five children. A very sad lose to his family and the Christian community. Sources used Amazon Google knygos The Indianapolis Star The Other Journal Wikipedia

Nicholas Paul Wolterstorff, born 21st January 1932, is an American philosopher and theologian. He is currently Noah Porter Professor Emeritus Philosophical Theology (NPPEPT) at Yale University. In his career he has been an instructor, assistant/associate/ professor, or visiting professor, at many of the most prestigious universities in the world -from Yale to Cambridge. He is a prolific writer with wide ranging philosophical and theological interests. He helped establish the Society of Christian Philosophers and their journal Faith and Philosophy,. With Alvin Plantings and William Alston he developed Reformed Epistemology - the theory of knowledge, especially the critical study of the validity, methods and scope as it applies in religious beliefs… Degrees B.A Philosophy Calvin College, Michigan 1953 M.A. Philosophy Harvard University 1954 Ph.D. Philosophy ‘’ ‘’ 1957 He then spent a year at Cambridge University, England He has been involved in teaching/lecturing for nearly 50 years. He retired in 2002. He is now Noah Porter Emeritus professor of P&T at Yale. (See ‘Encyclopedia.com’ notes for the many universities he worked in) He has written a ‘library’ of books. ( see Bibliography) Faith an Rationality was co-authored with Plantings and Alston -this is where they expanded on Reformed epistemology. (See note) In 1987 he wroteLament of a son which recounts how he drew on his Christian faith when his 25 year old son Eric died in a mountain accident. He helped to establish the Society of Christian Philosophers (SCP) which was founded in 1978. The society is open to anyone who is interested in philosophy who considers themselves to be a Christian. The committee voted in 1982 to launch Faith and Philosophy; it appeared for the first time in January 1984. The aim of the journal is to foster the philosophical examination of religion and the Christian faith. It is supported by contributions from patrons both within and outside the society. ( See notes on ‘Faith and Philosophy’) He is a former president of the American Philosophical Association (Central District) and serves on its publication and executive committees. During his lifetime he earned a number of of Professional distinctions ( 7) and Endowed lectureships (8). (See both lists) Nicholas Wolterstorff lives in Grand Rapids, Michigan with his wife Claire. Sources used Amazon Dictionary Wikipedia Yale University

Andrew Purves is a Scottish theologian in the Reform tradition through the church of Scotland and later the Presbyterian Church USA. He is the Jean and Nancy Davis Professor Emeritus of Historical Theology at Pittsburgh Seminary Andrew was born in 1946 in Edinburgh, Scotland. In 1978 he moved to the USA and ordained by the Philadelphia Presbytery in 1979. Degrees Philosophy and Divinity at University of Edinburgh Master of Theology form Duke Divinity School Doctor of Philosophy from University of Edinburgh He served as pastor at the Hebron Presbyterian Church in Clinton, Pennsylvania until 1983 when he began teaching at Pittsburgh Theological Seminary (PTS). He retired from PTS after 32 years (2015). In addition to his academic work he has served the church and wider community though his work with the PC(USA) and lectureships around the world. He has written a number of publications, both books and articles, academic and popular. His primary concerns surround Christology - the branch of Theology concerned with the person, attributes and deeds of Jesus Christ. Recontructing pastoral Theology; A Christogical Foundation and Exploring Christology and Atonement:Conversations are two of his books. ( See Amazon sheet and ‘Purves has along list of publications’) He has become a leader of evangelical renewal in the Presbyterian Church of the USA (PC(USA) and is known for his conservative Christian views concerning the person and work of Jesus, ( See notes on PC(USA) ) He agrees with the withholding of ordination of self-avowed, practicing, unrepentant gays and lesbians. Andrew is married to Catherine (Cathy) Purves. They had 3 children.

Moises Siva is a Cuban born American biblical scholar, minister, author, translator and editor. He is an ordained minister of the Orthodox Presbyterian Church. He has served as a translator of several Bibles. He is also a past president of the Evangelical Theological Society (1997) Moises was born in Havana, Cuba on 4th September 1925 and has lived in the USA since 1960. He earned the following degrees BA Bob Jones University 1966 BD Westminster Theological Seminary 1969 ThM ‘’ ‘’ ‘’ 1971 Phd University of Manchester 1972 He taught Biblical Studies at Westminster College (1972-1981), Westminster Theological Seminary (1981-1996), and Godon Conewll Theological Seminary (1996-2000) where he was Mary French Rockerfeller Distinguished Professor of New Testament until he retired. He has been involved as a translator in the New American Standard Bible the *New Living Translation and the recent English Standard Version. He has also been consultant for Eugene Peterson’s The Message . Moises is the editor of the New International Dictionary of New Testament Theology and Exegesis . He was also editor of both the Zondervan Pictorial Encyclopedia of the Bible, and the Westminster Journal. Moises’ Biblical Words and Their Meaning (1983, 2nd ed.1994) challenged many common linguistic fallacies in biblical interpretation. He has also found time to author or co-author several books and articles. His commentary on Philippians was highly acclalmed. (See list of ‘Works’) Moises Siva currently lives in Litchfield, Michigan where he continues to work as an author and editor. Sources Wikipedia

Richard Charles Sproul was an American Reformed theologian and ordained pastor in the Presbyterian Church of America (PCA). He was the founding pastor of Saint Andrew’s Chapel. He was the founder and chairman of the Ligonier Ministries ( named after a valley just outside Pittsburgh). He was the first president of the Reformation Bible College. He was the executive editor of the magazine Tabletalk. He could also heard daily on the Renewing Your Mind radio broadcast across the USA and internationally. He was born in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. As a youth he was a keen supporter of both the Pittsburgh Steelers and Pirates. Aged 15 he had to drop out of High school to support his family. In 1960 he married Vesta Voorhis -they had 2 children. BA from Westminster College, Pennsylvania 1961 M.Div from Pittsburgh-Xenia Theological Seminary 1964 Drs from Free University of Amsterdam 1969 PhD from Whitefield Theological Seminary 2001 He taught at Reformed Theological Seminary in Orlando Jackson, Mississippi Knox Theological Seminary in Ft. Lauderdale He was ordained as an elder in the United Presbyterian Church of the USA in 1965. Around 1975 he left the denomination and joined the P C A. Robert was co-pastor at Saint Andrew’s Chapel, a congregation in Sanford, Florida. He will be remembered by the church for the many ways he served the church. He was a gifted communicator, and his ability to make complex topics easy to understand was evident through his preaching of the Word of God, teaching and writings. He could he heard daily on his radio program* Renewing Your Mind.* The Ligonier Ministries (LM) began in 1971. Robert was one of the primary speakers. It has become an international Christian education ministry now located near Orlando. Tabletalk is the devotional magazine of LM. The LM would produce the statement on Biblical Inerrancy which would eventually grow into the 1978 Chicago Statement on Biblical Inerrancy. ( See information on both) He wrote over 100 books. He was a council member of the Alliance of Confessing Evangelicals (ACE). ( See Notes on Ace) He suffered from chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. On 18th April, 2015 Robert suffered a stroke. On 2nd December 2017 his respiratory difficulties were exacerbated by flu. He died on the 14th December, 2017 aged 78. the greatest and most influential proponent of the recovery of Reformed theology in the last century Sources used History & Identity Ligonier Ministries Tabletalk Why reformation Bible College Exists Wikipedia

Thomas Clark Oden was an American Methodist theologian and religious author. He is often regarded as the father of the paleo (variant)-orthodox theological movement. He was Henry Anson Buttz Professor of Theology and Ethics at Drew University in New Jersey from 1980 until his retirement in 2004, He remained faculty emeritus until he died. Thomas was born on 21st of October 1931 in Altus, Oklahoma. He was the son of an attorney and a music teacher. As a youth he considered two vocations - lawyer or Methodist minister. Aged 10 the family moved to Oklahoma City, In 1945 they moved back to Atlus. In High school he began his vocation of writing and speaking. Thomas married Edrita Pokorny on 10th August 1952. They had 3 children. Degrees BA from the University of Oklahoma 1953 BD from Southern Methodist University 1956 MA from Yale University 1958 Ph.D. from ‘’ ‘’ 1960 Thomas lectured at a number of universities - Yale, Southern Methodist, Heidelberg, Lomonosov and Pontifical Gregorian in Rome, plus Princeton Theological Seminary. In his writings he became a supporter of paleo-orthodoxy - an approach which relies on the writings of the early church. In the early 1970s he was influenced by his Jewish colleague, Will Herberg, He discovered an ecumenical orthodoxy interpretation of the New Testament which is universal and accepted by most Christian faiths. Thomas suggested that Christians need to *rely upon the wisdom of the historical/early church, rather than on modern scholarship and theology which he thought was tainted by political agendas. * He said his mission was to prepare the third millennium for the *careful study and respectful following of the central tradition of classical Christianity. * Thomas was active in the Confessing Movement in America. He served on the board of the Institute on Religion and Democracy. He had an Arminian theology which means he believes in the Christian Protestant doctrines of Jacobus Arminus (1560-1609)- the Dutch theologian. He wrote *The Transforming Power of Grace * which according to Roger E. Olson ’ is one of the best expositions of Arminian theology '* * He wrote and edited many book, articles ,essays and speeches on a range of topics. He served as the architect and general editor of Ancient Christian Commentary on Scriptures(ACCS) which is a massive 30 volume series. He was general editor of the Ancient Doctrine series and Ancient Christian devotionals. He was consulting editor of the Encyclopedia of Ancient Christianity ( See ‘Works’ for list of books and Amazon notes on ACCS). Thomas died , aged 85, on 8th December 2016. He is considered to be one of the most influential theologians of the late 20th/early 21st century. He had* A Life time of Pioneering Theological Scholarship*. Sources used InterVasity press Wikipedia

Nancey Murphy (born 12th June 1951) is an American philosopher and theologian who is Senior Professor of Christian Philosophy at Fuller Theological Seminary (FTS), Pasadena, CA . She is a member( and former chair) of the Board of Directors of the Center for Theology and National Science (CTNS) . She is also a member of the American Philosophical Association (APA) and the Society of Christian Philosophers (SCP). She was an advisor to the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS) and serves on the planning committee of the Vatican Observatory. (See notes on all 5) Nancey is an ordained minister in the Church of the Brethren. Her first book *Theology in the Age of Scientific Reasoning * (1990) won the American Academy of Religion award for excellence. Degrees B.A. Philosophy and Psychology from Creighton University (CU) in 1973 Ph.D. Philosophy and Science from University of California in 1980 Th.D. Theology from Graduate Theology Union (GTU) in 1987 Recognition 1998 Alumnus of the year for C U 1999 J.K. Russel Fellow at the Center for Theology and the Natural Sciences 2006 Alumnus of the year for GTU Nancey joined the faculty at FTS in 1989. She is still there over 30 years later. ( See notes on FTS) Nancey’s research interests focus on the role of modern and postmodern philosophy in shaping Christian Theology on relations between theology and science, and relations among neuroscience, philosophy of mind and Christian anthropology. She is a prolific writer. She has written 10 books and co-authored 11 volumes. She has written chapters for books and articles for Journals and magazines. ( See ‘Among her many publication are’, ‘Bio’, ‘Career’ and ‘Books’ plus Amazon) Nancey also serves as an editorial advisor for numerous publishers and journals. Nancey is highly sought after as a speaker at inter/national conferences on philosophy and the relationship between theology and science. In 2007 the * Los Angeles Magazine* include her in the list of *100 most influential people. Sources AAAS Amazon Center for Theology and the natural Science Fuller seminary Wikipedia

James Porter Moreland ( born 9th March 1948), better known as J.P. Moreland, is an American philosopher, theologian and Christian apologist - a person concerned with the defence and rational justification of Christianity. He currently serves as a Distinguished Professor of Philosophy at Talbot School of Theology at Biola University in La Mirada, California, He specializes in metaphysics - the system of first principles and assumptions underlying an inquiry or philosophical theory, philosophy of mind and Christian philosophy. Degrees He received a B.S. in physical chemistry from the University of Missouri. M.A. in Philosophy from the University of California, Riverside Th.M in Theology form Dallas Theological Seminary Ph.D. in Philosophy from the University of Southern California 1985 For 10 years he served with the Campus Crusade. He planted 2 Campus Crusade works and planted 2 churches James has spoken on over 200 college campuses and in 100s of churches. He has authored, edited, or contributed papers to 95 books. ( See ‘Works’ and ‘Amazon’) James has also published close to 90 articles He has had his work published in journals such as *Metaphilosophy and American Philosophically Quarterly. * He regularly contributes articles to Christianity Today, Faith and Philosophy, Philosophia Christi, and Philosophy Phenomenological Research. James has been a frequent guest on the PBS television series Closer to Truth. ( See sheet on ‘Closer to Truth’) He is a member of the Board of Advisers for the Center on Cultural and Civil Society (CCCS) at the Independent Institute. The purpose of CCCS is to bring together top scholars in their various fields to produce books, events and media programs for all to use. ( See notes on CCCS) James has received many awards and honors ( See ‘Awards and honors’} In 2016 J. P. Moreland was recognized by The Best Schools as being one of the 50 most influential living philosophers. A recognition well deserved. Sources Biola University Discovery Institute The Independent Institute TV Episodes/ Closer to Truth Wikipedia

John Warwick Montgomery is a lawyer, professor, Lutherian theologian and author. He is chiefly noted for his major contributions as a writer, lecturer and public debater in the field of Christian apologetics -the branch of theology concerned with the defence and rational justification of Christianity. He is director of the International Academy of Apologetics, Evangelism & Human Rights in Strasbourg, France. He is also editor of the online *Journal Global Journal of Classical Theology. * He was born in Warsaw, New York, USA on 18th October 1931. John became a Christian in 1949 as an undergraduate majoring in the classics and philosophy at Cornell University. He earned 10 degrees in multiple disciplines including philosophy, librarianship , theology and law. Ph.D, Th.D and LLD,. ( See ‘Education’ for detail) In 1959/60 he served as principle librarian in the Divinity school’s library at the University of Chicago He then served as Chairman of the Department of History at Wifrid Laurier University in Canada In 1964 having completed his Th.D. he became Professor of church history at Trinity Evangelical School in Deerfield, Illinois ( 1964-74). While there he became a regular columnist with *Christianity Today * (1965-83). He became involved within theological controversies with his denomination, the Lutheran church concerning Biblical inerrancy and higher criticism. He wrote 3 books opposing Liberal Christianity and radical theologies. Since 1965 he has been an ordained minister in the Lutheran Church- Missouri Synod His role as an apologist for Christianity extended to debates with atheists, ethicists and humanists. In th e 1970s he began training in law with the twin aims of reintegrating Christian foundations into jurisprudence and to integrate insights from legal theory and doctrines of proof relevant to furthering Christian evidential apologetics In 1970, after 2 years research, he wrote The Quest for Noah’s Ark In 1980 he established the Simon Greenleaf School of Law in California (now Trinity Law School. He was dean and professor there from 1980-89. He resigned under a cloud of controversy In 1991 became a Barrister-at- law in London. In 2009 passed the French bar examinations. From 1995 to 2007 he was Professor in Law and Humanities at the University of Bedfordshire, . From 2007 to 2014 he was Research Professor of Philosophy and Christian Thought at Patrick Henry College in Virginia USA. He remains Emeritus professor at the University of Bedfordshire. He now lives in France, England and the USA with his second wife Lanalee de Kant, a professional harpist. He is considered to be one of the foremost living apologists for classical biblical Christianity. Prof. J, W. Montgomery Apologetics

Richard Longeneck is a prominent New Testament scholar. For many years he taught at Wycliffe College University of Toronto., He was formerly Distinguished Professor of New Testament at McMaster Divinity College, Hamilton, Ontario. He is now retired. He received a B.A. (1953) and M.A. (19560 from Wheaton College He received a Ph.D from new College , University of Edinburgh Wycliffe College honored him with a D.D. He developed an international reputation teaching in several theological colleges for 40 years. He also lectured widely in North America. He is the author of numerous books and published over 50 articles in scholarly and professional journals. (See 'Works for long list of books published over 45 years). in 1994 a Festschrift (a collection of essays and learned papers) were published in his honor. In 2016 his commentary on the epistle to Romans was published by Eerdmans in the *New International Greek Testament Commentary *series. He has given significant contributions to the Institute for Biblical Research (IBR).Established in 1973 its vision is *to foster excellence in the pursuit of Biblical Studies within a faith environment. * (See notes on IBR) Richard has also given outstanding leadership serving as president of the Evangelical Fellowship of Canada (EFC). Founded in 1964 It publishes *Faith Today which is a major evangelical magazine in Canada ( See notes on EFC) Richard was born on 21st July 1930 which means he is now 90. The Epistle to the Romans was published when he was 86 - what an achievement. I am lost for words. Sources used Theopedia Wikipedia