THE leaders and people in our churches need to be able to speak intelligently to the modern non-Christian mind, and be adequately armed with the facts for our faith,” says a leading New Zealand apologist, Dr Steve Kumar.

Dr Kumar, who has been actively involved in theological and apologetics ministry for over 30 years, said because of this need, a large crowd will gather in Tonga for an international Apologetics Conference later this year.

The week-long event, to be held from September 26 to October 2 at Tonga’s Christian university, Lavengamalie College in Nuku’alofa, is expected to attract some 1000 people.
The aim of the conference “Apologetics in the 21st Century: Winning the Mind and Heart” will be to help delegates better explain and defend the Christian faith in today’s world.
Dr Kumar, who is one of the key organisers of the event, said he was also excited that one of the world’s foremost apologists, Dr John Warwick Montgomery, director of the International Academy of Apologetics, Evangelism and Human Rights in Strasbourg, France, would be at the event. There will also be speakers from Australia, New Zealand, Singapore and Malaysia.

Dr Kumar said the conference was being held as we see “the decline of Christianity in the West, and we have the sad reality that many people leave the Christian faith when they attend university. “We have the rise of scepticism and relativism, with many in our culture insisting that no absolute truth is knowable, and humanism affirming man is ultimate and that individual human beings are the source and arbitrator of all truth. “Christianity is widely dismissed as an irrelevant belief. Post-modernism is prevalent — this is the belief system which insists truth is what we perceive and create, and there being no objective, independent reality. Living in this modern age we are told that one must either abandon Christian faith, or revise and update it in light of modern conditions such as science and evolution, the plurality of beliefs, a wide acceptance of alternative life-styles, and present perceptions of values and beliefs.”

Mr Kumar said the conference would provide those present with relevant Christian answers to contemporary issues, and help the Church in the real challenges and vital need of presenting a sound defence of Christian faith. “It will be informative and inspirational; the speakers will generate excitement and provide relevant information to motivate and equip the Church to move forward effectively and present the faith in a logical and compelling manner,” he said.

Accommodation can be found at the Tonga Tourist's Association (TTA). Arrangements have been made with them for a cheaper rate. They will also look after transportation of the guests from the hotels, motels to the Conference venue.