History
Room For Doubt (R4D) began in late 2013 as a grant-funded project hosted at Lincoln Christian University (LCU). A major objective was to address the alarming loss of youth from the church and the Christian faith. Its first initiative was to develop a website and a six-week message and discussion series for churches. A six-week series was written by Mark Mittelberg and Garry Poole, while Lee Strobel contributed two messages. In 2015, a pilot version of the six-week series was tested in about 30 churches. In 2016, it was revised and officially released. Dr. Richard Knopp, Professor of Philosophy & Christian Apologetics at LCU, crafted the website content and offered numerous presentations for churches, conferences, and conventions.
In 2018, Dr. Knopp became the Director. In early 2019, revisions to the six-week series were made (now called “Basic Questions“), and an entirely new website and mobile app were created. The new website and app gave convenient access to exclusive Leader Content and the adult and youth discussion guides for the Basic Questions series.
In 2019, Dr. Zach Breitenbach and Hannah Brimner were respectively hired full time as Associate Director and Technology Specialist. Additional curriculum resources were developed (e.g., “Strengthen Your Faith” lessons), social media and video outlets were enhanced (Facebook, Vimeo and YouTube), a video animation was produced (“Why Do You Still Believe?“), and numerous presentations were offered for churches, youth groups, Christian camps, etc.
In June 2022, due to major cut-backs and administrative decisions, Lincoln Christian University terminated its connection to Room For Doubt. (LCU closed its operations in June 2024.) However, Dr. Richard Knopp, who had retired from full-time teaching at LCU, continued to serve as Room For Doubt’s Executive Director. Some of Dr. Knopp’s presentation materials are also accessible on his website at www.richknopp.com.
Dr. Breitenbach remains as a R4D contributor but is now the full-time Director of the Worldview Center at Connection Pointe Christian Church in Brownsburg, Indiana. Hannah Brimner offers periodic assistance in technology and social media.
In 2023, Room For Doubt began to help promote a new Apologetics Scholarship Program funded by a separate non-profit foundation. Scholarship aid will be provided for students pursuing special training in Christian apologetics in approved programs.
In 2024, Room For Doubt began working closely with a nonprofit called Strengthen Faith, Inc. It provides a mechanism for Room For Doubt’s ongoing financial operation and will help to accomplish Room For Doubt’s longstanding objectives.
