Helping to bring some answers to tough questions.
Click on each below to learn more.
Dr. Rich Knopp is the Executive Director of Room For Doubt and Professor Emeritus of Philosophy & Christian Apologetics at Lincoln Christian University where he taught from 1983 to 2022. He provides and oversees the content on the R4D website and mobile app, and he offers Room For Doubt presentations at churches, conferences, conventions, colleges, and Christian camps. His multimedia productions have been attended by over 80,000 youth and adults in 22 states, Canada, and China.
He is the former Director of Worldview Eyes, a youth grant program launched in 2000 that received five grants from the Lilly Endowment totaling over $1,000,000. The program helped youth understand different worldviews and challenged them to live a consistently-applied Christian way of life.
His formal education was done at St. Louis Christian College (BA in Christian Ministry), Lincoln Christian Seminary (MDiv in Philosophy & Theology), Southern Illinois University at Carbondale (MA in Philosophy), and the University of Illinois at Champaign (PhD in Philosophy).
His particular interest is the relationship between science and the Christian faith. He was a $10,000 award winner from the Templeton Foundation for developing an integrative seminary course in science and religion. His most recent work is Truth about God: What Can We Know and How Can We Know It? (2021). In addition, Rich has articles in four journals, chapters on Christianity and science in two books (Taking Every Thought Captive and Theology in the Present Age), a chapter on Christian ethics in I Am Put Here for a Defense of the Gospel, and a chapter on philosophy of science in relation to the Stone-Campbell religious tradition in Restoration and Philosophy.
Rich has delivered special lectureships or multimedia presentations at a number of popular and professional conferences, including the North American Christian Convention; the International Conference on Missions, The Stone-Campbell Journal Conference; the Association of College Ministries, the Midwest and National Evangelical Theological and Philosophical Society Conferences; the Wheaton Theology Conference; and the Center for Research in Science at Azusa Pacific University. He also serves on the board for the Christian Campus Foundation (Axiom), a campus ministry at the University of Illinois in Urbana-Champaign.
Rich and his wife, Paula, have three married children and seven grandchildren. He has traveled to England, France, Italy, New Zealand, Fiji, Australia, Jamaica, Greece, Turkey, and China. He was a gifted athlete who was a high school all-state second baseman in North Carolina and played for a AAA State Champion baseball team. In 2013, he was inducted into the inaugural class of the Athletic Hall of Fame for basketball at St. Louis Christian College where he held the all-time scoring record (2,225 pts.) for about 20 years. He is second on their all-time scoring list, second in average pts/game (22.7), and first in free throws made (515).
Hannah Brimner is the Technology and Social Media Specialist for Room For Doubt. She creatively enhances the website and mobile app, contributes to our social media, helps with video production, and designs page layouts for print and digital materials. Hannah is a graduate of Lincoln Christian University and Seminary (B.A. in Christian Ministry and M.A. in Ministry). She also serves as the Preschool Program Director and Teacher at Lincoln Christian Church (IL). In addition, Hannah does free-lance work for churches and parachurch ministries to design or enhance websites and social media outlets.
Dr. Zach Breitenbach is the Director of the Worldview Center at Connection Pointe in Brownsburg, IN and the former Associate Director of Room For Doubt.
Zach graduated with a BS in Computer Science from North Carolina State University, where he was Valedictorian, graduating with a 4.0 GPA. While at NC State, he also earned Academic All-American honors three times as an NCAA Division I college wrestler. Zach earned his MBA at NC State and worked for American Airlines in Dallas as a contract negotiator.
With a passion for Christian apologetics, Zach was led to the Seminary at Lincoln Christian University. He taught undergraduate courses in business and theology and received an MA in Christian Apologetics with highest honors.
For several years after graduating from Lincoln, Zach taught New Testament, Apologetics, and World Religions to high school students at Northside Christian School in St. Petersburg, Florida, where he also served as wrestling coach.
In 2019, he completed a PhD in Theology & Apologetics from Liberty University and became the Room For Doubt Assistant Director. He has published articles in the Journal of the Evangelical Theological Society, Philosophia Christi, Southeastern Theological Review, Journal of the International Society of Christian Apologetics, Themelios, and Irish Theological Quarterly. In 2021, he published the book, Slipping Through the Cracks: Are Some Lost Who Would Have Been Saved in Different Circumstances?
Zach grew up in Cincinnati, Ohio, and has traveled to China, Japan, Ireland, Germany, Greece, New Zealand, Hawaii, Haiti, Israel, Italy, and more. His hobbies include Bible study, listening to podcasts, playing games with friends and family, coaching wrestling, and watching sports.
He has been a regular contributor to the R4D website since 2015.
Tracy is the Discipleship Minister at Second Church in Danville, IL. He served as youth minister in Murphysboro, IL and in Lincoln, IL. He also served in Alumni Relations at Lincoln Christian University. Tracy is a current board member for Strengthen Faith, Inc., a partner organization with Room For Doubt. Tracy is married to Lori. They have two amazing daughters, Katie and Hannah.
Dr. Thomas G. Ewald brings amazing experience and expertise to Room For Doubt. He served as Professor of Pastoral Care and Counseling at Lincoln Christian Seminary and was Dean of Students and Professor of Psychology at Lincoln Christian College for 27 years. Tom retired in 2010 after 45 years of teaching.
Lincoln Christian University granted him a Doctor of Divinity degree in 2010. He holds the Bachelor of Arts degree from Lincoln Christian College, the Master of Arts and Master of Divinity degrees from Lincoln Christian Seminary. He received the Master of Science degree in Educational Psychology from Indiana University in 1966. In 1962, Tom traveled through Europe and the Near East on a three-month study tour. He served two years as youth minister at Greenville, Illinois and five years with the Christian Church in Brownstown, Illinois. He also helped start four new churches in Illinois and has served as an Elder at Jefferson Street Christian Church in Lincoln, Illinois.
Dr. Ewald served on the Human Rights board of the Lincoln Development Center and on the board of directors of Mental Health Centers of Central Illinois. He has served on the board of Pioneer Bible Translators since 1984. He has lectured in Vienna, Austria at TCM International, Bradley University, Milligan University, Florida and Eastern Christian colleges, and Briercrest Seminary in Canada.
Tom was a featured speaker for Salvation Army Youth Conventions throughout the southern states, the Eastern Christian Convention, and the North American Christian Convention. He conducted spiritual life crusades on six different Bible College campuses. He and his wife Janet have conducted Marriage and Family Enrichment seminars. He published a fascinating book titled Judas and the Criminal Mind in 2018. Tom and Jan have three adult children and five grandchildren.
(For book ordering information, send email to [email protected].)
Lincoln Christian University granted him a Doctor of Divinity degree in 2010. He holds the Bachelor of Arts degree from Lincoln Christian College, the Master of Arts and Master of Divinity degrees from Lincoln Christian Seminary. He received the Master of Science degree in Educational Psychology from Indiana University in 1966. In 1962, Tom traveled through Europe and the Near East on a three-month study tour. He served two years as youth minister at Greenville, Illinois and five years with the Christian Church in Brownstown, Illinois. He also helped start four new churches in Illinois and has served as an Elder at Jefferson Street Christian Church in Lincoln, Illinois.
Dr. Ewald served on the Human Rights board of the Lincoln Development Center and on the board of directors of Mental Health Centers of Central Illinois. He has served on the board of Pioneer Bible Translators since 1984. He has lectured in Vienna, Austria at TCM International, Bradley University, Milligan University, Florida and Eastern Christian colleges, and Briercrest Seminary in Canada.
Tom was a featured speaker for Salvation Army Youth Conventions throughout the southern states, the Eastern Christian Convention, and the North American Christian Convention. He conducted spiritual life crusades on six different Bible College campuses. He and his wife Janet have conducted Marriage and Family Enrichment seminars. He published a fascinating book titled Judas and the Criminal Mind in 2018. Tom and Jan have three adult children and five grandchildren.
(For book ordering information, send email to [email protected].)
Mark Mittelberg served as the Executive Producer of Room For Doubt's "Basic Questions" series. He is an international speaker and the bestselling author of The Questions Christians Hope No One Will Ask (With Answers), Confident Faith, and The Reason Why Faith Makes Sense. He is also the primary author of the celebrated Becoming a Contagious Christian training course (with Lee Strobel and Bill Hybels), which has been translated into more than 20 languages. Mark was the original outreach director at Willow Creek Community Church in Chicago, where he served for many years. He now writes, speaks, and consults from Denver, Colorado, where he lives with his wife, Heidi.
Atheist-turned-Christian Lee Strobel, former award-winning legal editor of The Chicago Tribune, is a New York Times best-selling author of more than twenty books and serves as Professor of Christian Thought at Houston Baptist University. Described in the Washington Post as “one of the evangelical community's most popular apologists,” Lee won Gold Medallions for The Case for Christ, The Case for Faith, and The Case for a Creator, and shared the Christian Book of the Year award with Garry Poole. Lee was educated at the University of Missouri (Bachelor of Journalism) and Yale Law School (Master of Studies in Law). His son Kyle is a theology professor and his daughter Alison teaches at a Christian school.
Garry Poole created the adult and youth discussion guides for the "Basic Questions" series, and he hosted and produced the videos of the “Doubters Uncensored” panel used in the series. Garry is a curriculum specialist who has written the discussion guides for many of Lee Strobel’s best-selling books, like The Case for Faith, The Case for Christ, and The Case for a Creator. His publications also include Seeker Small Groups and The Complete Book of Questions: 1001 Conversation Starters for Any Occasion
Darrell Stribling is the Assistant Dean of Online Programs and Faculty Support at Moody Bible Institute. He is also an Adjunct Professor at Moody (in Philosophy, Theology, and Worldview Studies) and at Heartland Community College. Darrell has served the church as youth pastor, senior pastor, pastor of an MA residency program, and supply preacher.
Darrell has a double-major BA in Leadership and Management and in Christian Ministry from Lincoln Christian University. He also has an MA in Philosophy and Christian Apologetics from Lincoln Christian Seminary and an MA in Ministry Leadership from Central Christian College of the Bible.
Darrell deeply loves the church and strives to be a bridge between it and the Academy. He often preaches and offers classes and presentations on apologetics, theology, and discipleship.
He and his wife, Amanda, have three children and live in central Illinois. They have traveled around America and have done two short-term mission trips to Kenya. In addition to family and study time, Darrell enjoys playing video games.
Darrell has a double-major BA in Leadership and Management and in Christian Ministry from Lincoln Christian University. He also has an MA in Philosophy and Christian Apologetics from Lincoln Christian Seminary and an MA in Ministry Leadership from Central Christian College of the Bible.
Darrell deeply loves the church and strives to be a bridge between it and the Academy. He often preaches and offers classes and presentations on apologetics, theology, and discipleship.
He and his wife, Amanda, have three children and live in central Illinois. They have traveled around America and have done two short-term mission trips to Kenya. In addition to family and study time, Darrell enjoys playing video games.
Daniel is the Editorial Director for Renew, a collaborative network that focuses on disciple-making (see www.renew.org). He has a bachelor’s degree in theology (Ozark Christian College), an MA in apologetics with a focus on atheism (Veritas International University), and a PhD in theology with a focus on Buddhism (North-West University, South Africa). He co-authored The Atheist’s Fatal Flaw with Norman Geisler (Baker, 2014). He plays guitar and piano and occasionally enjoys writing his own songs.
Alison Whitman is a contributor to Room for Doubt. She has a B.A. in Philosophy from Lincoln Christian University and an M.A. in Christian Cultural Apologetics from Houston Christian University, where she was honored with the Outstanding Student in Apologetics Award. Her graduate studies emphasized the integration of rational and imaginative apologetics, researching how we can analyze and shape culture from a Christian worldview.
She is a former apologetics, philosophy, and history teacher at Covenant Christian School in Texas, where she also coached varsity cross country. Alison now lives outside of Washington D.C. with her husband. She focuses her time on raising their young son while continuing to engage with apologetics through reading and writing.
She is a former apologetics, philosophy, and history teacher at Covenant Christian School in Texas, where she also coached varsity cross country. Alison now lives outside of Washington D.C. with her husband. She focuses her time on raising their young son while continuing to engage with apologetics through reading and writing.
Chad Ragsdale is a professor and the Chief Academic Officer at Ozark Christian College in Joplin, MO. He holds a BA in Preaching (Lincoln Christian College), an MDiv (Lincoln Christian Seminary), and a DMin (Talbot School of Theology). His dissertation explored the intersection of theology, philosophy, and digital technology. Chad has taught courses on New Testament exegesis, Greek, biblical interpretation, philosophy, and apologetics. In 2020, Chad became the Chief Academic Officer at Ozark. He regularly speaks at conferences across the country, especially for high school students. Chad has written three books: Christian Convictions: Discerning the Essential, Important, and Personal Elements; Holy Grit: Reflections on Hebrews for Cultivating a Faith that Lasts; and The Disciple's Mind: Thinking Like a Disciple of Jesus. He writes regularly for Renew.org and on his personal blog. Chad, his wife Tara, and three kids live in Webb City, Missouri.