Our Speakers

Caleb Backholm has enjoyed speaking, teaching, and writing for years. He did his undergrad at Northwestern College in St. Paul, MN where he studied Broadcasting, History, and Bible. He earned a Masters Degree in Christian Apologetics from Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary in Fort Worth, TX. He is currently an area director in DFW for the Ratio Christi apologetics college ministry, and also owns and operates an insurance agency. He writes regularly regarding the intersection of Christ and culture, and His main passion is in helping people explore the mind of God and in seeing how the knowledge and character of God applies to every part of life.  

Brady holds a BS in Bible and Pastoral Ministries from Arlington Baptist College, a MA in Counseling from Dallas Baptist University and a Doctorate in Educational Ministries from Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary. He is an ordained Baptist minister and a member of the International Society of Christian Apologetics (ISCA), and the Evangelical Press Association (EPA). He serves as a senior apologist at Watchman Fellowship. Brady is a former senior pastor with over fifteen years of ministry experience. He has written a number of Profiles for Watchman Fellowship while in the pastorate and since has joined the staff. He has a heart for sharing the truth of the gospel to those who have been deceived by counterfeit Christianity, the occult, cults and false religions. In addition to the time spent in church ministry he has also served as a college professor and administrator over the last eleven years.

Travis holds a Ph.D. in philosophy from the University of Iowa, an M.A. degree in philosophy, ethics, and apologetics from Biola University, an M.A. degree from Talbot School of Theology, and a B.A. from Alaska Bible College. He is a Professor of Philosophy at the College of Christian Faith, where he teaches all things philosophical. He writes and speaks on issues of faith and human flourishing. He’s the author of Wandering Toward God: Finding Faith amid Doubts and Big Questions, Logic and the Way of Jesus: Thinking Critically and Christianly, and Everyday Apologetics, and the co-author of Stand Firm: Apologetics and the Brilliance of the Gospel. His writing has appeared in such outlets as Christianity Today, The Gospel Coalition, and the Christian Research Journal. Travis regularly speaks at churches, retreats, and conferences. He writes a monthly newsletter called The Thinking Thoughts Newsletter and blogs on his website.

Allen Hainline graduated with highest honors with a bachelor's degree in physics from UT Austin and received a Master’s Equivalent degree in Systems and Software Engineering from UT CES. His most recent education included graduate study at Biola University in the Science and Religion program. Allen worked at Raytheon for about 12 years in software engineering before leaving as an Engineering Fellow in 1999 to be involved in 3D-modeling at a startup company. Allen is currently self-employed designing algorithms and software involving commercial satellite imagery and AI. Allen is happily married for 38 years to Rose, and they have 2 adult sons and 2 daughters. He and Rose enjoy scuba diving. He leads a Reasonable Faith chapter at UT Dallas that he started 15 years ago. He has taught classes for Raytheon, UT Austin CES, and at the College at Southwestern. He co-wrote a chapter on Fine-Tuning with Dr. Luke Barnes in The Story of the Cosmos book.

Eric Hernandez is a dynamic evangelist and apologist with a heart for proclaiming the gospel and defending the faith on theological and philosophical grounds. He’s the author of the book, The Lazy Approach to Evangelism: A Simple Guide for Conversing with Nonbelievers, which has been endorsed by J.P. Moreland, Mike Licona, J Warner Wallace, Frank Turek, and Lee Strobel, and contributed a chapter to the book, Faith Examined: New Arguments for Persistent Questions. He’s a licensed minister, a certified formation therapist, and the Apologetics Lead and Millennial Specialist for The Baptist General Convention of Texas. Eric has spoken and debated on a public level at college campuses where he adamantly defended the Christian faith against skeptic, atheist, and agnostic professors of different worldviews. He holds an associate degree in social science, a bachelor’s degree in theology, and a certificate in apologetics from Biola University.

Daniel Ray came to faith in Jesus Christ in 1993. Since then he has earned two degrees, including a Master’s in Christian Apologetics from Houston Christian University (formerly Houston Baptist University). Daniel began a podcast called “Good Heavens” with Wayne Spencer in 2017. In 2019, he was asked to be co-editor and co-contributor to the “Story of the Cosmos - How the Heavens Declare the Glory of God” with author and Christian Philosopher Dr. Paul Gould. In 2019 Daniel joined the  staff of Watchman Fellowship, where he produces their podcast called “Apologetics Profile”. he has written several essays for Watchman on topics such as annihilationism, naturalism, scientism, and so forth. Daniel annually participates as a speaker for the Defend conference that is held at the New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary in Lousianna. 

Bill Scott is the Director of Ratio Christi International and has spoken at theology and apologetics conferences across the globe. He is also the host of the YouTube Channel, The Truth Convo, which has given him the privilege of interviewing some of the world’s top Christian thinkers. His ministry is without boundaries. Bill has spoken in over 20 countries and has learned to communicate effectively across a multitude of ministry contexts. He has been a youth pastor, senior pastor, prison chaplain, and drug recovery ministry before committing to full-time campus missions. Bill holds a Master of Arts in Cultural Apologetics and a graduate certificate in Philosophical Apologetics from Houston Christian University & is pursuing a Ph.D. in Intercultural Studies at Biola University's Talbot School of Theology.

Carl is the Chapter Director for Ratio Christi at Baylor. There he has helped grow the chapter from  3 members to 15. Carl holds a Bachelor's (B.A.) in History with a minor in Philosophy from Baylor University, and has significant experience teaching Sunday schools, giving presentations, and experience speaking from the pulpit. Carl is a firm believer that apologetics is a discipline dedicated to the great commission, and does not exist to win arguments but to remove barriers between people and faith. Carl is able to speak on topics ranging from all the basic apologetic methods (presuppositional, classical, evidential) to different arguments (Ontological, Cosmological, Moral), to foundational theological doctrines such as the Trinity & the Incarnation.

James Walker, the president of Watchman Fellowship, is a former fourth generation Mormon with over twenty-five years of ministry experience in the field of Christian counter-cult evangelism, apologetics, and discernment. He has been interviewed as an expert on new religious movements and cults on a variety of network television programs including Nightline, ABC World News Tonight, and The News Hour with Jim Lehrer. He has spoken at hundreds of churches, colleges, universities, and seminaries throughout the United States and internationally. Rev. Walker holds a BA in Biblical Studies and an MA in Theology (Summa Cum Laude) from Criswell College in Dallas. He serves as an adjunct professor at Arlington Baptist College, New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary, and Criswell College. He is an ordained Baptist minister and a member of the International Society of Christian Apologetics (ISCA), the Evangelical Press Association (EPA), and serves on the Board of Directors of Evangelical Missions to Non-Christian Religions (EMNR).

Robert ‘s goal in ministry is to teach Christians to think critically, indepently, and logically, to be truth -seekers, and to act with love and respect. While making Christian Apologetics accessable and practical in everyday conversations. he is a graduate from the Cross-Examined Instructor Academy and has a certificate in Christian Apologetics. He is currently the chapter for the University of North Texas Ratio Christi Chapter. Robert also whorks in the God’s Alternative Program and Guardian Parenting Program at Denton Bible Church.

Tim is the Chapter Director for Ratio Christi at Tarrant County College (South Campus). Tim has organized and led numerous apologetics initiatives, including conferences, debates, Q&A panels, and college outreach events, often partnering with ministries like Watchman Fellowship. He has spoken on topics such as “What is Truth?” and “Is the New Testament Reliable?” and participated in a 2024 mission trip to Utah to minister to the Latter-Day Saint community.

He earned a B.S. in Worship Studies from Liberty University and is beginning/pursuing a master’s degree in Christian Apologetics and Theology through Southern Evangelical Seminary Online. Tim is committed to serving students, equipping believers, and engaging the next generation on Texas campuses for Christ.

Thomas has experience in pastoral ministry and has taught classes in Apologetics, Debate, Theology, and Biblical Languages at local churches in South Texas. Thomas believes that every honest question deserves a thoughtful answer, and all Christians share the responsibility to explain what we believe. My mission is to bring the expert training usually reserved for church professionals to everyone, so our church can be more effective, and every believer can confidently share the gospel. Thomas has obtained a B.A.S. in Systematic Theology from Wayland Baptist University, an M.A. in the Philosophy of Religion from Palm Beach Atlantic University, and is currently a Doctoral candidate in the Philosophy of Religion at New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary.