Locations
coming to a city near you
TAURANGA
9:00 am – 4:00 pm | 05 September 2020
Doors open 8:30 am
St Peters in the City | 130 Spring Street, Tauranga 3110
Early bird Standard Tickets $39 – save $10
Early bird Concession Tickets $34 – save $10
Early bird prices expire Monday 17 August
AUCKLAND
9:00 am – 4:00 pm | 12 September 2020
Doors open 8:30 am
St Columba Presbyterian Church | 480 Ti Rakau Drive, Botany Downs, Auckland 2013
Early bird Standard Tickets $39 – save $10
Early bird Concession Tickets $34 – save $10
Early bird prices expire Monday 24 August
CHRISTCHURCH
9:00 am – 4:00 pm | 26 September 2020
Doors open 8:30 am
Rutland Street Church | 12 Rutland Street, St Albans | Christchurch
Early bird Standard Tickets $39 – save $10
Early bird Concession Tickets $34 – save $10
Early bird prices expire Monday 7 September
Topics
overcome tough questions about faith and the changing culture
Presenters
powerful communicators from around New Zealand
Eric George
Eric George is an indigenous academic, community leader and christian apologist based in Auckland, hailing from Polynesian (Samoan/Maori) and European (English/Italian) ancestry. Eric was given the Maori name ‘Ngahoro,’ from his mother’s side and is a blood relative descendent of the Maori sage and historian, Takaanui Tarakawa. He also holds a Samoan matai chiefly title ‘Pei’ (from the village of Neiafu, Alataua Sisifo, Savaii), from his father’s side.
With a background in comparative religion, theology, biblical studies and anthropology, he currently serves vocationally as extramural Assistant Professor of Theology & Biblical Studies with World Wide Evangelical Seminary. Eric has previously been a guest lecturer with Te Wananga o Aotearoa (Social Services) and is pursuing graduate and postgraduate studies in biblical studies and philosophy of religion through Bible University and Nations University.
As a leader in service to his communities, Eric is actively engaged in numerous Iwi committees and is the Vice-Chair of STMA (Samoa Tofia Mai Le Atua) Inc., an NGO focussing on humanitarian aid, education and economic initiatives to Samoa and the wider South Pacific Region.
Eric is an effective communicator and is passionate in presenting down-to-earth, accessible but powerful lectures concerning a wide range of topics, and is no stranger to using humour as a ‘vehicle’ to communicate ideas. Presentations of any length on such topics are available and can be adjusted to be delivered to youth or adults alike.
Brendan Malone
Brendan Malone is the Director of LifeNET NZ. He has been working full-time in pro-life, marriage, and family ministry for the last 14 years where he speaks at churches, universities, high schools, and conferences on bioethics and sexuality issues throughout New Zealand and Australia. During that time he has delivered over 500 presentations, and spoken to more than 30,000 people. He is one of the founders of ACTIV8 Pro-Life Training Week – an annual philosophy, apologetics, and media/social-media training event for young adults which has been running for 10 years in New Zealand and over 7 years in Australia. He is married to Katie and they have five children. Brendan also has a background in communications and media training, and he regularly connects with people in the online space via his YouTube channel which has approximately 20,000 subscribers.
Shawn Means
Shawn is a mathematician who uses maths to help biologists figure out biological problems — ranging from signals for muscles to contract, to livers surviving viruses and neurons networking together. He loves to teach on diverse issues from a Christian perspective such as politics in science and how mathematics itself reflects a great mathematical creator. Shawn balances all this cerebral stuff with drumming in worship teams and his band, and sharing his own variety of spicy New Mexican dishes with just about anyone willing to taste.
Info
There are many cultural issues Christians find difficult to navigate and give thoughtful, compassionate, and biblical answers to. The Faith and Culture Forum is a one-day event with some of New Zealand’s best speakers on current cultural issues. Our speakers will equip you with answers to some of the toughest questions facing Christians in New Zealand today, leaving you with greater confidence to enter into the hard conversations of our times from a Christian perspective.
Testimonials
here’s what people have had to say about previous Thinking Matters events
It was absolutely stupendous – what an amazing line-up of supremely gifted speakers! If Christianity can produce this level of excellence it is even more proof that God enables us to live up to our true potential!
The speakers were so gracious and the clarity that they delivered their message with was outstanding.
So brilliant once again! I cannot get over how relevant and needed these conversations are. These issues are so complicated and I really appreciate hearing about them from people who have poured time and research in them.
In Action
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Get in touch
Have a question? Don’t hesitate to ask!