Dig & Delve answers the skeptics’ challenge

Carrie Marston
Special to Spur Ottawa

Life is full of questions. This year’s Dig & Delve apologetics conference takes aim at some of life’s biggest questions and skeptics’ most common reasons for rejecting faith through the theme, “I can’t believe the Bible because…”.

“This conference dives into the hardest questions that Sunday school and church might not be able to answer,” says Andy Falleur, pastor of Calvary Fellowship. “Where else are we going to get the truth? Our family? Our friends? Not even the people closest to us may tell us the whole truth.”

This is Dig & Delve’s third year. The conference has become a well anticipated event, especially among young adults, whose faith is often challenged by their peers. Falleur, a member of the steering committee, says people anticipate the conference because they crave that “Aha” moment, where they finally understand something new that they wondered about for a long time.

“At times like this, the ability to give a reason for your faith in Jesus becomes ever more important.”

“They want to drink it all in,” Falleur says, “like fresh clean water from a hose or stream.”

Dig & Delve brings in top scholars to discuss faith and life. The conference seeks to foster an atmosphere of mutual respect where Christians and skeptics can discuss honest questions and learn from the best scholars, who have studied these questions for decades.

Topics for this year include the wrath of God, how the Bible treats women, biblical accounts of “convenient mythical stories”, genocide, war, human sacrifice, and more.

Kenny Wallace, who attended last year, says, “This is a safe place to explore topics that matter, in the context of existing friendships. These questions are asked by young adults who want to know if the Christian faith can hold up to the scrutiny of tough cultural questions.”

“These scholars give more than liner answers. You will talk about [what they say] even after the conference,” Falleur adds.

Another aspect that excites Falleur is the broad support for Dig & Delve. This is one of few local events, he says, that appeals to all Christians.

“We live amid the fragments and ruins of Christendom,” states local pastor George Sinclair. “At times like this, the ability to give a reason for your faith in Jesus becomes ever more important. We Christians need apologetics to keep our faith fresh and growing. People can benefit from YouTube and podcasts, but there is something truly powerful about attending something live.”

Dig & Delve starts November 4, at 7 p.m., at Dominion Chalmers United Church. They also have sessions scheduled all day November 5, starting at 9 a.m.