The AoM Story
The AoM team discovered the need and opportunity to take apologetics to regions outside the West in different ways. For Ben, it was after he had shared his testimony in a church in western Uganda. Monica approached him afterwards and said that pursuing a degree in apologetics was a life long dream of her’s—after she completed her PhD in molecular biology!
For Doug, his eye opening moment was working with a Brazilian team of pastors visiting his church in Colorado. Since joining AoM, Doug has been teaching and coordinating our Introduction to International Apologetics courses.
The team shares roots through their training at Biola University, one of the leading apologetics programs in the world.
The AoM Vision
Apologetics On Mission has the audacious vision of seeing new and self-sustaining communities of leaders contending for faith in Jesus Christ around the world.
AoM’s focus is going to regions where there is little visibility and access to apologetics training, building long term relationships with leaders in those regions to defend biblical Christianity and to empower the next generation to do the same.
The AoM Team
Ben Clifton, President
Ben is one of the founders of Apologetics On Mission and serves as president of the ministry. He and his wife Joey live in Oregon and have two adult children. Ben off-ramped from a career in tech innovation to pursue apologetics ministry work full time in 2017. He holds a master’s degree in apologetics from Biola University, and has traveled and presented extensively around the world.
Doug Anson, Academic Director
Doug is the academic director of Apologetics On Mission, coordinating AoM’s apologetics training courses. Doug and his wife Mija live in Colorado Springs and have two adult boys. Doug is a retired major general, with a dual track career both with the Army and as a civilian at Los Alamos National Laboratory. He holds a master’s degree in apologetics from Biola University, and teaches apologetics at home and on mission.
Bridget Golubinski, Administrator
Bridget works on the administrative side at Apologetics on Mission. She discovered AoM during her studies at Biola University, where she is now pursuing a master’s degree in apologetics. Bridget holds a bachelor’s degree in philosophy from the University of Texas and currently lives in Austin.
Ashley Hemphill, Lecturer and Assistant Course Director
Ashley Hemphill is the mother of 6 children. She and her husband serve with Africa Inland Mission at Rift Valley Academy in Kenya. Ashley teaches Apologetics and Ethics in the 12th grade Bible class, along with an elective course on C.S. Lewis and Imaginative Apologetics. Ashley earned her Master’s in Cultural Apologetics from Houston Christian University in 2020. She is excited to join the AOM team and share her love and passion for apologetics with students from around the world.
Carey Smoak, Lecturer
Carey has a B.S. in biology and chemistry and a M.S.P.H. in epidemiology. He worked for 38 years as an epidemiologist and a statistical programmer and has more than 60 publications to his credit. Carey has a basic certificate in science apologetics through Reasons to Believe. He’s developed two apologetics classes (understanding the flaws in evolution and witnessing to analytical people) that he’s taught at the church he attends. Carey is also a lay elder at his church and co-teaches an adult Sunday school class. He enjoys studying God's Word and sharing what he learns.
Jim Adams, Registrar
Jim serves as the registrar for Apologetics on Mission. He and his wife, Charlene, live in Colorado Springs and have seven adult children. Jim is a retired police officer and now works as a security manager for Compassion International. Jim’s passion is to love and serve both God and neighbor in tangible and meaningful ways.
Ryan Raburn, Lecturer and Eastern Europe Team Leader
Ryan is a lecturer with Apologetics on Mission. He lives in Franklin, TN with his wife and 3 kids where he works as a Physician Assistant in Neurosurgery. He is currently enrolled in the Master of Arts in Christian Apologetics program at Biola University’s Talbot School of Theology. He hopes to continue to teach apologetics at his local church and around the world.
The AoM Volunteers
Dan Williams, Lecturer
Gabor Becht, Translator
Raphael Samuel, Lecturer
Ben Clifton, President
Board of Directors
Doug Anson, Academic Director
Dr Stan Wallace has been in university ministry since 1985, serving with Global Scholars since 2010 and as president since 2014. Stan has done doctoral studies in philosophy at Marquette University and holds a Doctor of Ministry from Talbot School of Theology. Most recently he authored Have We Lost Our Minds? Neuroscience, Neurotheology, the Soul, and Human Flourishing. Dr Wallace produces two monthly podcasts: College Faith and, with Dr J. P. Moreland, Thinking Christianly. He is also a Co-Catalyst for the Lausanne Movement’s Academic Ministry and Educators Network and is on the board of Apologetics on Mission.
Stan Wallace, Board Member
Jim Huston, Board member
Board of References
AoM believes in historic, biblical Christianity as expressed minimally in the Apostle’s Creed. We believe in the inerrancy of the Bible in all it affirms.
For more details on our beliefs and code of conduct, please click below:
