About Brian Lawson of IN THE WORD Ministries:

Realizing that there are several Brian Lawson’s in the world, identified in some way on the internet, let me introduce myself. I am the one currently living near Wooster, Ohio (USA), having graduated from Central Christian High School (in Kidron, OH) (1985), Cincinnati Bible College (1990), and the University of Akron (1994). That information should be enough to distinguish me from the other Brian Lawson’s in the world.

The intent of this page is not to provide much personal information. I hear it’s dangerous to do such a thing these days. But I’d like to share a little bit of who I am and what I believe as it relates to my involvement with IN THE WORD Ministries and my partnership with Mark McFall of ITW.

In 1984, at the age of 17, I became a Christian. It was at that time that my belief in the Christian God and in the principles of the Christian Bible became strong enough that I made a decision to follow Jesus Christ. That entailed my acceptance of Him as the one who saves my life and as the one to which I’ve given authority over all of my life decisions. I can’t say that I had critically examined various aspects of Christianity at that time, or prior to my conversion. I believed and accepted Christianity due to what I considered to be a real experience of God in the name of Christ.

Since then, after attending Bible college and doing a bit of Bible study on my own, I’ve had many questions about the Biblical content that I’ve examined. I have also had my own doubts about many things in Christianity along the way. In 1999, I joined an e-mail discussion list where non-Christian skeptics challenged my faith with many hard questions and facts that I had not previously encountered. But, through all that has challenged my faith, I still believe that Christianity is true and that its God is real.

On the e-mail list that I mentioned, I met Mark McFall who had just started IN THE WORD (ITW) Ministries. He was already publishing printed newsletters on Biblical and apologetics related issues. Since I had some previous experience with publishing simple websites, we felt the leading of God to work together on making an internet presence for ITW. And so began what you will find here on the ITW website.

I believe in the Christian God and have become convinced that He has a place in His heart for those who aren’t as easily persuaded to believe Christianity as I was at first. Although I don’t have as many answers as I’d like to have to their questions, I believe that God would have me learn from them and share what I believe, and why I believe, with those who think critically. I also feel compelled to make a case against the misinformation and overstated certainty of opponents of Christianity. Not all skeptics misinform and overstate their case, but some do. I’m also aware that some Christians misinform and overstate their case, and I’m compelled to point that out as well on occasion. Nevertheless, such things represent my call to serve with Mark at ITW as a contributing author and webmaster.

So, that’s who I am and what I am about here with IN THE WORD Ministries. You can learn more about what I think by reading my articles. However, let me add that I consider myself to be an evangelical, non-cessationist, amillenialist, not-quite-fundamentalist but rather conservative, (apparently non-denominational) Christian, believing that the Bible is "God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness." If that sentence, or anything in my articles, is a cause for confusion or comment, please feel free to write to me at brian@amtracohio.com. Thank you for your time and interest.

- Brian Lawson, ITW

END                    Posted: 08/06/04