*The following is an excerpt from the Doctor of Ministry Portfolio by Steve Harness titled, “Equipping the Congregation of the Wilton Baptist Church to Defend Their Faith by Employing Timeless Theology and Modern Technology.”
Kevin enjoys streaming Discovery and History Channel programs on his phone. After repeatedly hearing about millions of years, he has pressing questions about his Christian faith and the creation account of Genesis. In the college locker room following practice, some of the girls on Mandy’s volleyball team tease her for being a religious “goody two shoes” and not being active on TikTok. When he gets to work, Tom is confronted by a coworker who has just lost his wife to cancer, and he wants to know how God could let something like this happen. How will Kevin, Mandy, and Tom answer the questions in their heart and the questions others have posed to them? What truth or truths can be shared to answer the evolution debate for Kevin, the worldview drama for Mandy, and the life-and-death struggle for Tom’s coworker?
Like an axiomatic fact, truth is timeless (Ps. 119:89, John 17:17, 2 Tim. 2:15) and does not need defending because it is self-evident. However, the Christian must be able to give an ἀπολογία (apologia), a verbal defense or answer as to why they believe what they believe (1 Pet. 3:15).[1] While some are blinded to the truth, an explanation for the truth must still be shared (Eph. 4:17-18). This portfolio introduces four specific ministry microprojects chosen to equip the Wilton Baptist Church congregation to defend their faith with engaging theology and reasonable apologetics in a technological society. The following pages explain the local church context, the ministry problem, the microprojects, and why they were chosen to assist in equipping the congregation to defend their faith—a congregation with Kevins, Mandys, and Toms.
Ministry Context
Wilton Baptist Church has existed since 1983 in a small town in upstate New York, with just over 17,000 people as of July 2023.[2] The congregation comprises people of various ages and life stages, with 175-200 people attending on Sundays. As the lead pastor, my family and I have lived and served here for 16 years as of 2025.
The congregation comprises people from various backgrounds, economic levels, and learning degrees. We have nurses, educators, truck drivers, and mechanics, among many other occupations. Parents enroll their kids in public, homeschooled, and private Christian schools. Several church students are enrolled in our Wilton Baptist Academy, of which I am the administrator. A few church members are new converts with no previous religious affiliation. Many are converts from other religions, such as Methodism and Catholicism.
Most of the community (and reflected in the congregation) is online with their computers[3] and devices, and I do not know anyone in the church with no cell phone or tablet. Our church is connected to the world via the internet, streaming TV, and digital devices. In addition to the church website, the church has an online presence via Sermon Audio to broadcast our services and social media, including X (formerly Twitter), Instagram, and Facebook. This course of study in the DMIN program climaxed in the launching of a new ministry in our church called “Truth Defended.” Considering a mobile and active congregation living in a technological society, the microprojects have attempted to equip the congregation in an easily accessible and relevant way.
Ministry Problem
The problem I seek to address is that the congregation of the Wilton Baptist Church in Wilton, NY, must be equipped to defend their faith. My cognate of study in the DMIN program is “Theology and Apologetics.” It has prepared me to attempt to answer this problem. The microprojects employed in this portfolio have addressed the problem of equipping the congregation to defend their faith with several modern technological approaches to ministry.
The Wilton Baptist Church must be equipped to defend its faith in this ever-increasingly secular society (2 Tim. 3:13). Christian faith and Bible truth are challenged daily in the workplace, schoolhouse, airwaves, and publications. Lies abound with many ἀντιλέγω (antilegō), gainsayers, who speak against, contradict, and oppose what is true (Titus 1:9).[4] Sadly, as many as two in three Christians in America do not even possess a biblical worldview as Barna reported in 2024.[5] With so many lies and so much noise screaming against Christianity, how can a believer be settled in their faith and more equipped with the truth? Christians need answers. Truth is readily available today. The well-equipped Christian may come alongside the seeker or skeptic and convincingly present the truth. (1 Pet. 3:15). The culmination of the DMIN Portfolio and the microprojects has blossomed into a new and exciting apologetics ministry, Truth Defended, which may impact the congregation of the Wilton Baptist Church to adopt a biblical worldview and be better informed and confident in defending their faith to others.
Explanation and Justification of Micro-Projects
Each microproject chosen for this portfolio is founded on the concept that answers must be communicated to the congregation in this increasingly secular and anti-Christian age. Christians must be encouraged, taught, and equipped to engage individuals and stand with the truth in our culture. The idea of offering an answer or defense for one’s faith comes from Scripture, including passages such as Colossians 4:6, 1 Thessalonians 3:12, Hebrews 13:9, and 1 Peter 3:15 which says, “But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts: and be ready always to answer every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear” (KJV). This “answer” is the word ἀπολογία (apologia)[6] from which apologetics is derived. The Christian is called to be ready to offer a defense, an answer about his faith, to a person with questions. Seekers are searching for the truth, and well-equipped Christians can provide answers while defending their faith with engaging in theology and reasonable apologetics. This phrase, “engaging theology and reasonable apologetics,” is a slogan indicating theology should be interesting and apologetics should make logical sense. The following microprojects are designed to equip the microprojects’ viewers, listeners, and users.
The first microproject is the Ministry Development Plan (MDP). The MDP was chosen first to create a plan or path forward to connect all the other micro-projects and to organize an effective new apologetics ministry within the context of the Wilton Baptist Church. Like Joseph in Egypt and Moses in the Wilderness utilized plans to lead their people, the MDP laid the groundwork for the remaining microprojects and connected practical components to the church, including staffing needs, financial costs, calendar, and schedule for the annual Truth Defended Conference, and promotions. The MDP looked ahead to possible outcomes, problems, and ways to advance the ministry. The ministry email, website, podcast, posters, blog, SM platforms, and software for each ministry component were also selected, and new accounts were set up.
The second microproject is a ministry website. The website name corresponds with the new ministry name, Truth Defended (www.truthdefended.org). The website attempts to solve the problem statement for several practical reasons. (1) The website is always “open” and ready for viewers to study its content. (2) The site is online and easily accessible, so users can anonymously study the website’s content. (3) The website’s content is designed to be interesting, informative, and compelling, featuring blog articles, live recorded conference videos, and audio podcasts that convey engaging theology and reasonable apologetics intending to equip Christians to defend their faith. (4) Several links to helpful online resources and similar ministries are also featured on the website. (5) The website is designed for primary viewing on mobile devices because most website visits are on mobile devices.[7] With this data in mind, the site was designed for cell phones with a simple format that includes clean logos and a non-cluttered design. The website offers the user other excellent examples and resources by linking to Answers in Genesis, whose Ark Encounter and Creation Museum are ministries I have visited often. Their books, media, and vision for sharing God’s Word inspire me. Sharing other effective ministries devoted to theology and apologetics on the website demonstrates a shared biblical worldview and encourages further engagement with other Bible-believing Christians. The website is a good source of ideas and an effective platform for delivering different content via a blog, podcast, recording, and similar digital material.
The third microproject is podcasting. Like Peter and Paul used their voices to declare the truth, the podcasting ministry may be able to equip the congregation to defend its faith by offering an easily accessible and always available teaching podcast featuring engaging theology and reasonable apologetics. The podcast is solo or monologue, with me as the host. Podcasting is a relevant medium for reaching the next generation, and it is projected that 500 million people will listen to podcasts in 2024.[8] Podcasting listenership has doubled over the last decade, with over 25% of the US population listening to podcasts. Most of those listeners are younger as they have grown up with the advancements in digital technology.[9] My target audience is the congregation of the Wilton Baptist Church. Some listeners have sent questions to be answered in each episode’s “Ask Your One” segment. “The Truth Defended” podcast is available on several platforms, including Spotify, Apple Podcast, and iHeart Radio. In addition, links to each episode are found on the Truth Defended website under the “TD Podcast” page.
The fourth and final microproject is posters and brochures. Bible characters have used written or printed material for ministry. Moses carried the Ten Commandments (Exod. 20), and Joshua erected a “Witness Stone” (Josh. 24). For this microproject, I focused on excellence in design, specifically for digital posters—each ministry component required design for a logo, podcast covers, website, and SM platforms. The poster microproject tied all the various elements into a practical culmination, presenting explicit, concise, and consistent materials on the multiple platforms used in the Truth Defended Ministry. The digital social media posters created for this microproject utilized a QR code that directs the viewers to the (1) website, (2) podcast, and (3) the Truth Defended Conference (which was held November 2-3, 2024, at the Wilton Baptist Church). The posters may help the congregation have talking points to share via social media and provide easy access to relevant materials to assist those defending their faith with engaging theology and reasonable apologetics.
Conclusion
Employing timeless theology and modern technology upon a biblical foundation and conviction that truth is accessible today, four micro-projects were completed to equip the congregation to defend their faith. In DMIN 851, the Ministry Development Plan was established, guiding the rest of the microprojects. The MDP flowed directly into DMIN 852 by creating a new, appealing, accessible website, www.truthdefended.org. This site generates traffic and is the launching pad for the rest of the Truth Defended ministry components. In DMIN 853, a podcast was launched and maintained, with several episodes added since its inception. Listeners send in theological questions that are answered one episode at a time. Finally, DMIN 854 supplied creative and attractive promotional digital posters that tie together the previous projects and generate traffic to the other components of this ministry.
The primary audience of the portfolio and the Truth Defended ministry is the congregation of the Wilton Baptist Church. Average Christians like Kevin, Mandy, and Tom (from the introduction) have their faith challenged daily. They are looking for answers, and others are looking to them for answers. As the congregation is equipped to defend their faith, more people in our community, schools, and workplaces will be offered opportunities to respond to the gospel and find answers to their questions.
After evolution challenged his faith, Kevin discovered the Truth Defended Podcast, and his belief in biblical creation was affirmed after hearing several episodes. While he has more questions, he knows the biblical account of the world is reasonable. Even though some girls on the volleyball team are dismissive of Mandy, she gained encouragement from several blog articles about a biblical worldview. While some teammates are focused on individualism, Mandy is focused on her relationship with the Lord. Tom’s co-worker is still struggling with how God could allow cancer to steal his wife’s life. After conversing with the pastor and other Christians at a Truth Defended Conference, Tom was challenged to plant a few seeds of truth while listening and talking to his co-worker. Pinpointing the reason for sickness and death to the Original Sin of Genesis 3 has equipped Tom to share the Gospel and defend his faith compassionately. While these are fictional characters, they represent the people in the congregation who face similar situations every day. With the grace of God, they will be equipped to defend their faith.
The synthesis of timeless truth with modern technology can make the fantastic truth of God’s word available to people who are busy, mobile, and constantly on their phones. Those searching for answers can find the answer to their questions in the Person of the Lord Jesus Christ. God may use the ministry of Truth Defended to equip the Congregation of the Wilton Baptist Church to defend their faith, leading others to His Gospel in the process.
[1] Joseph Henry Thayer, A Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament: Being Grimm’s Wilke’s Clavis Novi Testamenti (New York: Harper & Brothers., 1889), 65.
[2] Census Bureau, “Quick Facts,” Wilton, New York, July 2023. Accessed Jan. 13, 2025. https://www.census.gov/quickfacts/fact/table/wiltontownsaratogacountynewyork/AFN120217.
[3] Census Bureau, “Households with a Computer,” Wilton, New York, July 2023. Accessed Jan. 13, 2025. https://www.census.gov/quickfacts/fact/table/wiltontownsaratogacountynewyork/AFN120217.
[4] Robert L. Thomas, New American Standard Hebrew-Aramaic and Greek Dictionaries: Updated Edition (Anaheim: Foundation Publications, Inc., 1998).
[5] Tracy Munsil, “New Research Reveals the Limitations of Christian Evangelicalism in American Society.” August 6, 2025. Accessed January 13, 2025. https://www.arizonachristian.edu/2024/08/06/new-research-reveals-the-limitations-of-christian-evangelicalism-in-american-society/.
[6] Robert L. Thomas, New American Standard Hebrew-Aramaic and Greek Dictionaries: Updated Edition (Anaheim: Foundation Publications, Inc., 1998).
[7] Josh Howarth, “Internet Traffic from Mobile Devices,” Exploding Topics, October 2024. Accessed January 13, 2025. https://explodingtopics.com/blog/mobile-internet-traffic.
[8] Cue Podcasts, “9 Key Podcast Statistics & Trends for 2024.” Cue, June 27, 2024. Accessed January 13, 2025. https://www.cuepodcasts.com/post/podcast-statistics-2024#:~:text=Most%20People%20in%20the%20US,(192%20million)%20in%202024.
[9] Pew Research Center, “Audio and Podcasting Fact Sheet,” Pew Research Center, June 15, 2023. Accessed January 15,2025. https://www.pewresearch.org/journalism/fact-sheet/audio-and-podcasting/.
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