Contributors

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  Jerry Root

  Professor, Christopher W. Mitchell Senior Fellow for C.S. Lewis Studies
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Team Members

Jerry Root
Professor, Christopher W. Mitchell Senior Fellow for C.S. Lewis Studies
Jerry Root is the Christopher W. Mitchell Senior Fellow for C.S. Lewis Studies at the C.S. Lewis Institute; Emeritus Professor of Wheaton College in Wheaton, Illinois and a visiting Professor at Biola University. He received his Ph.D. from the Open University through the Oxford Centre for Missions Studies. Jerry has nine published books, as well as numerous articles and publications about C. S. Lewis and evangelism in other books, journals, and periodicals, as well as read numerous academic papers at various academic venues. Recently, he published, Splendour in the Dark, a book about C. S. Lewis’s narrative poem Dymer (the book also includes Lewis’s 100-page poem). Jerry has lectured on Lewis topics at 79 Universities in 19 different countries.
 
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  Sharon Dirckx

  Author
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Team Members

Sharon Dirckx
Author
Sharon Dirckx is a speaker and author whose work focuses on responding to the spiritual and faith-related questions that people ask today. She speaks and lectures across the UK and internationally, in workplaces, universities, schools, churches and conferences. Sharon’s passion is sharing with others how and why the person of Jesus Christ remains as relevant as ever to the pertinent questions of our time. She wrote the award-winning book entitled: Why?: Looking at God, evil and personal suffering, was the contributor to best-selling author, Lee Strobel’s book and documentary, The Case for Heaven (Zondervan 2021), and most recently wrote Broken Planet, scientifically answering questions about natural disasters. Dirckx has a Ph.D. in brain imaging from the University of Cambridge.
 
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  Joel Woodruff

  President, C.S. Lewis Institute
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Team Members

Joel Woodruff
President, C.S. Lewis Institute
Joel Woodruff, President, C.S. Lewis Institute, has worked in higher education, “tent-making,” nonprofit administration, and pastoral ministries in Alaska, Israel, Hungary, France, and Northern Virginia. He served as Dean of Students, Chaplain, and Professor of Bible & Theology at European Bible Institute, where he helped train Europeans both for professional ministry and to be Christian leaders in the marketplace. Prior to joining the Institute, he was on the leadership team of Oakwood Services International, a nonprofit educational and humanitarian organization. He is a graduate of Wheaton College, earned his M.Div. from Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary, and has a doctorate in Organizational Leadership from Nova Southeastern University. As a Parish-Pulpit Fellow, he studied Biblical Backgrounds & Archaeology in Israel for a year.
 
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  Greg Koukl

  Apologist
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Team Members

Greg Koukl
Apologist
Greg Koukl is a Christian apologist, radio talk show host, author, speaker and founder of the Christian apologetics organization Stand to Reason. Koukl received an M.A. in Philosophy of Religion and Ethics from Talbot School of Theology, and also an M.A. in Christian apologetics from Simon Greenleaf School of Law. He has authored or co-authored several books including The Story of Reality: How the World Began, How It Ends and Everything Important that Happens in Between and Tactics.
 
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  Randy Newman

  Senior Fellow for Apologetics and Evangelism, CSLI
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Team Members

Randy Newman
Senior Fellow for Apologetics and Evangelism, CSLI
Randy Newman (1956-2024) was the Senior Fellow for Apologetics and Evangelism at the C.S. Lewis Institute. He taught at several evangelical seminaries. After serving for over 30 years with Campus Crusade for Christ, he established Connection Points, a ministry to help Christians engage people’s hearts the way Jesus did. He has written seven books, Questioning Evangelism, Corner Conversations, Bringing the Gospel Home, Engaging with Jewish People, Unlikely Converts: Improbable Stories of Faith and What They Teach Us About Evangelism, Mere Evangelism. and his most recent, Questioning Faith: Indirect Journeys of Belief through Terrains of Doubt. Randy has also written numerous articles about evangelism and other ways our lives intertwine with God’s creation. He earned his MDiv and PhD in Intercultural Studies from Trinity International University. Randy went home to be with the Lord in May 2024.
 
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  Thomas A. Tarrants

  Author, President Emeritus, CSLI
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Team Members



Thomas A. Tarrants

Author, President Emeritus, CSLI

Thomas A. Tarrants is President Emeritus of the C.S. Lewis Institute. After serving twelve years as president and nine years as vice President, he retired from his position as Vice President for Ministry and Director, Washington Area Fellows Program, with CSLI in June 2019. He holds a Master's of Divinity Degree, as well as a Doctor of Ministry Degree in Christian Spirituality. Tom is an ordained minister in the Evangelical Church Alliance and a member of the Evangelical Theological Society. He spends his time writing, mentoring, consulting and traveling. His life story is told in Consumed by Hate, Redeemed by Love, published by Thomas Nelson Publishers.

 

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  Aimee Riegert

  CSLI Fellow
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Team Members

Aimee Riegert
CSLI Fellow
Aimee Riegert, CSLI Fellow, earned bachelor’s degrees in mathematics and foreign language studies from Southern Methodist University. In addition to supporting various national security efforts in Northern Virginia, she has worked as an itinerant high school math teacher and drama coach, and has served in women’s ministries, praise teams, on the adult support team for Young Life and as a “mentor mom” for MOPS International ministries, as well as English instructor in several ESL programs in Japan. She is a graduate of the C.S. Lewis Institute Year One Fellows Program.
 
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  Dave Chaves

  Technology and Product Development Manager, CSLI
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Team Members



Dave Chaves

Technology and Product Development Manager, CSLI

Dave Chaves, Technology and Product Development Manager, has worked in nonprofit, Christian communications for over 10 years, including most recently with Five Talents USA. He holds a master’s degree from Georgetown University and an MDiv from Africa International University. He’s been involved in cross-cultural missions in East Africa for over 10 years and is an Associate Missionary with the Society of Anglican Missionaries and Senders.  Dave met his lovely wife Lucy in Kenya and they have four children. He is excited to be part of the CSLI team and to support communications and technology to further the ministry of discipleship.


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  Steve King

  Pastor
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Team Members

Steve King
Pastor
Steve King served as the Senior Pastor at Cherrydale Baptist Church in Arlington, VA from 1983 to 2019, and Senior Pastor Emeritus from 2019-2022. Steve has a passion to make disciples who love God and people above all else. He hosted Renewing Hope on WAVA 105.1 FM for 26 years, led the Band of Shepherds pastors’ fellowship for 30 years, served on the board of Pioneers International for 26 years, was on the leadership team of One Heart DC and is lecturer and writer for the C.S. Lewis Institute. He is the author of Beware the Slow Leaks – eight ways ministry leaders can thrive and finish strong (Salem Books). Steve holds degrees from the University of Georgia (BBA) and Western Seminary (MDiv).
 
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  Ben Doggett

  Director of Worship
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Team Members

Ben Doggett
Director of WorshipBen Doggett serves as the Director of Worship at Capital Presbyterian Church in Herndon, Virginia. He is a graduate of Reformed Theological Seminary and a Fellow of the C.S. Lewis Institute. Ben’s music is used for corporate worship by various denominations and is featured on the album Deep to Deep as well as at www.bendoggettmusic.com