2015 Ministry Information Packet

Abdu Murray
Embrace the Truth - No Matter the Cost
P.O. Box. 80482, Rochester, MI 48308 • [email protected] • 888-84-TRUTH
ministry overview
What We Believe
The Bible to be the inspired, inerrant Word of God. We hold to the Biblically confirmed
position of sola scriptura, that the Bible alone determines what we embrace in faith and
practice, and is the supreme and final court by which we judge all teachings (Acts
17:11). Read Our Entire Statement Of Faith
Mission Statement
Embrace The Truth exists to: (1) Engage non-Christians with the credibility of the
Gospel in ways that touch the heart and the mind and (2) Equip Christians to do the
same.
P.O. Box. 80482, Rochester, MI 48308 • [email protected] • 888-84-TRUTH
biography
Abdu is the President and co-founder of Embrace the Truth.
For most of his life, Abdu was a proud Muslim who studied the Qur'an and
Islam. After a nine year investigation into the historical, philosophical, and
scientific underpinnings of the major world religions and views, Abdu
discovered that the historic Christian faith alone can answers the questions of the
mind and the longings of the heart.
Abdu has spoken in numerous venues and to diverse audiences in the United
States and internationally, including universities, churches, seminaries, and
conventions. Abdu has appeared as a guest on numerous radio and televisions
programs all over the world. He hosts Embrace The Truth with Abdu Murray, a
radio show heard on WLQV AM 1500 in Detroit and worldwide on the internet
and podcast.
Before going into full time ministry, as an attorney Abdu was named to Best
Lawyers in America and to Michigan Super Lawyers three times. Abdu is an
Adjunct Apologist with Ravi Zacharias International Ministries and is the
Visiting Professor of Christian Thought and Apologetics at the Josh McDowell
Institute of Oklahoma Wesleyan University.
Abdu lives in the Detroit, Michigan area with his wife and their three children.
P.O. Box. 80482, Rochester, MI 48308 • [email protected] • 888-84-TRUTH
Fact Sheet
PRESIDENT AND CO-FOUNDER of Embrace the Truth International.
ADJUNCT APOLOGIST with Ravi Zacharias International Ministries (RZIM)
VISITING PROFESSOR OF CHRISTIAN THOUGHT & APOLOGETICS at the Josh
McDowell Institute of Oklahoma Wesleyan University
NOTABLE SPEAKING ENGAGEMENTS:
Toronto Ahmadiyya Mosque Symposium - The Word of God
Lima, Peru - Multi-campus events with RZIM
National - Unpacking Islam - National Simulcast with Lee Strobel and Mark Mittelberg
West Texas A&M University - Debate with atheist Matt Dillahunty, Should America be a
Nation Under God?
University of Michigan - Repeated engagements sponsored by InterVarsity Christian
Fellowship (IVCF)
Summit Ministries, Colorado Spring, CO - Teaching on Islam
Jogjakarta and Bali, Indonesia - Speaker on apologetics and evangelism to Islam
Orlando, Florida - A Summit on Islam - conference with RZIM
Oklahoma City, Oklahoma - Understanding and Answering Islam - conference with RZIM
Biola University - Speaker for Lebanon Prayer Group
Belo Horizonte, Brazil - Speaker & trainer at missionary training center
Minneapolis, MN - Sahara Challenge - Week-long conference on Muslim evangelism
EDUCATION:
1999 Juris Doctor, University of Michigan - Ann Arbor
1995 Bachelor of Arts, cum laude, Psychology, University of Michigan - Ann Arbor
James B. Angell Scholar, Class Honors
1991 State University of New York at Buffalo - Full Athletic Scholarship for Division I
NCAA Basketball
P.O. Box. 80482, Rochester, MI 48308 • [email protected] • 888-84-TRUTH
Publications
Grand Central Question - Answering the Critical
Questions of the Major Worldviews. InterVarsity Press,
2014
Christians long to share the Gospel with those who hold
different worldviews, only to find themselves ill
equipped to answer such peoples’ deepest questions. As a
result, Christians shrink away from fulfilling the Great
Commission. Grand Central Question (a) explains that
each of the major worldviews tries to address a particular,
focal issue and (b) shows that the Gospel addresses these
genuine issues in intelligent and emotionally satisfying
ways.
Apocalypse Later - Why the Gospel of Peace Must Trump the
Politics of Prophecy in the Middle East. Kregel Publications, 2009
Many evangelicals have used the ongoing conflict in the Middle
East as fodder for debates over how to interpret prophecy,
instead of seeing it as the human tragedy that it is. In Apocalypse
Later, former Muslim Abdu Murray urges Christians to change
their focus from eschatology to the Gospel of Jesus Christ and
equips Christians to demonstrate to non-believers that the
Gospel, and the Gospel alone, provides credible answers to the
deepest questions that come from conflict.
P.O. Box. 80482, Rochester, MI 48308 • [email protected] • 888-84-TRUTH
Speaking Topics
If you would like Abdu to speak at your church, university, or other venue, below is a
list of topics Abdu can cover. The following are only suggested topics. If you have
another topic you would like Abdu to address, please contact Embrace the Truth at
[email protected]
A Son from a Stone
Abdu is familiar with the doctrines of Islam, the world’s second largest religion, and
one of the fastest growing faiths. As he explains important Islamic theological points
and dispels common misconceptions, Abdu teaches Christians powerful ways to share
the Jesus of the Bible with Muslims.
Grand Central Questions - Jesus’ Answers to Every Worldview’s Search
Every major worldview, whether religious or secular, competes for our attention by
claiming to have answers to life’s most important questions. Abdu examines the four
fundamental questions each worldview tries to answer and provides a compassionate,
yet intellectually compelling case for how Jesus—and Jesus alone— provides answers
that satisfy the mind and touch the heart. .
Secular Humanism - Saying Nothing as Loud as We Can
Drawing from the ideas, writing, and statements by top Secular Humanist thinkers,
Abdu examines whether atheism offers any substantive answers to life’s most
fundamental questions. Abdu then compares those answers to the answers offered by
the Gospel.
P.O. Box. 80482, Rochester, MI 48308 • [email protected] • 888-84-TRUTH
Eastern Religions, the New Age, and the Gospel - Which Answers the
Problem of Pain?
Pantheistic religions like Hinduism and Buddhism, along with their Western offspring
like the New Age and Scientology, claim to offer answers to the question of human
suffering. Abdu compares the fundamental ideas of these major worldviews with the
answers the Gospel offers and makes the case that the Gospel provides the
comprehensive answers humanity is searching for.
Islam and the Gospel - Which Gives a True Picture of God’s Greatness?
Islam defines itself as the religion that uniquely exalts God as great. Abdu compares
Islamic theological claims with Christian theology and makes the case that Christianity
offers a true picture of God’s ultimate, uncompromising greatness. In doing so, Abdu
validates the Muslim’s quest for God’s greatness while offering the Gospel as the only
worldview that describes God as truly great.
Sorrow, Justice, and Love - The Gospel as the Solution to Conflict
Following the themes in his book, Apocalypse Later - Why the Gospel of Peace Must Trump
the Politics of Prophecy in the Middle East, Abdu demonstrates how Christians are losing
important opportunities to share the credibility of the Gospel with Jews and Muslims by
focusing on eschatology and prophecy when addressing the Middle East conflict.
Is Faith Just Wishful Thinking?
With the rise of the so-called New Atheists, religious faith—and Christianity specifically
—is being attacked as delusional and even dangerous. Abdu carefully explains that
everyone, from religious people to atheists, have faith. The real issue is what our faith is
placed in. Abdu gives three reasons why faith in Christ isn’t wishful thinking: (1) It
makes sense of the design of the universe and humanity; (2) it makes sense of objective
morality; and (3) it makes sense of the facts surrounding Jesus’ resurrection.
P.O. Box. 80482, Rochester, MI 48308 • [email protected] • 888-84-TRUTH
Exposing Truth’s Cost, Sharing Truth’s Worth
When offering the truth of the Gospel to others, Christians often encounter emotional
objections disguised as moral or intellectual objections. Abdu provides a powerful way
for Christians to get those with whom they are sharing the Gospel to confront their
emotional barriers and fears so that the credibility of the Gospel message can be
sincerely and freely examined.
Suffering, Significance, and Tsunamis - Where is God in a World Filled
with Evil?
Natural disasters, human evil, and even animal suffering have been posed by skeptics
as one of the most significant challenges to theistic belief. But can any theistic faith offer
a credible answer to the challenge of the so-called “Problem of Evil?” Abdu addresses
this tough philosophical problem and demonstrates that it can be—and has been—
answered at the Cross of Christ.
The CASE for Jesus’ Resurrection
Jesus’ resurrection from the dead is the central event that validates the Christian faith.
But is there historical evidence to substantiate this fundamental tenet of Christianity?
Using a memorable acronym, C-A-S-E, Abdu demonstrates that the majority of
historical scholarship, both Christian and non-Christian, agree on four key facts that can
only be explained by Jesus’ resurrection.
Darwin, Jesus, and Morality - What Makes Sense of Moral Values?
Skeptics have increasingly abandoned moral subjectivism (the idea that morals are a
matter of preference or relative to a culture) in favor of moral realism (the idea that
morality is based on an objective view of right and wrong, regardless of preference or
culture). The new atheists, such as Richard Dawkins, Christopher Hitchens, and Sam
Harris, have sold millions of books attacking the moral basis for belief in God and argue
that one can still be an atheist and have an objective basis for morality. Abdu discusses
these ideas and demonstrates that there is no basis for objective morality on a
naturalistic framework and that only belief in God provides that basis.
P.O. Box. 80482, Rochester, MI 48308 • [email protected] • 888-84-TRUTH
Additional Topics:
Effective evangelism using apologetics
The Cosmological Argument for God’s existence
The Teleological Argument for God’s existence
Can we trust the Bible?
Addressing challenges to essential Christian doctrines
Engaging with cults and new religious movements (Jehovah’s Witnesses, Mormonism,
Scientology, the New Spirituality)
P.O. Box. 80482, Rochester, MI 48308 • [email protected] • 888-84-TRUTH
Event Information form
Name of Speaker and Contact Information
I.
A.
Speaker
□ Abdu Murray, President and Co-Founder of Embrace the Truth
International (ETT)
□ Other:_______________________________
B.
ETT Contact Person(s)
□ Joe Mastro - Communications Director
Email: [email protected]
Office: 888-848-7884
Tara Brody - Executive Assistant
Email: [email protected]
Office: 888-848-7884
□ Other:________________________________
Email:________________________________
Cell phone:____________________________
C.
Itinerary
**Please provide the ETT contact person with a complete written
itinerary for this event
P.O. Box. 80482, Rochester, MI 48308 • [email protected] • 888-84-TRUTH
Speaking Schedule and Audience Information
II.
A.
Please list the speaking topics you would like presented along with the dates
for each topic:
_______________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________
B.
For each time slot during which the speaker will present, please provide the
following information:
Arrival Time
For
Sound Check
Start
Time
Amount of
Time for
Speaking
Amount of
Time for
Q&A
C.
Please provide the average age (in years) of the audience
members:_______________
D.
Please describe the appropriate attire for the speaker to
wear:__________________________________________________________
E.
Promotional Materials
1. Will the speaker and/or this event be marketed,
promoted or advertised using videos or flyers?
____Yes
____No
2. If so, have all such videos and flyers
received prior approval from the speaker?
____Yes
____No
a. If not, please send electronic copies of any and all drafts, mockups,
outlines, scripts, designs, etc. for such videos and flyers to the ETT
contact person listed above for prior approval.
P.O. Box. 80482, Rochester, MI 48308 • [email protected] • 888-84-TRUTH
3. Would the event sponsor like ETT to create a promotional
video or design a promotional flyer for this event?
____Yes
□
Video
□
Flyer
____No
Audiovisual and Equipment Information
III.
A.
IT Contact Person
Name:___________________________________
Email:___________________________________
Cell phone:_______________________________
Will the IT contact person be present during the entire event?
____Yes____No
B.
Please indicate the type of microphone with which the speaker will be
provided:
____Lapel (preferred)
C.
____Headset
____Handheld
Internet
1. Name of Wi-Fi network at the
venue:____________________________________________
2. Wi-Fi network login and
password:_________________________________________
D.
Sound
1. Does the venue have a sound system?
____Yes
2. If so, will the speaker be able to connect his
Apple laptop to the venue’s sound system?
____Yes
____No
____No
P.O. Box. 80482, Rochester, MI 48308 • [email protected] • 888-84-TRUTH
E.
Graphics
1. Does the venue have a projector, screen or some
other device for presenting slides, videos, etc.?
____Yes
____No
2. If so, will the speaker be able to connect his
Apple laptop to the venue’s graphics device(s)?
____No
____Yes
3. If not, please describe how the speaker should deliver his file content (e.g.,
flash drive, external hard drive, CD, email, etc.) so that it can be presented
using the venue’s system(s):
_______________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________
4. Will the venue’s graphics device(s) support a
presentation created using the software program Keynote? ____Yes ____No
5. Please list any other presentation software programs that the venue’s
graphics device(s) will support (e.g., PowerPoint, Prezi, YouTube, etc.):
_______________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________
F.
Technical Support
Will the event sponsor provide the speaker
with a volunteer or IT person to manager
sound, slides, videos, media, etc.?
G.
____Yes
____No
____Yes
____No
Recordings
1. Will this event be recorded?
2. If so, once the event is complete please send copies of all audio files, video
files, CDs and/or DVDs to:
Embrace the Truth
P.O. Box 80482
Rochester, MI 48308
H.
Podium
**Please provide the ETT speaker with a podium (without a chair)
P.O. Box. 80482, Rochester, MI 48308 • [email protected] • 888-84-TRUTH
Honorarium and Expenses
IV.
A.
Honorarium
ETT charges the following speaking honorariums:
•
•
B.
Out-of-state speaking event: $1500 for Day 1 and $500 for each
additional day
In-state speaking event: $1000 for Day 1 and $500 for each additional day
Expenses
1. Please note that the event sponsor is responsible for covering the
following expenses incurred by the speaker:
•
•
•
•
Travel expenses (one roundtrip plane ticket if the event is out-of-state)
Meals (for one adult and for each day of the event)
Lodging (a single-person hotel room for each night the speaker is required
to be away from home)
Rental car (for the duration of the event, but only if a driver will not be
provided)
2. Expense reimbursement invoices will be sent within 10 days after the
event. Please provide the following information regarding the individual to
whom expense reimbursement and invoice documentation should be sent:
Name:___________________________________________
Address:_________________________________________
Email:___________________________________________
Cell phone:_______________________________________
P.O. Box. 80482, Rochester, MI 48308 • [email protected] • 888-84-TRUTH
Arrival and Lodging Information
V.
A.
Driver
1. Will the event sponsor provide a driver for the
speaker to transport him to and from the airport, the hotel
and the location at which the event is to be held?
____Yes
____No
2. If so, please provide the following information regarding the driver:
Name:___________________________________
Email:___________________________________
Cell phone:_______________________________
B.
Lodging
Can you suggest a hotel close to the venue?
Name:___________________________________________
Address:_________________________________________
Website:_________________________________________
Phone number:____________________________________
Resource Table and Merchandise Sales
VI.
A.
Resource Table
1. Will a resource table be provided for the speaker?
____Yes
____No
2. If so, will a volunteer be provided to help run the table? ____Yes ____No
B.
Merchandise Sales
1. May the speaker sell ETT materials (e.g., DVDs,
CDs, books, etc.) at this event?
____Yes
____No
a. If so, please select one of the following two options with regard to book
sales:
□ ETT will (a) purchase the books from the publisher and have them
shipped to the event location, (b) retain all profits from sales, and
(c) pay to have any unsold books shipped back to the publisher.
P.O. Box. 80482, Rochester, MI 48308 • [email protected] • 888-84-TRUTH
□ The event sponsor will (a) purchase the books from the publisher
and have them shipped to the event location, (b) retain all profits
from sales, and (c) pay to have any unsold books shipped back to
the publisher.
Note: If the event sponsor selects this second option and
provides a volunteer to sell books, the speaker will provide the
volunteer with an iPad equipped with Square Reader for
purposes of processing sale transactions using credit cards.
2. Do the Wi-Fi network’s security features
prevent or block credit card transactions?
VII.
____Yes
____No
Prayer
How should we partner with the event sponsor in prayer for its ministry, its
community, and this event?
________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
VIII.
Additional Request or Questions
Please list here any additional requests or questions you may
have:
________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
P.O. Box. 80482, Rochester, MI 48308 • [email protected] • 888-84-TRUTH