Craig Branch - ARC Director

This is my family. My wife Mary and I have been married for 23 years (yes, I was an old 35 year old who "robbed the cradle"). My oldest daughter Catherine (21) is finishing up at Wheaton College this year and is getting married to John Mark Chestnut (pictured here too) on December 29th. He will be beginning medical school soon (still interviewing at several schools).

Kimberly (18) is our adopted daughter from Romania. She is finishing high school and she has her sights on possibly physical or vocational rehabilitation training. Chip (15) is also adopted from Romania and is a freshman in high school. He is trying to juggle school, football, lacrosse, high school musical, and being the court jester wherever he is, and his walk with the Lord (not necessarily in that order).

[My mother (82) is a five time stroke victim who lives with us and has care givers most of the time.]

I came to Christ at the age of 29, having been a Unitarian, even though I had joined a church and was baptized in a good Baptist church at 11. I came to Christ through an apologetics route. I had to understand Christianity as being true, not just an "emotional crutch."

I attended University of Richmond and Va Commonwealth University, majoring in psychology. I played rugby and tennis in college (quite a unique combination) and became a tennis professional. I served a tour in the Army and played team tennis in Germany.

I later began the "scenic route" through seminary while I served as singles minister at Briarwood Presbyterian Church for 3 years, was a staff member of Search Ministries for two years. The Lord led me into a cult apologetics ministry, Watchman Fellowship, which I helped develop for 15 years, serving as vice-president and Alabama director.
In 1999, the Lord led me to launch a new ministry, the Apologetics Resource Center. Even though I still had a heart for the "largest, yet least evangelized mission field - the cults," I had continued to pursue a deeper, wider level of knowledge and experience in the broad field of apologetics.

As I traveled around the country (and other countries), I began to strongly agree with many of the leaders who were writing book after book, article after article, calling the Church to re-engage God's truth, worldview discipleship, the culture, and evangelism.
Hence, the Apologetics Resource Center. I am so appreciative of my talented wife Mary who finds time to raise our children, plan a wedding, disciple women in the church, provide warm hospitality for all the ministry situations I bring home, and be a wonderful help-mate for me.

Dr. Steve Cowan - Associate Director of ARC

My responsibilities on staff include serving as the director of the Apologetics Institute which integrates apologetics training into local Christian colleges and seminaries, and serving as editor of Areopagus Journal. I am also Associate Professor of Philosophy and Apologetics at Southeastern Bible College and Birmingham Theological Seminary, in Alabama.
Prior to joining ARC, I was pastor of Immanuel Baptist Church in Fayetteville, Arkansas where I served for eight years. I was also an adjunct professor at Southern Baptist Theological Seminary, Midwestern Baptist Theological Seminary, Ouachita Baptist University and a visiting professor at the University of Arkansas.

I became a Christian while attending Calvary Baptist Church in Hattiesburg, MS. I attended the University of Southern Mississippi majoring in the field of Sociology. There I developed a keen interest in philosophy and apologetics and determined that I would pursue these disciplines at the graduate level.

I earned a M.A. and Ph.D. in Philosophy from University of Arkansas as well as the Master of Divinity degree from Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary. My teaching focus has been on Philosophy, Philosophy of Religion, Ethics, Theology, Apologetics and World Religions. I edited two books Five Views on Apologetics (Zondervan) and Who Runs the Church? 4 Views on Church Government (Zondervan), and have published numerous articles in philosophy, apologetics, and theology.

I am married to Ronda (Erwin). We celebrated our 20th anniversary in 2006. Ronda has also been active in ministry, serving as a missionary for the Baptist Student Union in Arkansas with a special focus on internationals, and as a church secretary in Birmingham. We have one son, Oliver Gilchrist, who turns two years old in January, 2007.

Clete Hux - Counter-Cult Apologist of ARC

My main ministry responsibilities include answers to cults and new religious movements. I have been a guest lecturer at over 1,000 churches throughout the U.S. and beyond. I’ve authored numerous articles about cults and new religious trends, appearing as an expert commentator for print, radio, television, and internet media, locally, nationally, and internationally. I have taught apologetics courses at numerous institutions such as Reformed Theological Seminary, Birmingham Theological Seminary (now on teaching faculty), and Westminster Theological Colleges in Perth and Brisbane, Australia.

I earned a Masters of Divinity degree from Birmingham Theological Seminary and I aman ordained Teaching Elder in the Presbyterian Church in America (PCA), having pastored churches from 1981-1990. I was on staff at Watchman Fellowship for 11 years before joining ARC.

Karen and I have been married for over 24 years. During this time she has been a pastor's wife and taught 3 year olds for 11 years in the church Mother's Day Out program. She is now working as the Executive Assistant to the Superintendent for Briarwood Christian School. She is a great helpmeet and the glue that holds the family together.

Michael Hux is the older of the two Hux sons. He grew up at Briarwood Presbyterian Church and School, participating in sports, Fine Arts, and many extra-curricular activities. He's in his junior year at the University of Alabama, majoring in Chemical Engineering. He has a great voice and has accompanied Clete at conferences, providing special music. Like his Dad, he loves the outdoors. Aaron is a senior at Briarwood Christian and has just completed his last year of being the drum major for the marching band. He was recently tapped for the National Honor Society and was selected for Allstate Choir. He is very active in both church and school and is looking forward to college. Aaron plans on majoring in Business Administration, although he hasn't ruled out music and/or ministry.

Front row, left to right, Becky Paul (daughter), Katie Gibson (daughter in law), Hannah Gibson (daughter), Doreen Gibson, Rachel Gibson (daughter). Back row, left to right, Jacob Paul (son in law), Daniel Gibson (son), Keith, Ben Gibson (son).

Keith Gibson - Director of the Kansas City Office

After growing up in a liberal church, I came to faith in Christ in college after attending an apologetics conference with Josh McDowell. I transferred to a college in Florida where helped to plant a new church and served there as youth minister.

I have a B.S. in Psychology and an M.A. in Religion. I am currently enrolled in a Doctoral program. I have served on staff at 5 different churches over the last 22 years. I currently pastor in the Kansas City area. I have been privileged to teach apologetics and cult evangelism classes throughout the Midwest.

Currently I am still raising support for my work with ARC so I support my family by working for a local newspaper.

Allow me to introduce you to the people who mean the most to me. My wife Doreen and I have been married for 21 years. We met and married while we were both in college. Doreen is a fourth grade teacher at Heartland Christian School.

My oldest son, Daniel is a sophomore at Kansas State University and is studying Construction Science. Also pictured is his fiancé, Katie Kurowski. My oldest daughter, Rebecca, is a freshman at the University of Central Missouri where she is an English major. Rebecca is very active in the Baptist Student Union at her university.

Rachel is 15 and a sophomore at Heartland. She would like to study physical therapy. She participates in cheerleading and drama. Ben is our youngest son. He is in the 8th grade at Heartland. He is active in the sport and drama programs. Hannah is the youngest in our family. She is in the fourth grade. She loves music and art.

Brandon Robbins - Staff Apologist & Photographer for Areopagus Journal

I have been a commercial advertising photographer in Birmingham for the past 9 years. Also, I am currently a seminary student seeking both a Masters of Divinity and a Masters of Apologetics degree from Birmingham Theological Seminary. As a staff member of ARC, I am involved in the teaching and training of people in the area of apologetics. My work in the ministry at ARC focuses on cultural and theological issues. I also work on the materials ARC produces such as brochures, pamphlets, powerpoint presentations, etc. I also provide almost all the photography you find in our journal Areopagus. ARC provides me with the opportunity to use both the skills I have gained as a photographer in the market place and the seminary training I have received.

I am a member of Covenant Presbyterian Church, P.C.A. and hope to one day be ordained in that denomination. Apart from ARC I have the opportunity to teach Sunday School and small group settings. For the past two years I have been leading a small group of guys thru a systematic Theology text.

My wife, Katrina and I have been married for 7 years. She enjoys staying at home with our two little girls. Parker is 3 and attends Covenant Day School 3 days a week. She enjoys being read to and pretending to read herself. She has developed leadership qualities which has led her to become very independent. She is in the transitional stage of learning what it means to be a “big sister.” Reese was born on Dec. 8th. The whole family has been enjoying Reese’s arrival.

Katrina and I are excited about the upcoming year of ministry at ARC and pray that God would use us for His glory.

Paul A. Cleveland

Paul is part of the economics faculty at Birmingham-Southern College.  He received his Ph.D. in Economics from Texas A&M University and began his career teaching at SUNY-Geneseo in 1985. After spending one year as a Visiting Professor of Economics at the University of Central Florida in Orlando in 1989, he joined the faculty at Birmingham-Southern. 

His principal academic research is focused on the study of free enterprise and entrepreneurial human action. In pursuing his studies, he also reads heavily in the areas of philosophy, theology, and history, which are helpful in exploring the morality of free markets. One of his main interests is an examination of the proper role of government in society and the problems created when it enacts policy mandates beyond its appropriate boundaries. In the pursuit of showing how to build and promote a free and virtuous society, he has affiliated with the Acton Institute where he serves as an Adjunct Scholar. His articles have been published in numerous places including the Journal of Private Enterprise, Idaho's Economy, Religion and Liberty, and Ideas on Liberty. In addition to his writing, he has lectured on the free market in numerous places including universities in Lithuania, Poland, and Taiwan. Paul speaks regularly at ARC events and contributes to the Areopaugus Journal.

Aaron Eldridge, Part-time Staff

Aaron was raised as a Jehovah's Witness and sees the need for reaching this group that is near to Christ but far from the gospel. Through ARC Aaron will help the church better understand the Jehovah's Witness Worldview while equipping the church to give a Christian response. He offers training to fellow Christians to engage the Witnesses in dialogue centered around the Christian message. His goal is to play a role in leading people out from under the Watchtower Society into the loving arms of Christ. Aaron is currently raising his support with ARC if you would like to support him please send us an email or call our office at 205-408-5260