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Josh McDowell

Josh McDowell once considered himself an agnostic, believing Christianity was worthless. While a student at Kellogg College in Michigan, he accepted a challenge by a group of Christian students and professors to intellectually examine the claims of Christianity. During his journey to discredit the resurrection of Christ, Josh discovered compelling historical evidence for the reliability of the Christian faith. Then one night when he was unable to sleep or to get Jesus off his mind, Josh prayed to ask Jesus to come into his life and forgive his sins. In the months that followed, Josh’s life changed dramatically as he experienced the power of God’s love. Most noticeable was his renewed relationship with his father -- the town drunk -- whom he never thought he could love again.

Since his conversion, Josh has devoted his life to telling a doubting world about Christ. He transferred to Wheaton College where he completed his college degree. Later he attended Talbot Theological Seminary where he graduated Magna Cum Laude with a master of divinity degree. In 1964, he became a traveling representative of Campus Crusade for Christ International. To this day, his close affiliation with the organization and its founder and former president Bill Bright continues. In 1983, the Josh McDowell Ministry headquarters moved to its current location in Richardson, TX. The ministry employs a staff of 75 people with affiliate offices located throughout the country.

After almost four decades, cutting-edge ministry has become Josh’s mantra for reaching skeptical-minded youth and adults like he once was. Through live events, such as “Why Wait?” “Right from Wrong” and “Project 911,” he has touched the lives of more than seven million young people in 84 countries. Building on his audience and reputation for innovation, in 1990 Josh packaged his unique message and delivery into a popular weekly broadcast, called Josh McDowell Radio, that is heard on about 400 stations throughout the United States.

To date, Josh has written or co-written 77 books on topics ranging from Christian apologetics to common problems facing youth. Several are bestsellers and are recognized as leading books on the Christian faith. Among his most popular contributions on apologetics are Evidence That Demands A Verdict (which he published in 1972 and was recognized by World Magazine as one of the century’s top 40 books) and More Than a Carpenter (his seminary thesis that was written in 12 hours and later published in 1977, and has been translated into more than 50 languages). During the 80s, 90s and into the new millennium, Josh released a string of important books that have become fundamental resources in the areas of youth culture and morality, including Why Wait?, Right From Wrong and The Disconnected Generation: Saving Our Youth From Self-Destruction.

On the international scene, Josh has led close to 7,000 volunteers on bi-annual mission trips to the former Soviet Union, called Operation Carelift. Since 1992, more than 700,000 needy children’s lives have been touched through the ministry’s physical and spiritual support. Mission participants have distributed Christian books and literature and more than 3,036 tons of goods – totaling more than $36 million – to orphanages, hospitals, youth prisons and underprivileged communities throughout Russia, Belarus and Ukraine. As a result, the Josh McDowell Ministry is considered one of the world’s largest evangelistic organizations providing humanitarian aid to the region. This year Josh extended his ministry outreach to Warsaw, Poland, where he lectured 1,600 school teachers on the topic of sex education, only days before the country’s Communist party returned to power.

For 30 years, Josh and his wife, Dottie, have partnered in what he considers his first ministry: family. They have four children and live near the ministry in Dallas.

Contact Information

• Email

• www.josh.org