Josh McDowell

Joslin "Josh" McDowell (born August 17, 1939 in Union City ) is an evangelical American apologist , revival preacher and author.

Life

McDowell grew up with four siblings. He first worked for the Air National Guard, where he trained as an aircraft mechanic. As a result of a head injury, he moved to Kellogg College in Michigan to study law and politics.

By his own admission, he was an agnostic who did research to see if there was any historical evidence of the Christian faith. However, he then turned to evangelicalism because he was convinced of the historical correctness of the biblical narratives instead of finding counter-evidence. He moved to Wheaton College in Illinois, where he received his Bachelor of Arts. In church services and evangelistic events, he spoke about his newfound faith. McDowell then attended the Talbot Theological Seminary of the Christian private university Biola University in La Mirada , California , where he received his Master of Divinity with Magna Cum Laude.

In 1964, McDowell joined Campus Crusade for Christ International (CCC). For several decades, McDowell worked as a traveling evangelist for CCC. For several years he also led an international branch of CCC under the name Josh McDowell Ministry , which is now called Josh.org . McDowell initially gave lectures to students, but soon published many books and from 1970 discussion recordings, later contributions from him were also broadcast on the radio. He also founded the Carelift charity, part of the Global Aid Network (GAIN) and also a branch of Campus for Christ, which has been providing financial and practical aid to the republics of the former Soviet Union since 1991.

By 2015, McDowell held around 24,000 lectures in 118 countries at more than 1,000 universities, in front of over 10 million young people, and also wrote 115 books.

McDowell is married to Dottie Youd with four children and lives in Dallas , Texas.

Awards

• In 1982 McDowell received an honorary degree in law from the Simon Greenleaf School of Law, now Trinity Law School
• 1995 honorary member of the Medical Society of Pediatrics in Russia, in recognition of his work among the children of Russia
• Honorary member of the Russian Club of Scientists

Works

In English (selection)

• Evidence for the Resurrection , Regal Books, Ventura, California, 2009
• The Unshakable Truth: How You Can Experience the 12 Essentials of a Relevant Faith , Harvest House Publishers, 2010
• Evidence for the Historical Jesus: A Compelling Case for His Life and His Claims , Harvest House Publishers, 2011

In German translation

As a sole author

• The fact of the resurrection. Christian literature distribution , Bielefeld 1986. (6th revised edition 2013, ISBN 978-3-89397-712-3 ).
• Jesus - a biblical defense of his deity. Memra , 2nd edition 1986, ISBN 978-3-8149-4007-6 .
• The Bible in the test. Facts and Arguments for the Truth of the Bible. Christian literature distribution, Bielefeld 1992 (2002, ISBN 978-3-89397-490-0 ).
• No way back? Sex, guilt and forgiveness. Verlag der Francke-Buchhandlung , Marburg 1992, ISBN 978-3-86122-016-9 .
• Skeptics find their way. Francke Buchhandlung Verlag, Marburg 1992, ISBN 978-3-88224-958-3 .
• I can not believe that! Answers to skeptical questions. Christian literature distribution, Bielefeld 1997, ISBN 978-3-89397-788-8 .
• Become as God meant me to be. Edition Trobisch 1997, ISBN 978-3-87827-013-3 .
• The papa connection . Gerth Medien , Asslar 2000, ISBN 978-3-89437-633-8 .
• About God and other things. SCM Hänssler , Holzgerlingen 2000, ISBN 978-3-7751-3392-0 .
• Generation Without Attachment: How We Can Keep Our Youth From Self-Destructing Christliche Verlagsgesellschaft, Dillenburg 2002, ISBN 978-3-89436-325-3 .
• Who is this person Hänssler, Holzgerlingen, 7th edition 2002, ISBN 978-3-7751-1656-5 (new editions: Christian Literature Distribution, Bielefeld 2004. SCM Hänssler, Holzgerlingen 2010, ISBN 978-3-7751-4659-3 ).
• The facts of faith: The Bible put to the test: Well-founded answers to challenging questions about God's word , Hänssler, Holzgerlingen 2003, ISBN 978-3-89397-632-4 .
• God's predicate: Infinitely valuable. Hänssler, Holzgerlingen 2004, ISBN 978-3-7751-4164-2 (original title: See yourself as God sees You ).
• Why Potted Plants Don't Answer Prayer: 42 Fallacies About Faith. Christliche Verlagsgesellschaft, Dillenburg (2nd edition 2005, ISBN 978-3-89436-443-4 ).
• The last Christian generation: the crisis is real, the responsibility rests with us. Christliche Verlagsgesellschaft, Dillenburg 2012, ISBN 978-3-89436-939-2 .

As a co-author

• With Don Stewart: Answers to Skeptical Questions About the Christian Faith. Schulte & Gerth, Asslar, 4th edition 1991.
• With Dottie McDowell: Katrin's adventures on the blueberry lake. Gerth Medien, Asslar 1991, ISBN 978-3-87739-941-5 .
• With Bob Hostetler: Give your mind (not) to the cloakroom. Answers to 42 tricky questions about faith. 1994.
• With Bill Wilson: Jesus of Nazareth. Facts and Arguments for Truth of the Gospels. Hänssler, Holzgerlingen 1995, ISBN 978-3-7751-2333-4 .
• With Bob Hostetler, Youth Counseling Handbook: A Competent Guide for Youth Workers, Ministers, Teachers, and Parents. Christliche Verlagsgesellschaft, Dillenburg 1998, ISBN 978-3-89436-176-1 .
• With Paul Lewis: Five, Sex, Seven: How Can We Love Each Other? Leuchter Edition 1999, ISBN 978-3-87482-506-1 .
• With John Gilchrist: Islam put to the test. Gerth Medien 2001, ISBN 978-3-89437-722-9 .
• With Ed Stewart: Knowing God's Will. Christliche Verlagsgesellschaft, Dillenburg 2002, ISBN 978-3-89436-316-1 .
• With Ed Stewart: My boyfriend / girlfriend has a problem: suicidal thoughts. Emergency 112 project. Christliche Verlagsgesellschaft, Dillenburg 2002, ISBN 978-3-89436-313-0 .
• With Ed Stewart: My boyfriend / girlfriend has a problem: sexual abuse. Emergency 112 project. Christliche Verlagsgesellschaft, Dillenburg 2002, ISBN 978-3-89436-323-9 .
• With Ed Stewart: My boyfriend / girlfriend has a problem: death of a loved one. Emergency 112 project. Christliche Verlagsgesellschaft, Dillenburg 2002, ISBN 978-3-89436-322-2 .
• With Ed Stewart: My boyfriend / girlfriend has a problem: Parental separation. Emergency 112 project. Christliche Verlagsgesellschaft, Dillenburg 2002, ISBN 978-3-89436-321-5 .
• With Ed Stewart: My boyfriend / girlfriend has a problem: unwanted pregnancy. Emergency 112 project. Christliche Verlagsgesellschaft, Dillenburg 2002, ISBN 978-3-89436-315-4 .
• With Ed Stewart: My boyfriend / girlfriend has a problem: interpersonal conflict. Emergency call 112 Project Christliche Verlagsgesellschaft, Dillenburg 2002, ISBN 978-3-89436-314-7 .
• With Bob Hostetler: Breakfast, set, go! Family devotions. Hänssler, Holzgerlingen 2003 ISBN 978-3-7751-3967-0 (new edition: Christliche Verlagsgesellschaft, Dillenburg 2012, ISBN 978-3-89436-982-8 ).
• With Ed Stewart: Sexual Abuse / Unwanted Pregnancy. Emergency 112 project. Christliche Verlagsgesellschaft, Dillenburg (2nd edition 2008, ISBN 978-3-89436-673-5 ).
• With Ed Stewart: Finding True Love. Knowing God's Will. Emergency 112 project. Christian publishing company, Dillenburg. (2nd edition 2008, ISBN 978-3-89436-670-4 ).
• With Cristóbal Krusen: A skeptic surrenders. Christian literature distribution, Bielefeld 2012, ISBN 978-3-86699-146-0 .

Web links

• Josh McDowell Ministry website

Individual evidence

1. ↑ Josh McDowell, Cristóbal Krusen: A Skeptic Surrenders . 3. Edition. Christian literature dissemination e. V., Bielefeld 2015, ISBN 978-3-86699-146-0 , pp. 59 .
2. ↑ Randall Herbert Balmer: McDowell, Josh (1939–) . In: Encyclopedia of Evangelicalism . Baylor University Press, Waco 2004, ISBN 1-932792-04-X , pp. 434 (English).
3. ↑ Josh McDowell's biography at koptisch.wordpress.com
4. ↑ josh.org Josh McDowell's biography on his website www.josh.org