The Oxford Centre for Christian Apologetics (OCCA) is an exciting partnership between Ravi Zacharias International Ministries (RZIM) and Wycliffe Hall, a Permanent Private Hall of Oxford University. The Centre for Christian Apologetics seeks to change the profile of evangelism around the world.
For those with a passion to make Christ known, studying at the OCCA is a life transforming experience combining effective evangelism with academic rigour. The OCCA brings together cutting edge theologians and world class evangelists in a centre of excellence, both in academic study and evangelistic practice.
We currently offer 2 courses:
For many within the countries of the west, Christian faith is no longer thought of as a serious option for thinking people. Not only does our culture drift away from Christian values, it increasingly disdains and ignores Christian voices within it. In fact, very often, the Christian voices often have little to say. There is a contingent of intelligent, orthodox Christians who can comment on and speak credibly into the issues which matter in our culture, mount a robust defence of Christianity against its numerous opponents, and commend Christian faith as truth for the future and not just for the past.
The Certificate in Christian Apologetics offers the opportunity to spend a full academic year in the inspiring and stimulating surroundings of Oxford. Students join in with Wycliffe Hall's regular programme of teaching and evangelistic outreach to churches, prisons, schools and universities around the country. The course also includes three invaluable equipping weekends with RZIM, as well as the chance to accompany RZIM staff (Michael Ramsden and Amy Orr-Ewing) on ministry and mission events. The combination of these components provides unparalleled cutting-edge training in evangelism and apologetics.
The eight week Business Programme is designed for those who unable to dedicate a year to full-time study but are able to invest two months in apologetics training. It is the perfect choice for those seeking to sharpen evangelistic and apologetic skills for the workplace.
This programme includes eight weeks of teaching on assorted core apologetics modules, such as 'other religions', 'science and religion', 'cultural apologetics', as well as various lectures on vocation and the workplace. One week of the programme is spent in Hungary at the European Leadership Forum and for the final week of the programme students attend the RZIM Zacharias Trust Oxford Summer School.
In addition to first-rate teaching in apologetics and evangelism, the Business Programme students will have the opportunity to develop their preaching skills and to be involved in the vibrant worshipping community of Wycliffe Hall.
Core lecturers on the programme include Professor Alister McGrath, Professor John Lennox, Dr Michael Green, Michael Ramsden and Amy Orr-Ewing. Owing to the small group size - just twelve students - friendships develop quickly and valuable interaction between one another and lecturers is a highlight of the programme.
This programme provides the opportunity for a spiritual retreat to refresh, recalibrate, retool and then re-engage with the world around you.
