The Defending Your Faith course equip believers with the knowledge and skills to articulate a reasoned defense for their faith in Christ.
Who We Are

The Defending Your Faith course was created by Dr. David Ireland to equip Christ followers with a reasoned defense for their faith without sounding defensive, illogical or out of touch. With proven strategies and knowledge, individuals who take this apologetics course will be able to answer difficult questions posed by skeptics, agnostics, atheists, and even the casual inquirer. Dr. Ireland is the lead pastor of Christ Church in northern New Jersey, a multi-site, non-denominational congregation of evangelical believers guided by the mission of Uniting People to God and People to People. His passion for racial diversity and multi-ethnicity is reflected in Christ Church’s body of believers, which represent approximately 70 nationalities.

Dr. David’s global sensitivity and desire to reach the nations with the gospel of Jesus Christ has led him on numerous teaching engagements in more than 75 countries around the world. Our hope is that through each lesson of this course, your understanding in conversational apologetics will grow and make you a more effective witness for Christ.

What We Provide

The Defending Your Faith online course provides training and strategy in conversational apologetics. The aim of its diverse group of instructors is to strengthen the body of Christ by equipping believers to intelligently and passionately defend their faith and share the gospel message in the midst of a relativistic post-modern world.

All Christ followers are called to share the gospel message and the apostle Paul instructs us to always be prepared to give a reason for the faith we have (1 Peter 3:15). However in today’s society there will be those who oppose our faith in God and Christ, and will try and challenge our beliefs by posing difficult questions. Unfortunately most Christians have not been trained on how to answer these difficult questions without sounding illogical or defensive. This course will not only help you answer difficult questions about the Christian faith but will also provide you with proven strategies to lead the people posing difficult questions toward Christ. Register today to be more effective in advancing the kingdom of God.

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We Believe...

That all Scripture is given by inspiration of God. We understand the whole Bible is inspired in the sense that holy men of God were moved by the Holy Spirit to write the very words of Scripture. We believe the complete inerrancy of the original manuscripts of the whole Bible and that they serve as the only rule of faith and practice (2 Timothy 3:16; 2 Peter 1:21).

That Christ died for our sins, was buried, and rose again the third day, and personally appeared to His disciples (1 Corinthians 15:1-4; Romans 4:25).

In the bodily ascension of Jesus to heaven, His exaltation, and personal, literal, and bodily return the second time for the Church (John 14:2-3; 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18).

Doctrinal Statement
Founder & Online Instructor


Dr. David Ireland is founder and lead pastor of Christ Church, a 9,000-member multisite congregation in New Jersey representing over 70 nationalities. Former diversity consultant to the National Basketball Association, Dr. Ireland has led chapel services for the New York Giants, New York Jets, and at the U.S. Pentagon. Ireland has traveled to more than 75 nations and built a reputation of teaching culturally relevant messages that inspire and empower his global audiences. He is a well-respected columnist contributing to such media outlets like Fox News, Huffington Post, and Patheos. Dr. Ireland is the author of over 20 books including The Great Forgiveness and One in Christ. Ireland has appeared on numerous TV and radio shows including The Dr. Phil Show, The CBS Evening News, The 700 Club, and Focus on the Family. Through his community development corporation, he offers a home for victims of domestic violence.

The Rev. Ireland holds an undergraduate degree in mechanical engineering (Fairleigh Dickinson University), a graduate degree in civil engineering (Stevens Institute of Technology), a master’s degree in theology (Alliance Theological Seminary), and an earned Ph.D. in organizational leadership (Regent University). He recently completed post-doctoral work at the University of Pennsylvania, and is currently a candidate for a graduate degree in social innovation from the University of Cambridge in England. Dr. Ireland was recently appointed as a member of the Governor's Advisory Commission on Faith-Based Initiatives. He serves on the boards of Nyack College and Alliance Theological Seminary. He and his wife, Dr. Marlinda Ireland, have been married since 1984 and have two adult daughters and a son-in-law.

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We Believe…

That all Scripture is given by inspiration of God. We understand the whole Bible is inspired in the sense that holy men of God were moved by the Holy Spirit to write the very words of Scripture. We believe the complete inerrancy of the original manuscripts of the whole Bible and that they serve as the only rule of faith and practice (2 Timothy 3:16; 2 Peter 1:21).

That Christ died for our sins, was buried, and rose again the third day, and personally appeared to His disciples (1 Corinthians 15:1-4; Romans 4:25).

In the bodily Ascension of Jesus to heaven, His exaltation, and personal, literal, and bodily return the second time for the Church (John 14:2-3; 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18).

We believe in the salvation of sinners by grace, through repentance and faith in the perfect and sufficient work of the cross of Calvary by which we obtain remission of sins (Ephesians 2:8-9; Hebrews 9:12; Romans 5:11).

We believe in the necessity of water baptism by immersion in the name of the Eternal Godhead in order to fulfill the command of Christ (Matthew 28:19; Acts 2:36-39; 19:1-6).

We believe in the baptism of the Holy Spirit as an experience subsequent to salvation, with the Scriptural evidence; namely, speaking in other tongues as the Spirit gives utterance (Acts 2:1-4; 8:14-17; 10:44-46; Ephesians 1:13-14).

We believe in the operation of the gifts of the Spirit as enumerated in 1 Corinthians 12-14, as was manifested in the Early Church. We believe in the Spirit-filled life, a life of separation from the world, and perfecting of holiness in the fear of God as an expression of Christian faith (Ephesians 5:18; 2 Corinthians 6:14; 7:1).

We believe in the healing of the body by Divine power, or Divine healing in its varied aspects as practiced in the Early Church (Acts 4:30; Romans 8:11; 1 Corinthians 12:9; James 5:14).

We believe in the Table of the Lord, commonly called Communion, or the Lord’s Supper, for believers (1 Corinthians 11:23-32).

We believe in eternal life for believers (John 3:16; 5:24) and eternal punishment for unbelievers (Mark 9:43-50; 1 Thessalonians 1:9-10; Revelation 20:10-15).

We believe in the reality and personality of Satan and the eternal judgment of Satan and his angels (Matthew 25:41; Revelation 20:10-15).

We believe in the necessity and power of personal and corporate prayer. The gift of prayer has been given to the Church by God and it is the primary way He has chosen to transform people and society (Ezekiel 22:30-31; Matthew 18:18-19; Colossians 4:12-13).


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