Confident Christianity Conference – Ayr
September 26 @ 10:00 am – 4:00 pm
Do you ever find yourself wondering how to respond when friends, family members or colleagues ask difficult questions about Christianity?
Questions about science and faith. Questions about suffering. Questions about judgement, the afterlife, and some of the Bible’s most challenging passages.
Many Christians feel uncertain when these topics arise in conversation. We worry that we won’t know what to say, or that we’ll be caught off guard by a question we’ve never really thought through before.
That’s why Solas is delighted to be partnering once again with Riverside Church Ayr for a full-day Confident Christianity Conference.
Together we’ll explore some of the most common questions people raise about the Christian faith today, including:
- Can belief in God creating the world and modern science co-exist?
- Does God condone warfare and violence in the Bible?
- What does Christianity teach about judgement and the afterlife?
- How can we respond thoughtfully and graciously when difficult questions arise?
As well as helping us think through these important issues, the conference will equip and encourage Christians to share their faith more naturally and confidently in everyday life. Through practical teaching, real-life examples, and opportunities for questions and discussion, we’ll explore how to engage friends, neighbours, colleagues and family members with the good news of Jesus Christ.
Speakers from the Solas team: Steve Osmond and Gavin Matthews along with David Hutchings will help us think carefully about the questions people are asking today, while keeping our focus on the person of Jesus and the hope of the gospel.
The Conference will be on Saturday the 26th of September.
| 09:30 | Doors Open, Registration & Refreshments |
| 10:00 | Conference Begins: Welcome & Opening Worship |
| 10:05 | Devotion & Introduction to David Hutchings |
| 10:15 | Power & Wisdom – David Hutchings |
| 10:45 | Do All Religions Lead to God? – Steve Osmond |
| 11:10 | Solas Ministry Update, Book Offer & Book Signing |
| 11:20 | Tea & Coffee Break |
| 11:45 | Getting the Gospel Out of the 4 Walls of the Church – Gavin Matthews |
| 12:10 | Bookstall Feature |
| 12:15 | Lunch (50 min) |
| 13:05 | Regather & Worship |
| 13:10 | 5 Good Questions – David Hutchings |
| 13:35 | Is God a Moral Monster? – Steve Osmond |
| 14:00 | Coffee Break & Feedback Forms |
| 14:20 | 5 Steps to Answering Tough Questions – Gavin Matthews |
| 14:55 | Question & Answer Panel – David Hutchings, Steve Osmond & Gavin Matthews |
| 15:35 | Closing Remarks, Worship & Prayer |
There will also be opportunities too to ask your own questions during our Q&A session.
Whether you’re someone who regularly talks about your faith or someone who feels nervous at the very thought of it, this conference is designed to encourage, equip and inspire you.
You are warmly invited to join us for this exciting day of teaching, encouragement and practical evangelism.
Ticket information and programme details will be published shortly.
Steve Osmond is a full-time speaker and writer for Solas, focussing primarily on Scotland. He is enthusiastic about evangelism and regularly speaks at universities around the country on the big questions of life and the truth of Christianity from a range of perspectives. He also spends much of his time working with churches and other Christian groups, both to grow their faith and equip them to share their faith in Jesus persuasively.
Gavin Matthews is Solas’s Assistant Director (Scotland). He speaks for Solas in churches and at conferences, writes and presents podcasts. He is a contributor to, and editor of, the Have You Ever Wondered? book. Gavin has been married to Elaine since 1996 and they have three adult children. He has been a member of Perth Baptist Church since 1999.
David Hutchings is a physics teacher and author who studied Physics at the University of York from 2000 to 2004. A Fellow of the Institute of Physics, his books include Of Popes and Unicorns (OUP 2022), God, Stephen Hawking and the Multiverse (SPCK 2020), and Let There Be Science (Lion Hudson 2017). David speaks and writes regularly on the relationship between science, Christianity, philosophy, and history. He lives in York with his wife and two young daughters.
