Course Overview
Introduction
For many within the countries of the West, the Christian faith is no longer thought of as a serious option for thinking people. Not only does our culture tend to drift away from Christian values, it increasingly disdains and ignores Christian voices within it. In fact, very often, the Christian voices 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 Oxford Centre for Christian Apologetics provides a unique opportunity to receive outstanding teaching and evangelistic training.
The Oxford Centre for Christian Apologetics (OCCA) is a partnership between Ravi Zacharias International Ministries (RZIM) and Wycliffe Hall, a Permanent Private Hall of Oxford University.
By coming to study at the OCCA you will:
- Receive solid biblical grounding based upon evangelical conviction
- Be taught how to face today's challenges to Christian thought with philosophically astute academic excellence
- Apply your learning in practical evangelistic experience
- Have the opportunity to question and respond to material you encounter
- Be encouraged to take research initiative, helping to sharpen your mind
- Receive training that will shape a lifetime
- Be equipped to be able to speak for Christ in the public sphere
The courses currently on offer are:
One Day
Training days are an ideal introduction to the importance of apologetics and how it can make a difference to the way we not only think about our faith but also the way we communicate it. Subjects covered by our team are deliberately topical, focusing on contemporary issues, and leave plenty of opportunity for delegate questions
RZIM Europe Training days
One Week
The Oxford Annual Summer School is a one week intensive training course in evangelism and apologetics. Held in one of the colleges of Oxford University, the course follows a particular theme each year and is taught by various members of the RZIM global team. It is an exciting opportunity to be taught by some of the world’s leading apologists in such an inspiring environment. The programme also provides a good introduction to the type of teaching we offer at the Oxford Centre for Christian Apologetics.
RZIM Oxford Summer SchoolSix Week full-time Programme
This course is designed for those in the workplace who are unable to dedicate a year to full-time study but who are able to invest six weeks in apologetics training. It is the perfect choice for those seeking to go deeper in their Christian witness and wishing to sharpen their evangelistic and apologetics skills. It covers teaching in evangelism, apologetics, Biblical studies and workplace evangelism. Students attend the annual Oxford Summer School in the sixth week of the programme.
One Year full-time Course
This one-year course is designed for those who wish to dedicate a full academic year immersing themselves in evangelism and apologetics. The emphasis of the course is upon training in practical evangelism and, as well as in-depth teaching in apologetics, students are given the opportunity to use what they have learned in real ministry settings. An integral part of the course is the close mentoring of our students to equip them according to their specific gifting.
One Year full-time Course in Christian Apologetics (CTPS)
NEW! Two year full-time Master's Programme
The two year full time Master's in Theology is an exciting addition to the OCCA portfolio of courses. The course is designed to progress existing theological knowledge in a way that informs future ministry and allows students to think critically about mission and apologetics in the contemporary world. The combination of theological training and practical missional opportunities is a unique feature of this Master's programme and students are awarded a University of Oxford Master’s degree upon successful completion of the course.
Student Endorsements
My year in the OCCA course proved to be pivotal in my life. The formal teaching enlarged my understanding of the gospel and transformed my views on evangelism, and the ample opportunity for participating in mission and Alpha courses gave me much needed practical experience. This space for learning, reflecting and doing proved vital in my discerning process, as I transition from a career in law towards vocational evangelistic ministry.
Wendy Quay, Australia, Class of 2006
When I heard about the OCCA the first thought that crossed my mind was ‘Finally! I will be studying what I really care about!‘ OCCA is really exciting to me because it is a one-of-a-kind programme training people in such an important field and by the top people in that field. I feel immensely blessed by OCCA.
Diana Farhood, USA, Class of 2010
