Lee Strobel

Template:Use mdy dates Template:Infobox writer Lee Patrick Strobel (born January 25, 1952) is an American Christian author and a former investigative journalist.<ref name="GHInterview">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> He has written several books, including four that received ECPA Christian Book Awards (1994, 1999, 2001, 2005)<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}. ecpa.org</ref> and a series which addresses challenges to the veracity of Christianity.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> He also hosted a television program called Faith Under Fire on PAX TV<ref>Template:Cite news Template:Dead link</ref> and runs a video apologetics web site.

Early life and education

Strobel was born in Arlington Heights, Illinois. He received a journalism degree from the University of Missouri and a Master of Studies in Law degree from Yale Law School.<ref>Nancy De Gennaro, Bestselling ‘Case for Christ’ author to speak at local church, dnj.com, USA, October 23, 2014</ref>

Career

Lee was a journalist for the Chicago Tribune and other newspapers for 14 years. In 1980, the UPI Illinois Editors Association newspaper award program gave him a first place for public service (the Len H. Small Memorial award) for his coverage of the Ford Pinto crash trial involving a class-action lawsuit against the Ford Motor Company in Winamac, Indiana.<ref name="tribune">Template:Cite news</ref><ref name="tribune2">Template:Cite news</ref> Strobel later became assistant managing editor of the Daily Herald, before leaving journalism in 1987.<ref>Daley, Steve. "Paper Didn't Trample Privacy With Scoop", Chicago Tribune. May 25, 1986. Retrieved March 24, 2019.</ref><ref>Swartz, Tracy. "Former Tribune journalist to premiere his new Christian film in Chicago", Chicago Tribune. March 10, 2017. Retrieved March 24, 2019.</ref>

Strobel was an atheist when he began investigating the biblical claims about Jesus Christ after his wife's conversion. Prompted by the results of his investigation, he became a Christian at the age of 29.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

Ministry

Strobel was teaching pastor of Willow Creek Community Church in South Barrington, Illinois, from 1987 to 2000.<ref>Mary Alice Benoit, WILLOW CREEK PASTOR FOLLOWING HIS CALLING TO CALIFORNIA CONGREGATION, chicagotribune.com, USA, October 15, 1999</ref> In 2000, he became pastor at Saddleback Church in Lake Forest, California.<ref>Elaine Gale, New Face of Faith, latimes.com, USA, March 12, 2000</ref> In 2004, he left his post as pastor to host the Christian apologetics show Faith Under Fire.<ref>Hartford Courant, New show 'Faith Under Fire' debates spirituality, tdn.com, USA, October 2, 2004</ref> In 2014, he became a teaching pastor at Woodlands Church in The Woodlands, Texas, and a professor of Christian thought at Houston Baptist University.<ref>Allan Turner, An atheist finds God: Lee Strobel joins Houston church, university, houstonchronicle.com, USA, February 9, 2015</ref>

Recognition

In 2007, he was awarded an honorary doctoral degree by Southern Evangelical Seminary in recognition of his contributions to Christian apologetics.<ref>Tammy Ayer, Lee Strobel brings stories of grace to Fort Myers, news-press.com, USA, March 23, 2015</ref>

Personal life

Strobel and his wife Leslie have two children and several grandchildren. His daughter Alison is a novelist,<ref name="Strobel_bio">About Lee Strobel Template:Webarchive. Leestrobel.com. Retrieved on November 14, 2011.</ref> and his son Kyle is an Assistant Professor of Spiritual Theology and Formation at the Talbot School of Theology.

Film

Strobel appeared in the 2016 film God's Not Dead 2.<ref>Template:Cite news Retrieved November 2016</ref>

A film titled The Case for Christ, based on Strobel's book, had its theatrical release in April 2017.<ref>Template:Cite news Retrieved November 2016</ref> The film was directed by Jonathan M. Gunn and is about an atheist reporter who tries to prove Christianity to be a cult.<ref>Template:Cite news Retrieved November 2016</ref> The film was produced by Triple Horse Studios and distributed by Pure Flix Entertainment.Template:Cn

Bibliography

• Reckless Homicide? Ford's Pinto Trial (1980) Template:ISBN
• Inside the Mind of Unchurched Harry and Mary (1993) Template:ISBN
• What Jesus Would Say (1994) Template:ISBN
• God's Outrageous Claims (1998) Template:ISBN
• Surviving a Spiritual Mismatch in Marriage (2002) Template:ISBN
• Experiencing the Passion of Jesus (2004), with Garry Poole, Zondervan, Template:ISBN
• Discussing the Da Vinci Code: Exploring the Issues Raised by the Book and Movie (2006) Template:ISBN
• The Unexpected Adventure: Taking Everyday Risks to Talk with People about Jesus (May 29, 2009), Zondervan, Template:ISBN
• Today's Moment of Truth: Devotions to Deepen Your Faith in Christ (July 12, 2016), Zondervan, Template:ISBN

"The Case for..." series

• The Case for Christ: A Journalist's Personal Investigation of the Evidence for Jesus (September 1, 1998), Zondervan, Template:ISBN
• The Case for Faith: A Journalist Investigates the Toughest Objections to Christianity (October 1, 2000), Zondervan, Template:ISBN
• The Case for a Creator: A Journalist Investigates Scientific Evidence That Points Toward God (2004), Zondervan, Template:ISBN
• The Case for Easter: Journalist Investigates the Evidence for the Resurrection (2004), Zondervan, Template:ISBN
• The Case for Christmas: A Journalist Investigates the Identity of the Child in the Manger (2005), Zondervan, Template:ISBN
• The Case for the Real Jesus: A Journalist Investigates Current Attacks on the Identity of Christ (September 10, 2007), Zondervan, Template:ISBN
• The Case for Christianity Answer Book (July 1, 2014), Zondervan, Template:ISBN
• The Case for Hope: Looking Ahead with Confidence and Courage (2015), Zondervan, Template:ISBN
• The Case for Grace: A Journalist Explores the Evidence of Transformed Lives (2015), Zondervan, Template:ISBN
• In Defense of Jesus: Investigating Attacks on the Identity of Christ (2016)
• The Case for Miracles: A Journalist Investigates Evidence for the Supernatural (2018)
• The Case for Heaven: A Journalist Investigates Evidence for Life After Death (2021)

Children's apologetics series

• The Case for Faith for Kids (2006), Zonderkidz, Template:ISBN
• The Case for Christ for Kids (2006), Zonderkidz, Template:ISBN
• A Case for a Creator for Kids (2006), Zonderkidz, Template:ISBN
• Off My Case for Kids: 12 Stories to Help You Defend Your Faith (2006), Zonderkidz, Template:ISBN

Novels

• The Ambition: A Novel (May 14, 2011), Zondervan, Template:ISBN

External links

• Official website