Becoming a Fellow
Three years ago (2019) upon my return from my first time at the International Academy of Apologetics, Evangelism and Human Rights, (click here to sign up for next year's Academy) I knew I would be returning with Thesis in hand and ready for another 2 weeks of training. Of course, I was to return in 2020 and then...covid. Delay after delay did not stop my dogged determination to complete my Thesis and then work to present it at the Academy to the Professors in Residence in order to earn the European degree of D.C.A. (Dipl. Christian Apologetics), nor to study hard, read a lot (oh lets just say dozens of books) in preparation for the 2022 Academy.
Copious note-taking, a delicious Alsacian (French) Breakfast and plenty of coffee, juice and waters commenced as lecture after lecture taught us about the Apologetical Task, Science and the Bible, Medical Issues the Christian faces now and what is coming down the pipeline, Legal, Historical, Philosophical Apologetics and CS Lewis and JRR Tolkien's apologetic using Literature and Myth/Fantasy.
One the first Wednesday of the Academy I presented my Thesis to the Professors and the other students attending. That is now available here for about another week and then it will be up on YouTube.
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After 40 minutes of defending my thesis, the Professors stepped out to dis
cuss whether or not I had passed...and pass I did. This earned me the D.C.A.
The Thesis was:
This we proclaim:
An Objective Apologetic/Kerygma Offered to Pentecostals
It's focus was on removing the subjective/testimonial way that modern Pentecostals and evangelicals share the Gospel (which, how you got saved is NOT the Gospel) and return to the Biblical Objective manner in which to share the Good News of the Saving love of God through Jesus' life, death and resurrection (the ACTUAL Gospel).
Now on to listening to anywhere from 4 to 6 hours of lectures a day. The other attendees were great with scheduling several evenings of group study to help solidify what we had learned that day for the Written Exam (3 hours) on the final Saturday of the Academy (July 23rd).
When Saturday arrived I sat for the Written Exam and then a short lunch break before the Oral Examination. If I passed that, then I would become a Fellow of the Academy...
...and Fellow I became...or as my husband said, "You are quite the 'Fellow' now...." and a dear friend back in NYC texted me, "For she's a jolly good 'Fellow'..."
Pictured from Left to Right, Dr. John Warwick Montgomery (Attorney, Apologist, my mentor and friend), myself, Prof. Don Williams (foremost expert on JRR Tolkien and CS Lewis) and Craig Parton (Attorney and Director of the Academy)
It has been a long and winding road to this accomplishment but now I am:
Prof. Dr. Nancy A. Almodovar, Fellow, F.C.A., ThM (ABD), PhD, MTh, MACS, D.C.A.
Many people had a part in these newest degrees but most of all God deserves all the praise and glory for equipping me to be an apologist of the Christian Faith for our times.