To all at A&O MIN., Your hard work at providing a wide gamut of subjects over the years remains unparalleled. You guys remain on the cutting edge with solid reporting and interaction, let alone your ministry products. I've said to myself as the years have passed, what would we do without A&O MIN.. The Lord has raised up an incredible ministry and you have exhibited a tremendous amount of integrity, responsibility and character. Enough words cannot be expressed to ever make known the gratitude that is in my heart for A&O MIN.. Always and all the best in Christ to you guys.

--MI

Happy for to wish you a 25th Ann.
This swish come from up north in Ontario, Can.

Way smarter you made me in Reformed doctrine
Convict me way more of my Totally Sin

On Election- was hanging my chads for to see
Then resigned with an Eh? Elohim, why me?

Had a Limited knowledge of the Atownement,
Till unlimited logs to the AOMin Mint.

You guys not you seem are so Resistable
My Bookmark de Windows has you top of the roll

May you Perservere for eh, ... 25 more,
Or till the role is called up-eh-yon-door.

Canadian Congrats,
CanBerean

Sorry, a bit of silliness there. Thanks again to Rich who told us where to go Aug 10th. Thanks to Pastor Fry for a wonderful sermon. Dr. White's Sunday School was good too. What a terrific church!

May you remain faithful to Him,
R&P

Though brought up a "cradle Catholic," I cannot say I was well catechized, despite being confirmed. I had a very clear understanding that Jesus was Savior and Lord from a young age, but couldn't explain the details. As I learned more about Catholic theology, I realized I had never learned most of it growing up. My understanding was simple: Christ died to save sinners who believed on him, and I was a sinner. Strangely, though growing up in a Hispanic family, I was never comfortable with what I now view as some of the major Catholic errors--I couldn't bring myself to pray the Rosary, and felt offended at the entire concept of praying to Saints in general. It seemed to me very obvious that what I observed with regards to adoration of Saints and images was plainly idolatry, and I knew the commandments enough to name it as such. I couldn't understand why Catholics did these things.

I married a Catholic woman who seemed to have this exact same level of Christianity--the most base level of understanding Jesus as Savior--who also did not know her Bible well at all, who also did not partake of some of the major Catholic errors. I didn't believe in transubstantiation, though when a friend pointed me to John 6, I accepted his interpretation with very little effort put forth and made myself believe it for a time. But I still had doubts the more I thought about it.

In my mid-20s, I came to the place where I decided I could no longer be double-minded. I knew a little about what some "Protestants" believed--basically, they seemed like stripped-down Catholics. They focused on Jesus in ways that made complete sense to me. I seemed to have more in common with what little I knew of them, and liked that they read their Bibles (I was starting to read, and it was confusing me as to, again, why Catholics were following certain practices/beliefs). I decided that I either needed to commit to my Catholic faith or leave and go elsewhere. I would be a rosary-praying, frequent mass-attending, scapular wearing, literal meat-of-Christ eating Catholic, or I'd leave.

The same friend from above gave me a Scott Hahn book as an encouragement. I was completely unimpressed, and I found a subsequent Hahn book to be nearly insulting to my intelligence. I bought "Not By Scripture Alone," and there my work began on a more serious level. On the Protestant side, AOMin was a major resource. It was an exhilarating time--I had no idea people were still debating these issues, had no idea about the depth of church history that was known and available, and did a ton of reading. I listened to every debate James White did, multiple times. I asked questions, including on Julie Staples' now-defunct message board.

It did not take very long before I started seeing the shell games Catholic apologists played with many of their arguments. But I didn't make my move quickly--I think I was waiting for some Catholic magic-bullet to undo the bad argumentation I'd been hearing on their part. I stayed in my Catholic church through the next 12 months or so (longer than Beckwith, and it sounds like I did more reading). I dug deep--reading church fathers in their original contexts when quotes were suspect on either side. I didn't read any of White's books (but did read the blog) for not wanting to be a "minion." But the entire Holy Scripture series by King/Webster, works by Svendsen, and other heavies like George Salmon (which I tracked down in hardcover) finally obliterated any doubts I had, among other works. But those debates were the root for finding areas to further research. The blog articles as well contained tons of helpful and truly meaty information.

Finally, I made my decision, with a clear understanding of the Gospel. I had been explaining the issues to my wife, who--with far less hand-wringing--accepted the teachings as if they were the most natural thing ever. After leaving, I began talking to my younger brother--within a short time he was transformed in a way I never imagined he could be as he finally delved into the Bible. He didn't need debates and long arguments--the truth was clear from Scripture alone, and he also left. Soon, a friend of ours followed, as he asked questions of me. He was seeing me as knowledgeable and knew I was patient. He, as well, has left the Catholic church. 4 people (so far) affected, 3 of whom haven't really ever been exposed to AOMin. Your strong opposition to Rome when so many others want to pad their disagreements with them, is necessary in a confused age when people are not willing to stand for truth. Though you are moving in other directions, and I pray God's blessings on them, please don't forget the Catholics. There are so, so many Catholics who are stuck in an ignorant but simple faith, who are waiting for someone to reach them with the truth and aren't defensive of the church. Keep reaching out to them patiently, though you've covered the issues a million times before, perhaps. Souls are at stake.

It has been an honor to support your ministry over the years, and I hope to continue so doing.
--
RG

I cannot express enough my gratitude to God for establishing this ministry and leading me to it. This ministry has done so much to help me understand my own faith better. I deeply appreciate the debates, the books, and the teaching of this ministry.

By watching the debates, I have been able to better understand what it is that I believe as a Christian. In the process of combating the many false religions/doctrines James White has presented the clear and historic Christian faith. I have a much clearer and better understanding of the Trinity, TULIP, how my Bible came to me as I have it, and the many other topics that Dr. White has debated. Because of this, I have been able to much better engage the Mormon missionaries that come to my door and want to share their "faith" with me. It isn't so much that I know what they believe but I can present an easy to understand presentation of orthodox Christianity to them. They have also given me questions to ask the missionaries to help move the conversation along and to engage the missionaries.

Speaking of Mormonism, the books that James White has written have deepened my faith tremendously. I am thinking most specifically Letters to a Mormon Elder. This book presents an in-depth look at Mormonism and presents a clear Biblical response. Again, I learned more about the prophet Isaiah by reading that book then I had in my seminary course on Isaiah. That is nothing against the prof. but White's exegesis of the Isaiah texts really helped me to see Yahweh as Isaiah, and the Bible as a whole, presents him in all of his majestic splendor.

I can remember a pair of sermons that James White preached last year in Canada and he mentioned that he was preaching from the original languages, both Hebrew and Greek. That really inspired me to learn my GNT and Hebrew Old Testament well enough to preach from the originals. I cannot explain why, but seeing Dr. White's command of the oringinal languages and how it aids in his preaching was something that I feel every preacher should have--whether it is practical or not is another issue. My own desire to learn the languages have only increased because of his preaching and webcast. I want to be able to present the Scriptures to the people with the most authoritative and correct way possible. I deeply thank Dr. White for showing me what it looks like when a person will master the languages (even his learning Arabic to better engage Islam).

Dr. White, your ministry has deepened by own relationship with Jesus Christ because of the things you all do. Do keep up the good work and I wish you would have done the resurrection debate with Ehrman at Midwestern Seminary in KC this past February. I actually shook the man's hand and that was fun. I would have enjoyed what you would have brought to the debate (the Dividing Lines were good interactions though).

--HTI

Greetings from sunny Miami, Florida!

I remember when I was first introduced to Alpha and Omega ministries. It was 2001, and I was a sophomore attending Clearwater Christian College taking Greek for the first time, and I had a dear friend of mine that was KJV only (actually there were four of them, but I'm only going to mention one of them). One morning a chapel speaker came and used the NASB as his text, and not the KJV. Before I go on, let me just say that the CCC did not take a "KJV Only" stance, but used the KJV for the sake of tradition (whatever that meant), and so required the speakers to use the KJV when they spoke in chapel. So I mentioned it to my friend in a kind of joking manner about the use of NASB, and he was not happy about it. So I asked him plainly, why he took the stance on the KJV. He basically told me that it came down to the Greek Text. He explained to me about the TR being the superior Greek text, and that the CT was just a "man made compilation." Needless to say, I was distraught and felt ignorant because I had never heard that before. At the time, I thought it was just Hebrew and Greek and I didn't know there was any such thing as a Textus Receptus or a Critical Text. It also bothered me because I wanted a NASB because of it was a literal translation. I called my brother on the phone, who was attending seminary at the time, and told him this argument that was presented to me. He was also caught off guard with that argument!

For weeks I prayed and thought, and then...it happened. My roommate, who also took Greek with me, said that he just found out that Erasmus had "back-translated" a part of the TR from Jerome's Vulgate. I was suprised, and I asked my roommate where he found such a jewel of information, and he said to me that it came from "James White's website." So I thought to myself, "Ok someone who has answers." So the next day I talked to my KJV friend about my discovery, and he really didn't have an answer for it. Soon after I was getting ready to drive to Miami for Easter break, and my brother calls me and says, "Juan, get over here before you go home, I have something for you to listen to." So I went to my brother's apartment and he said, "I have a debate between a KJV guy, and this guy James White, have you ever heard of him?" I said, "Actually, I just heard about him." So I stayed at my brother's apartment for a while, and listened carefully to your debate with Dr. D.A. Waite of the Dean Burgon society. I was fascinated with your responses, and your clear presentation of the transmission of the New Testament. After that day, I have been a regular visitor to your website to not only read and hear about "KJV-Onlyism", but also Roman Catholocism, Islam, and your defense of Calvinism. AOMIN.org has been a starting point to much of my research on said issues. I also direct people all the time to check your website when they want information about certain Christian issues.

In 2002, I was further blessed when I was able to see you debate live against John Sanders on the issue of Inclusivism and Open Theism in Clearwater and Orlando (yes I was part of group of college kids who followed you around Central Florida). Now that I'm back in Miami, I pray that I get to see you debate again in January against Bart Ehrman.

I listen to the Dividing Line every week, as well as watch your videos on YouTube. I pray that the Lord continues to bless your ministry, as you continue to give a ready defense of the hope that is within you.

--JF

I was contacted by someone at a university out east asking if I would be willing to debate Roman Catholicism there if they could find someone to join in the debate. I indicated that would be fine, but that they might have some trouble finding a suitable opponent. Evidently, in calling around, one of those asked to engage in the debate contacted Art Sippo, who, of course, declined. Now, realize, I did not go looking for this, someone contacted me and wanted to set something up. But, the facts of the matter are never overly important to Art Sippo.

Yesterday I noticed a new blog entry on Sippo's website. Here it is. Now, you may recall that at one time Sippo declined a challenge to debate live and in public in his current city of residence on the subject of his own choosing. Why? Because...I'm not nice enough, that's why. Now, that would be like Shaq complaining that Spud Webb is too tall. In any case, please note the title of Sippo's entry. Sippo likes to refer to me as "Pseudopodeo." Many years ago my e-mail address included the biblical term ὀρθοποδέω, orthopodeo. It means "to walk straight in accordance with a rule." It was what Peter was not doing in reference to the Gospel in Galatians 2:14. Sippo has used his playground version of this biblical term for quite some time now. Notice how he begins. "It has come to my attention that the Protestant controversialist know (sic: known) affectionately as "Pseudopodeo" is jonesing for a debate." No, a campus group is looking to arrange a debate is the reality.

He continues, "He is trying to sucker some unwitting Catholic into another of his own sided lynchings in a Protestant venue with an Anti-Catholic moderator." Aside from Sippo's continued existence in a fantasy world, the reality is that when I debated Sippo in 1991, the moderator was...that infamous Anti-Catholic Patrick Madrid, then Vice President of Catholic Answers. In fact, when I debated Gerry Matatics for the first time in Long Beach the moderator was another infamous Anti-Catholic...Patrick Madrid. And the location of that debate? A terrible Protestant venue known as...a Roman Catholic church. And when I debated Matatics on the Papacy at the City of the Lord in Tempe, AZ? The Protestant venue was...a Roman Catholic organization, and the Anti-Catholic moderator was...Scott Hahn.

The irony is that the vast majority of my debates with Roman Catholics have been in Roman Catholic venues, or in secular venues, such as catering halls. The moderators have been either Roman Catholics, Jews, or on Long Island, Pastor Bill Shishko, the Moderator of Moderators! Sippo once again blusters out of his deep well of ignorance, playing to his audience but once again showing his deep disregard for truthfulness in the process.

Obviously, Sippo is still in hiding, smarting from his running from my challenge back in 2005. He lost a few disciples over that one, and is still unwilling to engage in meaningful debate. Note the absurd condescension of this man who knows no bounds in his ability to insult. Let's remember these words of the inimitable Sippo:

Mr. White is an ignorant bigot who has no academic credentials. He was raised by bigots to be a bigot and would parade around in a white sheet burning crosses on people's lawns if there was any money in it. In a strange bizarro parody of Christian discipleship, he hates his enemies and does bad things to people whom he doesn't like. He also is a big whopping LIAR and likes to slander anyone who has the temerity not to kowtow to him. He is known affectionately as Pseudopodeo by those who know him best.

The original URL for those comments was http://www.envoymagazine.com/forum/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=1025, but don't bother looking. The poor folks charged with the clean up of the Envoy forums came along with their electronic scoopers and picked up that mess fairly quickly.

Update: Sippo replies with his normative maturity. Note that in the strange, strange world of Art Sippo, my pointing out his own behavior is "slandering" him. Keep that in mind: quoting Sippo to Sippo is slanderous.

Meanwhile, Sippo is not the only one making quite the spectacle out of himself over on the far side of the Tiber. TurretinFan pointed me to the outrageous comments of "The Catholic Champion," Matthew Bellisario, this morning as well. As most of you know, this month is the 25th anniversary of the founding of Alpha and Omega Ministries. We set up an e-mail address (testimonies@aomin.org) so that those who have been blessed by this ministry could share how the Lord has used our little ministry in their lives. I have been posting some of them, and have a lot more to go, to be sure. They are very encouraging, and folks have enjoyed reading about others who have had similar experiences to their own. Of course, I have never presented these as apologetic arguments. They are simply testimonials related to celebrating a quarter century of God's goodness to us in this ministry.

Well, I shouldn't be surprised that a guy who would write about my hats (here) would write this. Let's ignore the context, let's ignore the reality that these testimonials are not only wide-ranging but are not presented as apologetic arguments, and let's create a simply inane basis for an accusation of hypocrisy. Evidently, wild-eyed fanaticism is not limited to Islamic responses that ignore context, either. Here are Matthew's words:

I recall reading many times on Mr White's blog how he just could not stand all of these Catholic conversion stories. Now, on his blog his latest entry is a Catholic who converted to the "Reformed" church because of Dr. White. You see, this "Dr White" is two-faced when it comes to these types of things. It's not OK for a Catholic to post a conversion story, but it is quite OK for him to do so, blowing his own horn so he can show just how great he is. The latest entries on his blog have been littered with people hailing him and his ministry as if he were some sort of prophet. And of course he just cannot resist posting these letters or emails. He also thought it was so great to have professional photos of himself posted on his blog as well. Talk about pride and arrogance. No one Catholic is permitted to post a conversion, but for White it's OK. Well, I will call this for what it is. Two-faced arrogant pride.

Ah, well, it is always good to once in a while take a gander across that smelly green river called the Tiber and be reminded of why I haven't the slightest desire to cross it.

I am very grateful that God brought my attention to the ministry of James White and A & O Ministries. About nine years ago I came into contact w/ a fellow Christian at work who was TR Only and thus against the modern Bible translations. He had a lot of information from most of the KJV Only advocates. I didn't have an answer at the time for his objections. However, they seemed so outlandish that I wasn't going to throw away my NIV yet. God spoke to me through the NIV, I just had a hard time believing all the strange conspiracy theories about it. Back in 2001 I attended an apologetics seminar that had Dan Wallace speaking. This greatly increased my confidence in the Bible I was using. Also, on the books for sale was a copy of the KJV ONlY Controversy. It was highly recommended by the sponsor of the lecture; Jeff Downs. I read it and very quickly. I not only gained greater confidence in the modern translations, but, was also taught how to think my logically and critically about how we got our Bible and how to respond to many of outlandish conspiracy theories that some KJV ONLY advocates espouse. Also at the same time my friend and chiropractor lent me a copy of the show that Dr. White did on the Bible Answer Man show. This also helped me gain more confidence in the Bible I was using and gave me a greater appreciation for how we got our Bible. I then checked out A & O ministries web site. I had some Mormon missionaries come to visit me. I purchased several radio debates Dr. White had done with Mormon apologists. I also purchased LETTERS TO A MORMON ELDER. I used many of the arguments in that book while dialoging with the Mormon missionaries.
I am grateful for the great resources that Dr. White has put out. I have learned so much and continue to learn. I consider Dr. White my professor from afar. I live in Lancaster PA.
Another thing I'm grateful for is learning the truth about Reformed Theology and the doctrines of grace. I guess you would have called me 4 pointer. I went to a Bible college that affirmed the doctrine of eternal security, but rejected reformed theology. Through Dr. White's ministry I got a much better understanding of Calvinism. When I saw that scriptures do teach man's inability to accept Christ, unless God grants that sinner the ability, I had no choice to accept the truths of the doctrines of grace. However, I accepted them joyfully. Although, I am commanded to evangelize, it is not up to me to get results. Only God can change a sinner's heart to accept him. This was very liberating for me.
Through Dr. White's ministry, I have not only been equpped and taught. I have also learned how to think more critically. Listening to Dr. White's debates with various groups of people has taught me more how reason better and argue and dialogue more effectively. The tools I've gained listening to the debates has helped me in my experiences with folks who are trapped in a cult or with people that misunderstand the doctrines of grace. I continue to listen to past debates often as I gain something new out of them.
I've been blessed to have the opportunity to volunteer at the A & O book table at the last two great debates in Long Island, NY. It was a joy to help out with something that I totally believed in. It was also a joy to work with Rich Pierce. Much of what was being sold, I had a copy of , so I able to inform the folks of the value of the books and debates. I look forward to a time, I can do it again.
Over the last couple of years, I've developed a large collection of the debates Dr. White has done on dvd. I've had Apologetics and Theology nights at my home, and had people over to watch them and eat pizza. These debates have been a blessing to those people as well.
I continue to be blessed by the ministry of A & O Ministries, as I listen to the pod casts of the Dividing Line, listen to old and new debates, listen to lectures and research the site.
May God continue to bless Dr. White, Rich Pierce of Alpha and Omega Ministries and use them to defend the truth, bless the saints and share the gospel with the lost for His glory.

--MM