Apologetics Profile

Behind proclamations of the Gospel, behind the rigorous apologetic defenses for the Christian faith, behind many of God's chosen servants, and behind those who fiercely opposes Christianity, are many who, despite all outward appearances to the contrary, are struggling with various degrees of depression, anxiety, OCD, and despair.

On this special one-part episode with professor of literature at Oklahoma Baptist University and author Dr. Alan Noble, we discuss navigating through seasons of depression and despair. Alan shares with us wisdom, practical experience, and candid honest reflections about wrestling with difficult mental health struggles as a professor, father, husband, and Christian.

We talk about his short but very candid and encouraging little book On Getting Out of Bed - The Burden & Gift of Living. For more on Alan and his work, visit his website OAlanNoble.com. 

If you or someone you know is struggling with depression, anxiety, or despair, seek help. The darkness is not the end of your story. You can call the 988 lifeline if you need someone to talk to.  While the helpline is not specifically Christian, it is still a helpful resource if you are in need.

Related Watchman Fellowship Resources

Watchman's four-page article on the Hiddenness of God:
https://www.watchman.org/DivineHiddenness/ProfileDivineHiddenness.pdf

Daniel Ray's personal testimony on Jana Harmon's Ex-Skeptic YouTube Channel:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fBkakNvweQY

Additional Resources:
FREE: We are also offering a subscription to our 4-page bimonthly Profiles here: www.watchman.org/Free
PROFILE NOTEBOOK: Order the complete collection of Watchman Fellowship Profiles (two volumes totalling over 700 pages -- from Astrology to Zen Buddhism) in either printed or PDF formats here: www.watchman.org/Notebook
SUPPORT: Help us create more content like this. Make a tax-deductible donation here: www.watchman.org/Give
Apologetics Profile is a ministry of Watchman Fellowship For more information, visit www.watchman.org © 2026 Watchman Fellowship, Inc.

Deserts can be forbidding even deadly but they are also beautiful and needful for our earthly sojourn. At some point in  our lives as Christians, we too will pass through the harsh and arid terrain of a spiritual wilderness. How do we navigate our way through it?

Thankfully, there are many faithful men and women of God who have passed through such a wilderness and offer to us their cairns and memorial stones of how Jesus led them through it and out of it.

On this week's episode of Apologetics Profile, resurrection scholar Dr. Gary Habermas continues to share with us his years of practical and pastoral advice and counsel in helping believers navigate through seasons of doubt. If you or someone you love is passing through a desert wilderness of doubt, you definitely don't want to miss this week's broadcast.

See the link in Gary's name below for his books on doubt.

Dr. Gary Habermas has dedicated his professional life to the examination of the relevant historical, philosophical, and theological issues surrounding the death and resurrection of Jesus. His extensive list of publications and debates provides a thorough account of the current state of the issue. He has written 50 books about half of which are on the subject of Jesus’ resurrection. He has also contributed more than 90 chapters or articles to additional books, and over 200 articles and reviews in journals and other publications. In recent years, he has been a visiting or adjunct professor at about 15 different graduate schools and seminaries in the United States and abroad. Dr. Habermas is a Distinguished Research Professor of Apologetics and Philosophy. He is married to Eileen and they have seven children and 11 grandchildren.

Watchman's four-page article on the Hiddenness of God:
https://www.watchman.org/DivineHiddenness/ProfileDivineHiddenness.pdf

Daniel Ray's personal testimony on Jana Harmon's Ex-Skeptic YouTube Channel:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fBkakNvweQY

Additional Resources:
FREE: We are also offering a subscription to our 4-page bimonthly Profiles here: www.watchman.org/Free
PROFILE NOTEBOOK: Order the complete collection of Watchman Fellowship Profiles (two volumes totalling over 700 pages -- from Astrology to Zen Buddhism) in either printed or PDF formats here: www.watchman.org/Notebook
SUPPORT: Help us create more content like this. Make a tax-deductible donation here: www.watchman.org/Give
Apologetics Profile is a ministry of Watchman Fellowship For more information, visit www.watchman.org © 2026 Watchman Fellowship, Inc.

Passing through a desert wilderness is a common theme throughout Scripture. Many of God's choicest saints have spent time, alone, in the wilderness. And the wilderness can mean both a desert environment as well as a place of spiritual difficulties and trials. Israel spent forty years in the desert wilderness of Sinai and Jesus Himself spent 40 days in the wilderness being tempted by Satan.

As believers, we too pass through deserts of despair, depression, and doubt. Doubt, however, is not our final destination, but a temporary, sanctifying landscape that reminds us of our total dependence on Christ alone. On the next two episodes of Apologetics Profile, we sit down with resurrection scholar and friend of Watchman Fellowship, Dr. Gary Habermas, who has also written and spoken extensively on the topic of doubt. Here Gary will help you or someone you know navigate through the forbidding arid terrain of the deserts of doubt.

See the link in Gary's name below for his books on doubt. 

Dr. Gary Habermas has dedicated his professional life to the examination of the relevant historical, philosophical, and theological issues surrounding the death and resurrection of Jesus. His extensive list of publications and debates provides a thorough account of the current state of the issue. He has written 50 books about half of which are on the subject of Jesus’ resurrection. He has also contributed more than 90 chapters or articles to additional books, and over 200 articles and reviews in journals and other publications. In recent years, he has been a visiting or adjunct professor at about 15 different graduate schools and seminaries in the United States and abroad. Dr. Habermas is a Distinguished Research Professor of Apologetics and Philosophy. He is married to Eileen and they have seven children and 11 grandchildren.

Watchman's four-page article on the Hiddenness of God:
https://www.watchman.org/DivineHiddenness/ProfileDivineHiddenness.pdf

Daniel Ray's personal testimony on Jana Harmon's Ex-Skeptic YouTube Channel:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fBkakNvweQY

Additional Resources:
FREE: We are also offering a subscription to our 4-page bimonthly Profiles here: www.watchman.org/Free
PROFILE NOTEBOOK: Order the complete collection of Watchman Fellowship Profiles (two volumes totalling over 700 pages -- from Astrology to Zen Buddhism) in either printed or PDF formats here: www.watchman.org/Notebook
SUPPORT: Help us create more content like this. Make a tax-deductible donation here: www.watchman.org/Give
Apologetics Profile is a ministry of Watchman Fellowship For more information, visit www.watchman.org © 2026 Watchman Fellowship, Inc.

What might you say to a Latter-day Saint missionary or acquaintance who questions you about the inerrancy and infallibility of Scripture?

We'll tackle this question and several other key issues between Mormons and Evangelicals this week on the Profile as we continue our conversation with apologist and evangelist to Mormons in Utah, Aaron Shafovaloff of Mormon Research Ministry in Draper, Utah (https://www.mrm.org).

Aaron became a student of Mormonism in 1998, when he was introduced to the religion by neighbors. His life was forever changed when he discovered Romans 4:5 “And to the one who does not work but trusts him who justifies the ungodly, his faith is counted as righteousness.” He joyfully looks back at his conversion in contrast to the “impossible gospel” set forth in the Miracle of Forgiveness and perfection of God’s law that he could never live up to. 
Aaron is a computer programmer and a regular street evangelist. Aaron and his wife Stacie live in South Jordan, UT. Together they have a son and two daughters. He is working toward his Master of Biblical Studies at Midwestern Baptist Theological Seminary. https://mrm.org/team

Audio clips featured in this episode:
Ward Radio: https://youtu.be/7hOCZjc8nSk?si=qVA8QsWAd5Wa8smV
Frank and Hayden's exchange: https://youtu.be/9cQLSiNeNTc?si=N_Axsrf7wqHzxGUi
Hayden Carroll's review of the exchange: https://youtu.be/fIBkbO7Qtsw?si=EjNBloTi-oyn7m0v
Neil Armstrong (NASA): https://youtu.be/xSdHina-fTk?si=OKeFUfuCAfPDs7BW

Related Links: 

Watchman Fellowship Profile on the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints: www.watchman.org/Mormonism  

Apologetics Profile podcast What Is the Gospel? with Mormon apologist Scott Gordon and Christian apologist James Walker (YouTube):  www.watchman.org/GordonWalker 

Apologetics Profile podcast list of all episodes about Latter-day Saints https://www.watchman.org/files/ldspod.htm 

Additional Resources:
FREE: We are also offering a subscription to our 4-page bimonthly Profiles here: www.watchman.org/Free
PROFILE NOTEBOOK: Order the complete collection of Watchman Fellowship Profiles (two volumes totalling over 700 pages -- from Astrology to Zen Buddhism) in either printed or PDF formats here: www.watchman.org/Notebook
SUPPORT: Help us create more content like this. Make a tax-deductible donation here: www.watchman.org/Give
Apologetics Profile is a ministry of Watchman Fellowship For more information, visit www.watchman.org © 2026 Watchman Fellowship, Inc.

There is a growing trend in social media of Latter-day Saint (Mormon) apologists defending their faith. And because of the success of streaming shows such as The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives, a general curiosity and interest in Mormonism among the general public has also spiked.

It is a golden opportunity for having fruitful and productive conversations with Latter-day Saints.

On the next two weeks of the Profile, we'll be talking with evangelist to Mormons in Utah, Aaron Shafovaloff, who has been engaging LDS on the streets of Utah since 2006. Aaron will share with us his insights and observations about how we too can have effective and winsome engagements with LDS missionaries, friends, and neighbors.

Aaron became a student of Mormonism in 1998, when he was introduced to the religion by neighbors. His life was forever changed when he discovered Romans 4:5 “And to the one who does not work but trusts him who justifies the ungodly, his faith is counted as righteousness.” He joyfully looks back at his conversion in contrast to the “impossible gospel” set forth in the Miracle of Forgiveness and perfection of God’s law that he could never live up to. 
Aaron is a computer programmer and a regular street evangelist. Aaron and his wife Stacie live in South Jordan, UT. Together they have a son and two daughters. He is working toward his Master of Biblical Studies at Midwestern Baptist Theological Seminary. https://mrm.org/team

Audio Clips Features in This Episode:
Dalin H. Oaks at BYU: https://www.youtube.com/live/bn_PsLrWyxM?si=E2oBCXxbsch0baMy
Peacemaker Summit: https://www.youtube.com/live/nAvGrn14rRY?si=RbJlVAjNH6yttx4l
Jasmin Rappleye: https://youtu.be/HkDQtyn_i7c?si=78UbZ5gk0gajb72D

Related Links: 

Watchman Fellowship Profile on the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints: www.watchman.org/Mormonism  

Apologetics Profile podcast What Is the Gospel? with Mormon apologist Scott Gordon and Christian apologist James Walker (YouTube):  www.watchman.org/GordonWalker 

Apologetics Profile podcast list of all episodes about Latter-day Saints https://www.watchman.org/files/ldspod.htm 

Additional Resources:
FREE: We are also offering a subscription to our 4-page bimonthly Profiles here: www.watchman.org/Free
PROFILE NOTEBOOK: Order the complete collection of Watchman Fellowship Profiles (two volumes totalling over 700 pages -- from Astrology to Zen Buddhism) in either printed or PDF formats here: www.watchman.org/Notebook
SUPPORT: Help us create more content like this. Make a tax-deductible donation here: www.watchman.org/Give
Apologetics Profile is a ministry of Watchman Fellowship For more information, visit www.watchman.org © 2026 Watchman Fellowship, Inc.