Joel Settecase, Neighbor

Joel Settecase (M.A.) is a Christian thinker, biblical apologist, philosopher, founder of the Think Institute, former pastor and current Partnering Church Catalyst with Church Movements, a ministry of Cru City. Joel partners with churches to connect people to Jesus through Gospel engagement and answers and develop leaders in theology and the biblical perspective. Proud to call Chicago home, Joel has worked in the fields of Christian education, worldview, evangelism, apologetics and leadership since 2009, including serving as Bible teacher at Chicago Hope Academy, Student Ministry Pastor at Grace Pointe Church in Plainfield, Illinois, and Interim Lead Pastor at Park Community Church’s Forest Glen (Chicago) location. He has spoken and guest-taught at various student events, retreats, interfaith panels, churches, groups and community organizations. He regularly runs live video and in-person apologetics trainings and facilitates discussion groups for Christian/non-Christian dialogue.

Joel completed his undergraduate studies in History (Grove City College, PA) and earned his Master’s degree in Philosophy of Religion (Trinity Evangelical Divinity School, IL). Joel’s own apologetic works include The Doctrine Shapes the Defense: The Importance of the Trinity in John Frame’s Apologetics and Apologetics According to Jonathan Edwards: What “America’s Greatest Mind” Can Teach Us About Defending the Christian Faith. He developed the training books, Think: The Biblical Worldview and Think: Apologetics, both of which are featured on this website. Joel has been writing on apologetics since 2012 and has been featured on the Poached Egg, a Christian apologetics, theology and philosophy site. Joel is also an avid podcaster and, outside of the Think Institute’s This Is Apologetics podcast, he has appeared on Ordinary Pastor, Pastor Discussions, The Pursuit of Manliness and Conversations from the Porch, which he also co-hosted.

Joel oversees the Think Institute’s online manifestation, TheThink.Institute, where local churches and believers worldwide can easily access print, audio and video resources completely free of charge, and where new advances in biblical worldview and apologetic argumentation are being developed and shared.

Joel is married to Aliza and they have four children.