Alex McFarland is an American public speaker, author, educator, and advocate for
Christian apologetics
Christian apologetics (, "verbal defense, speech in defense") is a branch of Christian theology that defends Christianity.
Christian apologetics have taken many forms over the centuries, starting with Paul the Apostle in the early church and Pa ...
. He currently serves as organizer of the Truth for a New Generation Conferences. Alex McFarland currently co-hosts Exploring the Word on the American Family Radio Network, airing daily on nearly 200 radio stations across the U.S. He is also the host of the “Alex McFarland Show,” which airs weekly on NRB TV and YouTube. The “Alex McFarland Show” podcast is available at alexmcfarland.com/podcasts or wherever you listen to podcasts.
McFarland was President of the
Southern Evangelical Seminary
Southern Evangelical Seminary is a Christian college and seminary that started in Charlotte, North Carolina in 1992, United States. In April of 2025, the schools moved to Rock Hill, SC.
History
The seminary was established in 1992 by Norman Gei ...
from 2006 - 2011. He is director of the Center for Christian Worldview and Apologetics at
North Greenville University
North Greenville University is a Private university, private Southern Baptist Convention, Baptist college in Tigerville, South Carolina. It is Higher education accreditation in the United States, accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges ...
.
McFarland is a speaker for evangelical Christian audiences.
McFarland and theologian Bert Harper, veteran cohosts of the nationally syndicated broadcast Exploring the Word, are proud to announce the launch of their latest book, “100 Bible Questions and Answers for Families.” A follow-up to their previous work, “100 Bible Questions and Answers,” this powerful new book promises to guide through some of the most common challenges and queries people have about God, the Bible, and Christian living.
Alex McFarland has authored or co-authored more than 20 books, including the newly released “100 Bible Questions & Answers for Families,” “10 Issues that Divide Christians,” “The God You Thought You Knew,” “10 Answers for Skeptics,” “10 Answers for Atheists,” “The 21 Toughest Questions Your Kids Will Ask About Christianity,” published by Focus on the Family, and more. He directs Biblical Worldview and teaches in the School of Practical Government for Charis Bible College, located in Woodland Park, CO.
McFarland is a frequent guest on Fox News and has been interviewed by other media outlets including Fox and Friends, Focus On The Family radio, NPR’s All Things Considered, The New York Times, The Washington Post, BBC, CBN, La Vie (France), and various news outlets including CBS, FOX, NBC, CSPAN, SRN, and the Associated Press (AP) wire service. He is a contributing writer in print and electronic media, including LA Times, Boston Herald, OK- Celebrity News Magazine, Christianity Today, Charisma, On Mission, Billy Graham’s Decision Magazine and more.
Learn more about Alex McFarland Ministries at its website, Facebook and Instagram pages (@revalexmcfarland), or X feed (@alexmcfarland).
“It is vital that the coming generations learn about the Judeo-Christian foundation and government principles of this great nation so they can be inspired to save us from ourselves.
“Children and youth need to be raised to believe in Jesus, but also to know that the call to discipleship comes with a call to bold patriotism. It is only through a complete turn back to God — as our national motto suggests — that we as a nation can hope to reach the level of greatness and patriotism we once achieved.”
Childhood and education
Alex McFarland was born and raised in North Carolina where he attended the
University of North Carolina at Greensboro
The University of North Carolina at Greensboro (UNCG or UNC Greensboro) is a public research university in Greensboro, North Carolina. It is part of the University of North Carolina, University of North Carolina system. It is accredited by the S ...
. He later completed a master's degree from
Liberty University
Liberty University (LU), known simply as Liberty, is a Private university, private Evangelicalism in the United States, evangelical Christian university in Lynchburg, Virginia, United States. It is affiliated with the Southern Baptist Conservativ ...
in
Lynchburg, Virginia
Lynchburg is an independent city (United States), independent city in the Commonwealth (U.S. state), Commonwealth of Virginia in the United States. First settled in 1757 by ferry owner and Abolitionism, abolitionist John Lynch (1740–1820), J ...
in Christian Thought and Apologetics. In 2017 he returned as the university's Convocation speaker.
He lives in North Carolina with his wife.
Career
McFarland's 2000 ''Tour of Truth'' saw him preach the Gospel in all 50 states in 50 days. Hawaii was the first stop in a 17,000-mile tour during which McFarland preached in one church in each of the fifty states. McFarland and his wife traveled in an RV accompanied by three college students working as interns, and a married couple who did the driving. In
Easley, South Carolina
Easley is a city in Pickens County (with parts extending into Anderson County) in the U.S. state of South Carolina. Most of the city lies in Pickens County, with a small portion of the city in Anderson County.
In 2001, Easley hosted the Big ...
on day 32, a lightning strike fried the computer modem, and a German Shepherd bit McFarland's arm outside a
Chase, Maryland
Chase is an unincorporated community in eastern Baltimore County, Maryland, United States.
Geography
Chase is located at (39.3634413, -76.3710704). Chase is located on the waterfront of the Gunpowder River, Middle River, Dundee Creek, Saltp ...
church. He wrote his first book, ''50 States in 50 Days: The "Tour of Truth" Story, and How 9 People Made the Journey of a Lifetime Across America''.
McFarland later served at
James Dobson
James Clayton Dobson Jr.
(born April 21, 1936) is an American evangelicalism, evangelical Christian author, psychologist, and founder of Focus on the Family (FotF), which he led from 1977 until 2010. In the 1980s, he was ranked as one of the m ...
's
Focus on the Family
Focus on the Family (FOTF or FotF) is an American Christian fundamentalism, Evangelical Protestant organization founded in 1977 in Southern California by James Dobson, based in Colorado Springs, Colorado. The group is one of a number of Evangel ...
as Director of Teen Apologetics based on
Colorado Springs, Colorado
Colorado Springs is the most populous city in El Paso County, Colorado, United States, and its county seat. The city had a population of 478,961 at the 2020 United States census, 2020 census, a 15.02% increase since 2010 United States Census, 2 ...
. In 2006, he accepted the position as third president of
Southern Evangelical Seminary
Southern Evangelical Seminary is a Christian college and seminary that started in Charlotte, North Carolina in 1992, United States. In April of 2025, the schools moved to Rock Hill, SC.
History
The seminary was established in 1992 by Norman Gei ...
in
Charlotte, North Carolina
Charlotte ( ) is the List of municipalities in North Carolina, most populous city in the U.S. state of North Carolina and the county seat of Mecklenburg County, North Carolina, Mecklenburg County. The population was 874,579 at the 2020 United ...
where he served for nearly five years.
Since 2011, McFarland has served as Director of the Christian Worldview Center at North Greenville University in Greenville, South Carolina. In addition, he co-hosts a radio program called "Exploring the Word" on
American Family Radio
American Family Radio (AFR), also known as American Family News (AFN), is a network of more than 180 radio stations broadcasting Christian-oriented programming to over 30 states.
McFarland created the Truth for a New Generation apologetics conferences. He argues that the United States, especially on university campuses, has become hostile to Christian believers. In his 2017 book 2017 ''Abandoned Faith: Why Millennials Are Walking Away and How You Can Lead Them Home'', McFarland and his co-author Jason Jimenez argue millennials drift away due to "the breakdown of the family," in America.
Bibliography
* ''Abandoned Faith: Why Millennials Are Walking Away and How You Can Lead Them Home''with Jason Jimenez (Focus on the Family, 2017)
*10 Issues That Divide Christians
*10 Answers for Atheists: How to Have an Intelligent Discussion About the Existence of God
*10 Answers for Skeptics
*10 Questions about Prayer Every Christian Must Answer: Thoughtful Responses about our Communication with God
*10 Questions Every Christian Must Answer: Thoughtful Responses to Strengthen Your Faith (with Elmer Towns)
*50 States In 50 Days: The "Tour of Truth" Story, and How 9 People Made the Journey of a Lifetime Across America
*Stand Strong: In College
*STAND: Core Truths You Must Know for an Unshakable Faith
*Stand: Seeking the Way of God: A Discovery of Genesis 37-47
*Stand: Diving into God's Words: A Discovery of Psalm 119
*The 10 Most Common Objections to Christianity
*The 21 Toughest Questions Your Kids Will Ask about Christianity: & How to Answer Them Confidently
*The Assault on America
*100 Bible Questions and Answers