Dr. Joe Boot

Rev. Dr. Joseph Boot (M.A., Ph.D.) is a Christian thinker and cultural apologist, Founder and President of the Ezra Institute for Contemporary Christianity. He is adjunct instructor for culture and apologetics at Bryan College, Tennessee. He also served as founding pastor of Westminster Chapel, Toronto for 14 years.

Now resident home in Great Britain, Joseph has worked in the fields of Christian apologetics, worldview education and church leadership for over twenty-five years on both sides of the Atlantic. He has spoken and guest lectured globally at numerous university events, seminaries, churches, colleges, and conferences. He regularly addresses pastors and Christian leaders as well as academic, medical, legal, and political professionals and has publicly debated leading atheistic thinkers and philosophers in Canada and the United States.

Joseph did his undergraduate studies in Theology (Birmingham Christian College, U.K), earned his Master’s degree in Mission Theology with a dissertation focused on Christian cultural philosophy and apologetics (University of Manchester U.K), and holds a PhD in Christian Intellectual Thought (Whitefield Theological Seminary, Florida, USA). Joe’s apologetic works include Searching for Truth (Crossway), Why I Still Believe (Baker), and How Then Shall We Answer (New Wine). His most noted contributions to Christian thought are systematic works of Christian cultural apologetics and philosophy elucidating the biblical worldview as it relates to the Christian’s calling in the world, including The Mission of God (Wilberforce Publications/Ezra Press) and his latest work, Ruler of Kings (Wilberforce Publications). Other recent volumes developing a cultural apologetic include, Gospel Culture and Gospel Witness (Ezra Press) which serve as an introduction to a scriptural worldview and a Christian philosophy of culture.

Joe is a Senior Fellow for the cultural and apologetics think-tank truthXchange in Southern California; is Senior Fellow of cultural philosophy for the California-based Center for Cultural Leadership; and is senior Fellow for Wilberforce Academy and public theology at Christian Concern in London, UK. In 2011 he was recognized by Toronto’s Centre for Mentorship and Theological Reflection as ‘Best Preacher Apologist’ for his contribution to apologetic and expository preaching. Joe is general editor of the Ezra Institute’s journal, Jubilee, and was founding chancellor of Westminster Classical Christian Academy in Toronto. Joe is married to Jenny and they have three adult children.

Dr. Rev. Michael Thiessen

Dr. Rev. Michael Thiessen has over 20 years of pastoral ministry experience, including international teaching, coaching, and consulting experience.

With a heart for training, and mentoring Christians through exegetical Bible teaching, Christian Worldview Training, and real life sound advice, Michael serves as the founding pastor at Royal Spring Chapel.

Michael earned his Master’s degree with a focus in New Testament and Ethics (Gordon Cornwell Theological Seminary), and holds a Doctor of Ministry Degree (Trinity Evangelical Divinity School). Michael’s D. Min major research project is entitled: Responding to our Hemorrhaging Faith by Exploring a Family-Integrated Church Model as a Solution.

Michael is the author of Pursuing a First Class Marriage: Find the One Without Trying Many.

He also has over 20 years of NPO board experience, having served on various schools, mission agencies, and church boards.

His ministry in Kentucky at royalspringchapel.com includes a partnership the Ezra Institute to help with ministry and being a teaching fellow with the Ezra Institute all around the United States.

Michael and his wife Sarah have four children.

Nate Wright

Rev. Nathanael Wright (B.A, MDiv.) is the Canadian Director of the Ezra Institute. He is a Christian leader, theologian and cultural apologist, and has worked in Christian ministry and church leadership in Canada for over fifteen years.

While acquiring a Bachelors degree in English Literature and minoring in Cultural Studies at Western, Ontario, he came to faith in Christ through campus outreach ministry where God birthed in him a great passion for evangelism and apologetics. Nathanael went on to work as a youth pastor while pursuing his theological studies at Emmanuel Bible College and McMaster University. After several years in this role, he was apprenticed at West London Alliance Church in Ontario and then accepted his first senior pastorate at Crossroads Bible Church in Ingersoll, Ontario, in 2013 which has grown to about 1,000 people under his care. He continues to serve at Crossroads in senior leadership.

A keen student of the reformational tradition in cultural apologetics and an emerging voice in Canadian Christianity, Nathanael was deeply influenced by the work of the Ezra Institute and became increasingly engaged in promoting its work, thought and message before joining our international leadership team. He hosts the popular Rebel Podcast on the Fight Laugh Feast Network and has had numerous opportunities to speak in churches and conferences in Canada.

Nathanael and his wife Colleen live in London, Ontario. They have four children.