REPLY Student Apologetics Conference

Hi, my name is Ashley, and I operate the not-for-profit initiative called "The Social Apologist", and I want to run a conference where we equip our students to defend the Christian faith, and answer the tough questions people throw at them.

In today’s world, young people face a myriad of challenges to their faith. From questions about truth in a relativistic culture to doubts spurred by societal pressures, many youth struggle to stand firm in their beliefs. REPLY Youth Apologetics Conference is designed to equip the next generation to confidently respond to these challenges with grace, knowledge, and truth. Rooted in 1 Peter 3:15, REPLY empowers attendees to give an answer for the hope within them.

Why do we need to equip our Canadian youth with tools to defend their faith?

First, many youth aren’t convinced of their faith yet. This conference does two things at the same time; Convince teens there’s more to Christianity than just a story, but actual facts, logic, reason, philosophy and science, and secondly, it equips them with tools and methods to think rationally about their faith, and communicate that to whomever asks them why they believe what they believe.

Alarming stats about Gen Z today 
(According to Barna Gen Z Volume 3 Report, 2024):

63% of Teens believe morality changes based on society (relativism)

Teens care more about whether someone behaves according to the religion they follow, than what that religion actually teaches

40% of teens feel that “people should have the freedom to identify however feels most true to them”

45% of teens believe science has better answers than religion

46% of teens doubt their religious faiths

73% of teens believe if they do good, they can earn a place in heaven

28% of teens in 2020 did not attend church anymore, which has jumped up to 37% in 2023

Youth leaders are ranked as the least trusted person among teens to trust about their spiritual questions (Out of 10)

Conference Overview

Name: REPLY Youth Apologetics Conference

Theme: Why trust Christianity?

Date: Between September (Late) & October (Early) 2026

Duration: One-Day Event (9AM to 5:30PM)

Location: Springvale Church, 3885 Stouffville Road, Stouffville, ON. L4A 3X1

Target Audience: Middle School through College. Parents and Youth leaders are welcome to attend too, and we trust your judgement if your child is outside those age brackets.

Vision and Goals REPLY exists to inspire, educate, and equip youth to:

Understand the exclusive and unchanging nature of Christian truth.

Confidently respond to cultural and personal challenges to their faith.

Build a supportive community focused on defending and living out their beliefs.

Take practical steps in their faith journey.

Why a One-Day Conference?

A single-day format ensures accessibility, focus, and high-energy impact. Held on a Saturday, it minimizes schedule conflicts for youth and their families while reducing logistical and financial complexities. This format is also ideal for a first-time event, providing a trial to refine future conferences.

Keynote Speakers for 2026:

Tim Barnett, Red Pen Logic with Mr. B, Stand to Reason

Wesley Huff, Apologetics Canada

Ashley van der Walt, The Social Apologist

Key Components

Main Sessions:

Session 1: “Did Jesus Actually Exist?” — Who was the historical Jesus? - Ashley van der Walt

Session 2: TBD - Tim Barnett

Session 3: “Can we trust the Bible?” — Exploring the Bible’s historicity and evidence. - Wesley Huff

Breakout Sessions:

Topics include:

Science and Faith: Are They Compatible?

Dealing with Doubt: When Faith Feels Weak.

Christianity or Islam: Which one is true?

Gender & Sexuality: Where do we stand today?

Engaging Activities:

Icebreakers and trivia to set a lively tone.

Interactive Q&A with a panel of speakers.

Social media-friendly elements like selfie stations and event hashtags.

Community Building:

Networking opportunities during lunch.

Impactful Closing:

A motivational call to action encouraging attendees to live out their faith boldly.

Worship and prayer to solidify the day’s teachings.

My website can be found here: The Social Apologist

My YouTube channel can be found here: YouTube