Ratio Christi at Crandall University is pleased to award our ministry’s honorary Legatus Christi certificate to Evan Carr!

Evan recently graduated from Crandall University with a Bachelor of Science in biology (honors) and is continuing his studies there in pursuit of a Bachelor of Education. Earlier this year, he also received the university’s Student of the Year Award. He’s been heavily involved with student ministries and other aspects of campus life, and he’s spent three years serving as a student officer for the university’s Ratio Christi club, including as President for two years.

It brought much pleasure to RC at CU’s Chapter Director, Cody Guitard, to award Evan the Legatus Christi certificate at his graduation. “Evan has always been very passionate and eager to participate in discussion on whatever topic we would cover in the club meetings,” says Cody. “I have no doubt that he’ll apply what he’s learned through Ratio Christi to whatever ministry or vacation in which God leads him to serve.”

Evan was kind enough to answer some questions for us as he reflected on his time as a Ratio Christi student and his reception of the Legatus Christi certificate.

1 – When did you come to Christ as Lord and Saviour, and how did that come about?

I don’t know the exact date or age when I accepted Jesus into my life, but I was raised in a Christian home where we consistently went to church and were taught about Jesus and the Bible. My mom has been and continues to be a spiritual mentor, and she has greatly influenced my faith and helped me grow.

2 – How did you become interested in apologetics, and how did you get involved with Ratio Christi?

I became interested in apologetics sometime in middle or high school. I recall learning about evolution in Grade 9, which further sparked my desire to learn about apologetics to defend the Bible and truth. So, the origin of the universe and age of the earth debate were likely the first apologetics topics that I engaged with. Also, during my school years, I came across an old DVD at home which featured several lectures from an expert who discussed evidence for Jesus. This sparked further interest in apologetics.

In Grade 12, I took a self-guided course where I researched evidence for Jesus and the events surrounding his life. The final project was to compose a research paper and defend it in front of staff. A teacher recommended Lee Strobel’s The Case for Christ, so that was one of the first apologetics books that I read. During this time, I also listened to a number of podcasts that provided evidence for Jesus. After this project, I graduated high school and attended Crandall University where I joined Ratio Christi.

3 – What impact has the Ratio Christi ministry on your campus had on your walk with God and your personal ministry?

Ratio Christi has equipped me to engage with a variety of apologetics topics, and to answer objections to the Christian faith. I’ve been able to use this information in my own ministry by teaching apologetics to a young adults small group at church, training staff and campers at summer camp, and growing in my own faith journey.

4 – What does receiving the Legatus Christi certificate mean to you?

I am honored to receive the Legatus Christi award! I appreciate how the award speaks words of affirmation, truth, and encouragement over the recipients. It’s not just an acknowledgment for the work I have done over the past four years, but it is a testament to the Christian life and a reminder to always be ready to give an answer in truth and love. I pray that I can uphold the traits that are spoken over me in this award, and with God’s help, I can use my acquired skills from Ratio Christi to disciple fellow believers, and minister to unbelievers.

5 – How do you envision taking the apologetics you have learned through Ratio Christi into your future endeavors?

I want to engage in apologetics throughout my life. Ratio Christi is only the start. Just as I applied my knowledge and skills through Ratio Christi at camp, I intend to apply it to church settings whether it be small groups, Sunday school, young adults, youth groups, or sermons. If I become a teacher, I would also be interested in starting an apologetics group, or, at the very least, a Christian group that would engage in apologetics. I also plan to put the skills I have learned to use in everyday conversations with others.

6 – What would you say to other students who might be considering getting involved in Ratio Christi, whether they be skeptics, seekers, or believers?

We live in an age of relativity, where objective truth is suppressed, and the subjective statements of the individual are elevated. There is so much confusion about what the truth really is, if it even exists. Therefore, regardless of one’s level of faith or absence thereof, Ratio Christi offers an excellent environment where you can think for yourself in a place where you will be respected. It is also a place where you will learn about truth and how to find it rationally. If you are a Christian, your faith will be strengthened, and even if you do not identify with the faith, you will be challenged in the best way. Getting involved in Ratio Christi will change the way you think and equip you for the real world. You will learn how to respect others’ viewpoints while also defending your own, both in evangelism and in everyday life.

One last thing: if you are a Christian and think you know enough for your faith journey or to defend the faith, think again. I would argue that everyone can keep learning; it is a lifetime investment, and I guarantee you that you will learn something new at Ratio Christi that you can use to defend Christianity, while simultaneously edifying your own faith in Christ. And that’s time well spent!

Congratulations, Evan!

It’s always exciting to see passionate students like Evan go through our campus ministries and come out the other end ready to be effective ambassadors of Christ in the world. Students like him are the reason Ratio Christi awards the Legatus Christi certificate. Congratulations, Evan!

Please keep Evan in your prayers as he continues to love and serve God and others with all his mind.