Amy Orr-Ewing

Amy Orr-Ewing (née Kopsch; born December 29, 1975) is an international author, speaker, and Christian theologian known for her evangelism and cultural engagement work . She is one of the founders of the founders and former President of OCCA The Oxford Centre for Christian Apologetics and a former EMEA Director of the Zacharias Trust, Oxford . In 2008 to 2012, Amy was an Associate Lecturer at St Paul’s Theological Centre in London, and was an Associate Tutor at Wycliffe Hall, Oxford University until 2018. 
The author of numerous books, Orr-Ewing is highly regarded in the academic and apologetic circles as, one of the most prominent female Christian public voices. Amy writes about Christian theology and presents perspectives that address the deep questions of our day with meaningful answers found in the Christian Faith. She advocates for the integrity and historicity of the Bible, women’s ordination and egalitarianism, and a Christian philosophical response to the problem of evil and suffering. Orr- Ewing’s books include, Where is God in all the Suffering? (The Good Book Company), Why Trust the Bible? (IVP Books), But is it Real? (IVP Books), and her new book Mary’s Voice: Advent Reflections to Contemplate the Coming of Christ debut’s October 2023 (Hachette Publishing).
In recent years Amy Orr-Ewing has advocated significantly for transparency and justice working alongside and representing survivors of abuse and mistreatment. Her significant contribution was recognised by the Church of England in June 2023 at the Annual Lambeth Awards, where Orr-Ewing was awarded the Alphege Award for Evangelism and Witness, for exceptional dedication, skill and insight in her advocacy work .
==Early life and education==
Amy was born on December 29, 1975, in Sydney, Australia. She attended the King Edward VI High School for Girls and completed high school at Dover Grammar School in 1994. She developed an interest in apologetics and theology at a young age, despite her parents being staunch atheists for many years. When Orr-Ewing was 2 both her parents became Christians and her father went on to be ordained. 
After high school, Orr-Ewing went on to study Theology at Christ Church, University of Oxford where she completed a Bachelor of Arts in Theology in 1997 with First Class Honours. Whilst in Oxford, Amy met her future husband, Francis ‘Frog’ Orr-Ewing and got married in July 1997. Two year’s later, Orr- Ewing moved to London to study at King’s College London, where she received her MA in History of Christianity, and in 2017, Orr-Ewing earned a D.Phil in Theology from the University of Oxford .
==Career==
Orr-Ewing began her career as a speaker and evangelist, focusing on engaging with the intellectual challenges of Christianity. She has lectured at numerous universities, businesses and academic institutions, including Cambridge University, Oxford University, The White House and the Houses of Parliament at their annual National Parliamentary Prayer Breakfast . She has been ministering as an evangelist since 1998 and is a regular speaker at regional and international events including, Spring Harvest, Keswick Convention, IFES, New Wine and Creation Fest, and is the author of numerous books and contributions to mainstream publications including, Christianity Today and The Times .
In 2003 Amy and newly ordained Francis 'Frog' Orr-Ewing moved to London where Frog was Vicar of All Saint’s Peckham. This was an outward facing church which focused on evangelism. They had over 400 different languages spoken within their parish. During this time Orr-Ewing was also a Simeon Preacher at Holy Trinity Cambridge between 2005 and 2010. After 7 years in London, Orr-Ewing and her husband moved to Beaconsfield to plant Latimer Minster Church in 2010, which focuses on farming, conservation, missional church planting and charity work.
Orr-Ewing founded the OCCA the Oxford Centre for Christian Apologetics, alongside Graham Tomlin, Michael Green, Alister McGrath and Michael Ramsden. The OCCA the Oxford Centre for Christian Apologetics is a non-profit religious education institution. Since its creation in 2003, Amy led a team of scholars and communicators offering apologetic training to students from around the globe eager to present winsome and credible arguments in defense of the Christian worldview. Orr-Ewing was appointed co-Director in 2015 and later President in 2020. 
In 2015 Amy became the the EMEA Director of the Zacharias Trust in Oxford, where she directed a team of 75 people across Europe, Africa and the Middle East regions. Between 2010 and 2018, Orr- Ewing held an Associate Tutor role at Wycliffe Hall, University of Oxford.
In 2021 following the Ravi Scandal at RZIM, Orr-Ewing departed the Zacharias Trust and the OCCA the Oxford Centre for Christian Apologetics to pursue her speaking work and advocacy work with victims of abuse.
In 2022 Orr-Ewing was appointed Honorary Lecturer in the School of Divinity, History, Philosophy, and Art History at the University of Aberdeen, and in 2023 was awarded the Alphege Award for Evangelism and Witness, for her work advocating for the good new of Jesus Christ and for unflinching commitment that the church embodies the truth and grace of which is speaks. The Alphege Award was awarded by The Archbishop of Canterbury at the Lambeth Awards in June 2023.
In June 2023 Orr-Ewing addressed the National Parliamentary Prayer Breakfast in Westminster speaking on the topic ‘The Power of Forgiveness in Public Life.’
==Publications==
Orr-Ewing is a regular contributor to numerous publications, including Christianity Today , The Times, Premier Christianity, and Eternity News.
As of 2023, she has authored 8 books, among which Why Trust the Bible? and Where is God in All the Suffering? are the best-selling. In 2020 Where is God in All the Suffering? was translated into Italian and in 2022, into Spanish.
In her writings, Amy presents winsome answers to questions about Christianity, including the rationality of faith, the problem of suffering and evil, the historicity of the Bible, the role and value of women, and the relevance of Christianity in the current world.
==Personal life==
Amy married Francis ‘Frog’ Orr-Ewing in 1997, after they met studying at Oxford University . The couple has 3 sons. 
==Honours==
Orr-Ewing has been appointed Honorary Lecturer in the School of Divinity, History, Philosophy, and Art History at the University of Aberdeen in 2022.
In 2023, she was awarded the Alphege Award for Evangelism and Witness by The Church of England for "significant contribution to the transparency and integrity which befits witnesses of the gospel, through her own personal costly decisions and her advocacy for those who are survivors of abuse and mistreatment.”
==Selected works==
* Amy Orr-Ewing (2006) Why Trust the Bible? IVP Books, ISBN 9781844743476 
* Amy Orr-Ewing (2009) But Is it Real? IVP Books, ISBN 9781844743018
* Amy Orr-Ewing (2003) “Family” in God and the Generations: A Report by the Evangelical Alliance, Evangelical Alliance
* Amy Orr-Ewing (2002) Holy Warriors: A Fresh Look at the Face of Extreme Islam, co-authored with Rev Frog Orr-Ewing, Authentic, ISBN 9781850784609
* Amy Orr-Ewing (2013) Review of Rowan Williams The Lion’s World, Journal of Anglican Studies Cambridge University Press 
* Amy Orr-Ewing (2014) Review of Christine M. Fletcher, The Artist and the Trinity Dorothy L. Sayers’ Theology of Work ( Oregon: Pickwick Publications, 2013 (paperback). Volume 31 of VII An AngloAmerican Literary Review Volume 31, 2014.
* Amy Orr-Ewing (2020) Where is God in All the Suffering? The Good Book Company, ISBN 9781784982768
* Amy Orr-Ewing (2020) Why Trust the Bible? Revised Edition, IVP Books, ISBN 9781789741650
* Amy Orr-Ewing (2020) Dorothy L. Sayers Pursuing Truth Through Stories and Patterns in Alister McGrath ed. History of Apologetics, Zondervan Academic, ISBN 9780310559412
* Amy Orr-Ewing (2021) From the Empty Tomb to Today’s Abuse: Believe Women, Christianity Today
* Amy Orr-Ewing (2022) Cancel Culture is a scourge but it’s rooted in goodness, The Times
* Amy Orr-Ewing (2022) Truth must come to light however uncomfortable, The Times
* Amy Orr-Ewing (2023) Mary’s Voice: Advent Reflections to Contemplate the Coming of Christ, Hachette Publishing ISBN 9781546004547
Category:1975 births
Category:People from Sydney
Category:British people
Category:Alumni of the University of Oxford	
Category:Author
Category:Christian apologists