Biola UniversityAbout the Winsome Conviction Project
The Winsome Conviction Project was launched from a heartfelt concern for the toxic, polarized and simply unloving communication climate that is permeating our nation and penetrating the body of Christ. We believe that followers of Christ are obliged to communicate with others in loving ways that preserve human dignity, even as we engage in honest and passionate disagreement. We hope to foster conversations within the church and the broader culture that deepen relationships and enrich lives rather than tear us apart.
Through the generosity of some donors who shared our passion and concern, we have embarked on a 5-year effort of developing resources, and providing workshops and events for churches and organizations who want to deepen convictions without dividing the body of Christ or alienating the watching world. Our three main activities are:
-
Staging conversations that help us care deeply, think clearly, speak graciously, and listen patiently:
Public forums and events — Duologues and other public events
Winsome Conviction Workshops — teaching skills for better listening and communication
Small groups — for more in-depth bridge building between communities that see things differently
-
Developing resources including the Winsome Conviction podcasts, winsomeconviction.com, and publications (including Winsome Persuasion, Winsome Conviction, and I Beg to Differ)
-
Providing services — to churches, organizations, and small groups who want to work on developing convictions, and communicating them in a winsome and compelling manner.
About Us
Rick Langer
Rick Langer (Ph.D., University of California, Riverside) is professor of biblical and theological studies at Talbot School of Theology and director of the Office for the Integration of Faith and Learning at Biola University. He has published numerous academic journal articles applying theology to a wide variety of disciplines including business leadership, disability, suffering, bioethics, and vocation. He is an ordained minister with over twenty years of pastoral experience and has served on the board of several Christian organizations. He and his wife, Shari, have two married children and four grandchildren.
Tim Muehlhoff
Tim Muehlhoff (Ph.D., University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill) is a Professor of Communication at Biola University in La Mirada, California where he teaches classes in conflict resolution, apologetics, gender, and family communication. He is co-director of Biola’s Winsome Conviction Project that seeks to reintroduce compassion and civility into our disagreements. He’s the co-host of the Winsome Conviction Podcast where people with differing viewpoints are brought on for engaging dialogue. For more, check out Winsome Conviction Project.
Tim has written extensively in the area of cultural engagement and conflict including I Beg to Differ, Winsome Persuasion, Winsome Conviction, and his newest book (co-written with Sean McDowell) is End the Stalemate: Move Past Cancel Culture to Meaningful Conversations. For more, see: timmuehlhoff.com.
Together, Langer and Muehlhoff have authored two books: Winsome Persuasion, which received a 2018 Christianity Today book award, and Winsome Conviction, coming out in December of 2020 (IVP). In addition to teaching and writing, they serve as co-directors of The Winsome Conviction Project.
Mission Statement
The Winsome Conviction Project is committed to helping foster conversations that deepen — rather than tear apart — relationships, help to heal a fractured church and nation, foster civility and bring biblical compassion to a warring public square.
Vision Statement
Utilizing public conversations, deeply held convictions will meet honest disagreements in a virtuous communication climate in which participants care deeply, think clearly, speak graciously, and listen patiently. Change will only happen when we approach differences at the intellectual and heart levels. We take seriously the Scripture’s admonition that just as a “harsh word stirs up anger” a gentle word has the potential to turn “away wrath” (Prov. 15:1).