Being Comfortable with Individual Purpose: An Interview with La Nej Garrison

“We are what we believe we are.” – C. S. Lewis

If I described myself based on my past, I would have listed things like: the daughter of a mentally ill woman, abandoned by my father, spent my childhood in foster homes, etc. But those things do not define me. I am blessed. I am a wife. I am a mother. But most importantly, I am committed to the truth of the Gospel and determined to communicate biblical truths with passion, excellence, and humor.

At 12 years old, I was rescued from the foster care system by my aunt who later adopted me along with my uncle. God gave me parents who nurtured, loved, and instilled values in me that laid the foundation for life and ministry. I met my husband at Biola University and we have three beautiful wild boys and one big useless dog!

 “Children have never been very good at listening to their elders, but they have never failed to imitate them.” – James Baldwin

I am an editor and writer for Urban Ministries, Inc. (UMI), the largest Christian African American publishing company in the world, reaching more than 10,000 ecumenical congregations. UMI serves denominations throughout the United States, Africa, and Europe.

In addition to editing, I am privileged to teach in the classroom. At Desert Christian Academy (DCA), I teach Bible and Christian Worldviews to multiple age levels. One of my favorite classes is Debate. As a debate coach, I develop and train students on critical thinking, public speaking, and analytic techniques, which are essential tools for every Christian.

Lastly, my new role will be to engage in Philosophical discourse in academia. As a Philosophy Adjunct Professor, it is my goal to change the relativistic narrative that dominates secular education. Philosophy classes in colleges and universities tend to steer conversations so that the possibility of belief in God is considered anti-intellectual and irrational. The doctrine of tolerance has permeated young minds, which often results in doubts about the epistemic status of faith. As an adjunct professor, I will welcome and encourage questions about the existence of God, morality, religion and more.

“Prepare your mind for action” (from 1 Peter 1:13, NLT).

I am determined, passionate and driven. From a young age, I knew I would be an advocate for truth. As a minister, teacher, and editor, I bring an array of skills that allow me to serve on multiple platforms. My goal is to steer others toward developing intellectual tools that will allow them to provide relevant answers to our modern world.

As an African American woman, I am excited to be a part of this growing field (apologetics). Although there may be some feelings of intimidation, I find the key is to be comfortable with my individual purpose. I earned a Master’s in Philosophy of Religion and Ethics, because I understood its eternal value. Any challenges I face are steps that I use to fulfill God’s plan. The opportunities are endless, and I am willing to put in the work. Apologetics, in general, and philosophy, specifically, require discipline and dedication. The opportunity to plant seeds of truth in the minds of youth, young adults, and women is vastly rewarding. The charge to defend the faith is for everyone. We need trained Christian thinkers who can articulate their beliefs to a dying world!

You can follow La Nej on Twitter, lanejgarrison@twitter.com.

Disclaimer: All views expressed by those associated with this ministry or on our platforms do not necessarily represent the opinions of Women in Apologetics, Inc. or its individual team members.