History
TENEO began as a college ministry. We began in 2014 as a subgroup of Ratio Christi, a nationwide apologetics ministry. After meeting for several years, we found that people of all ages and backgrounds were interested the topics we were discussing, which prompted us to begin TENEO, a local ministry focused on bringing rational and thoughtful discussion to our local Christian community.
TENEO as Ratio Christi
Ratio Christi at Washburn University, 2014
There are many Christian organizations that have wonderful ministries on University campuses around the world. Most fill the valuable need of discipling and creating community for students. And yet, often missing is the opportunity for students to learn about apologetics and theology. This is where Ratio Christi comes in. Ratio Christi is a national ministry with the sole aim to promote and teach students how to defend Christianity. They began in 2008 at Appalachian State University and quickly expanded to over 100 campuses. In 2014, Randall and Rovonne partnered with Matt and McKensie Bevens along with Travis Long to launch a Ratio Christi group at Washburn University. They also were supported by Christian Challenge, a long standing ministry at Washburn.
During the first two years, we met on the University campus growing from just a single student to a half dozen. A decision was made to move the meetings off campus to the Birtell home. Here, we would share a meal, build community, and discuss apologetics and theology. RC at Washburn University continued for six years. Some of the highlights of this time was an outreach event featuring Dr. Gary Habermas, who presented over video. We also partnered with Christian Challenge to bring in Frank Turek to debate Jeffrey Jay Lowder on the topic of Naturalism vs. Theism in White Concert Hall, several hundred were in attendance.
During the first two years, we met on the University campus growing from just a single student to a half dozen. A decision was made to move the meetings off campus to the Birtell home. Here, we would share a meal, build community, and discuss apologetics and theology. RC at Washburn University continued for six years. Some of the highlights of this time was an outreach event featuring Dr. Gary Habermas, who presented over video. We also partnered with Christian Challenge to bring in Frank Turek to debate Jeffrey Jay Lowder on the topic of Naturalism vs. Theism in White Concert Hall, several hundred were in attendance.
A Ratio Christi event featuring Dr. Gary Habermas, a well-known New Testament scholar and theologian.
The Birth of TENEO
TENEO at the Birtell Household, 2023
We found that as students were graduating from Washburn University, they continued to come to Ratio Christi meetings. We also began to attract individuals outside of the University. So, after six years of ministry as Ratio Christi, we decided to enlarge our circle of ministry. Thus, TENEO was formed. TENEO began in 2020 as a Topeka ministry open to a variety of ages and backgrounds, focused on bringing thoughtful discussion to the Christian community in Topeka. We could then continue to reach university students with the addition of providing a community for graduates and older adults. We continued meeting in the Birtell household, sharing food together, and discussing a broad range of apologetic, philosophical, and theological topics led by various members of TENEO.
We began adding book studies over the summer as a way to get deeper into selected topics over many weeks. These book studies have grown into a valuable part of TENEO, allowing us to learn more about complex ideas as a community. Often accompanying these book discussions, we get the opportunity to reach out to the authors themselves and conduct interviews, learning more about the writing process and difficult reasoning behind the topics. These interviews are often a highlight of the year.
We began adding book studies over the summer as a way to get deeper into selected topics over many weeks. These book studies have grown into a valuable part of TENEO, allowing us to learn more about complex ideas as a community. Often accompanying these book discussions, we get the opportunity to reach out to the authors themselves and conduct interviews, learning more about the writing process and difficult reasoning behind the topics. These interviews are often a highlight of the year.
The Future We SeeWe want to see TENEO grow in the coming years as we begin to more intentionally reach out to our community. Our hope is that TENEO will become a vital part of the Christian community, not just in Topeka, but in many locations. TENEO provides a unique outlet for uniting churches in our community. We hope to fuel a resurgence in intellectual discussion among Christians, regardless of age, education, or background. We want to see a movement expand beyond one group of people meeting in one living room into many groups in many homes. If you agree with our mission, consider joining our community for discussion or supporting us however you can. We also rely on word-of-mouth, so please share about TENEO with others who might be interested!
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