Our most recent outreach effort was to the 63rd Convention of the Texas District of The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod held on June 5-7, 2025, at Gloria Dei Lutheran Church, Houston, Texas.
This page is for you who followed the many links I passed out at the convention.
I encourage you to explore Ratio Christi as a ministry partner for your Lutheran campus ministries, high schools, youth groups, and faculty. I also hope you will feel comfortable encouraging your future college students to seek out Ratio Christi Chapters where ever they end up.
I have prepared this summary of our ministry especially for my new friends from the convention. Here is a Frequently Asked Lutheran Questions regarding our ministry. (Helpful for non-Lutherans, too)
We are Ratio Christi (Latin for the reason of Christ). Our primary mission is to train apologist-evangelists on the college campus. This mission pairs beautifully with the LCMS Texas District’s emphasis on creating Evangelists.
We believe and teach the inerrancy of scripture, and our beliefs are compatible with the LCMS. We have not yet sought to be a Recognized LCMS Service Organization, because I’m not sure how to do that. (I serve at the local not national level of RC.)
This FAQ will support the claim that our organizational beliefs and practices are compatible with the LCMS:
- Is RC Syncretistic?
No. We are a supplementary ministry that is focused on
1) training Christian students in apologetics-evangelism and
2) outreach to non-Christian students through apologetics-evangelism discussions and relationships.
We are not a church, nor are we tied to a particular denomination.
We do not shy away from nor gloss over the conflicting beliefs in different religions and conflicting beliefs within Christianity. We emphasize clarity and respectful discussion, doing our best to “live at peace with all” (Rom 12:18). - What about RC’s worship practices?
We do not host a worship time during our meetings for many reasons.
1) Our Christian students come from many different denominations and choosing a singular worship practice is problematic theologically and practically. We strongly encourage our members to join a local church.
2) Our non-Christian visitors do not know what they are worshipping, so we do not confuse them by requiring them to mimic others. We want them to feel free to ask their toughest questions and to learn about Christianity in-person from everyday Christians.
We want to be a welcoming “front porch” for those who are curious about Christianity. We are not the whole house. - What about prayer?
We do not host corporate prayer at our meetings for similar reasons. Our leaders pray FOR the students and pray blessings over the students. Even our non-Christian visitors have expressed appreciation for being blessed or prayed for.
- What do RC meetings look like?
1) Each week, we host a topical discussion that digs into the Biblical, historical, philosophical, and scientific reasons for following Jesus Christ. Example topics from Spring 2025
2) We also do “tabling” on campus where we engage in thought provoking questions and tell people about our club and about Jesus.
- Didn’t Luther warn us about “reason”?
Yes, but he warned against the magisterial use of reason that elevates the faulty reasoning of a fallen mind above the revealed truth of Scripture (Heidelberg Disputation, Bondage of the Will). Luther supported the ministerial use of reason in service to faith in Christ, and THAT is what we do at Ratio Christi. - What does RC offer college students?
The vast majority of our work is with college students through our Ratio Christi campus chapters.
“Jesus said to him, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.” [Matthew 22:37 ESV].
We naturally draw Christian students who are excited to “love God with their mind”. Many students need these deep discussions since the church has for decades preached a more feelings-based faith.
(I think there should be an RC chapter at every Concordia University campus!) - What does RC offer high schools and church youth ministries?
RC College Prep is our high school youth apologetics program. These chapters approach apologetics and evangelism with a strong emphasis on relationships. We train them to recognize the bad ideas in the world to inoculate them rather than isolating them. When they have “apologetics antibodies”, they can confidently embark on their future in the world.
(I think there should be an RC College Prep club/program at every Lutheran High School in Texas!) - What does RC offer faculty and staff?
RC Prof is our ministry to the university professor and staff members. These programs are tailored to the specific needs on a campus. They range from small lunchtime discussion groups to full academic symposia on difficult topics of the day. The academic symposia always include speakers on how the Christian world view informs the debate.
- What does RC offer graduates with ministry or theological training in apologetics?
We NEED chapter directors, interns, and volunteers to get involved reaching the lost on the college campus and transforming the world when those students launch into society. Ratio Christi’s apologetics-evangelism ministry is unique. It may be the ministerial vocation you are looking for.
(I think the LCMS can multiply its impact on the college campus and the world by adding Ratio Christi involvement and partnerships to its mix of campus ministry efforts (i.e. campus parishes and international student ministries).) - Your turn. What questions do you have?
Send them directly to me at shsu@ratiochristi.org.
The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all.
Darren L. Williams
> Chapter Director and Faculty Advisor
Ratio Christi at Sam Houston State University
>Evangelism Chair
Faith Lutheran Church, LCMS
Huntsville, TX
>Trained Evangelist
Texas District of the LCMS
>Professor of Chemistry
Sam Houston State University
My apologetics blog.
Ratio Christi at Sam 