Team | Board Members | Contributors | Adjunct Speakers

We live in a time that desperately needs real hope. True hope can only be found in our personified Reason for hope, Jesus Christ. This is God´s own Son, “in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.” (Col. 2:3) Our desire is to use the Bible to help communicate some of these treasures of wisdom and knowledge to those who are lost and dependent on false hope. Reasons For Hope, then, has an apologetic aspect in defending the faith but even more so is focused on going out to expose and challenge the false teachings and worldviews which form the foundation of thinking in our post-modern culture. Practically, this means Reasons For Hope, with God´s blessing, would like to help Christians be better able to share their faith, facilitate a deeper growth in understanding God´s Word, and to help young people to be bold and not ashamed of the gospel. We also want to help non-Christians to see the implications of their choices and worldviews. Ultimately, to see they are hopeless without Christ. I am excited about this new ministry. Carl has had a huge impact on my children through the years and has a gift for connecting with young people in a relationally relevant fashion. I am excited about having Wade Wacker involved in the ministry with his skills of leadership, insight, communication, and organization. I am excited that Candace is involved with her skills of encouragement and detail management. I am excited to serve on the board with Paul Gracey and his God given ability to give clarifying vision and melt away the truly superfluous while focusing on the essential elements of ministry. I am excited for the others I know the Lord will bring in to help with this needed mission. But most of all, I am excited about the Lord and His promises. He radically changed my life and that of my family and promises that not only will His Word not return void, (Is. 55:11) but He himself will be with us always, even to the end of time. (Matt. 28:20) That is a reason for hope and an encouragement to be busy and active in His Kingdom business !

I am a lawyer and corporate general counsel with over 25 years of experience in the US and abroad. I received my undergraduate degree in Business Administration from the University of Michigan and J.D. from UC Hastings College of the Law in San Francisco. My wife Colleen and I met through work in California and were married in January, 1988. The Lord blessed us with two children, Trip and Lauren. In 1990, Colleen and I together made a commitment to love the Lord our God with all our heart, soul, strength and mind. Since that day, He has faithfully directed our path from California to England and to Illinois, leading and drawing us to a deeper relationship with Him. I first met Carl through Answers in Genesis over 10 years ago. Carl is a gifted communicator, sharing his passion for the Lord and the Word of God with great clarity, urgency, humility, love and humor. When he told me how the Lord was leading him to start the ministry that has become Reasons for Hope, I knew God was also calling me to work alongside Carl. In these sobering times I look forward with great anticipation to the opportunities the Lord will provide to assure the world that there are Reasons for Hope!

Wade and Stacey Wacker have been married for 21 years. They have 3 children: Joshua, Shadrach, and Lacey. I was drafted by the Minnesota Twins straight out of high school as the 55th pick overall (3rd Round) by the Minnesota Twins where I signed and played for 4.5 years in the Minor Leagues. I received an AA degree from Worthington Community College while playing baseball and also received a Certified Financial Planning degree from the College of Financial Planning in 1991. When I was finished with baseball in 1991, I took over a financial practice in my hometown of Jackson. I started with American Express Financial Advisors and worked for them until 1996 when I left to start my own practice, United Financial Resources. That leads us to today. I was fortunate enough to meet Carl through our mutual relationship with Answers In Genesis and his brother Stephen. His attitude and energy is infectious and you could see and feel the Godly effect he had on people. We made an instant connection. When I brought my son, Shadrach, to the museum, he had an instant impact and connection with him that was inspiring. Carl has a gift that is Spirit filled and given the right opportunity can lead many people to the Lord. It is exciting to be a part of something that can give Carl the opportunity to bring so many the “Reasons For Hope”. Thanks, Wade