Dr. Terry Mortenson is a creation apologist, author, and speaker who has dedicated his life to defending the biblical account of creation. He grew up in a small, church-going family in Minnesota and became a Christian during his first year at the University of Minnesota. His faith led him to question the theory of evolution and embrace a young-earth creationist perspective.
After graduating from the University of Minnesota, Mortenson joined the staff of Campus Crusade (now called CRU) and served in campus ministry at Purdue University and Moorhead State University. During his time on staff, he encountered Dr. Henry Morris and Dr. Duane Gish’s books on creation apologetics, which further fueled his interest in the subject.
In 1980, Mortenson and his family moved to Vienna, Austria, where he was assigned as the country director for CRU in Czechoslovakia. He attempted to establish a presence in Czechoslovakia through language learning and business activities but ultimately returned to the United States to attend seminary in 1989, just before the fall of communism.
During his covert missionary work in Czechoslovakia, Mortenson had limited opportunities to present his creation lecture, but his talk and slides were translated into Czech and used by others in the country. He continued studying the scientific evidence supporting the biblical account of creation throughout the years.
Mortenson pursued further education, earning a PhD in the history of geology from Coventry University in England and an MDiv from Trinity Evangelical Divinity School. He has since lectured on the creation-evolution controversy in numerous countries, spoken in various settings including churches, schools, and secular universities, and engaged in formal debates with evolutionary scientists.
As a member of the Evangelical Theological Society (ETS), Mortenson has presented creation-related papers at ETS annual meetings and helped form and lead the Creation study group. He has also been involved in organizing rafting trips through the Grand Canyon for seminary professors, Christian college professors, pastors, and other Christian leaders, presenting evidence for a young-earth interpretation of Genesis.
Mortenson is the author of several articles, book chapters, and books, including “The Great Turning Point: The Church’s Catastrophic Mistake on Geologyā€”Before Darwin” and “Coming to Grips with Genesis: Biblical Authority and the Age of the Earth.”
He and his wife, Margie, have been married since 1976 and have five daughters, three sons, and numerous grandchildren. They enjoy spending time with family, fixing up old houses, and engaging in activities like playing Scrabble and reading together.