What on Earth is aPizzagetics?
Ever wondered what would happen if you mixed pizza, big questions, and honest conversations about God?
We did.
It all started after an annual conference, when a handful of youth stuck around with Adrian and Roy, two of The Ambassadors Forum leaders.
At some point, they decided to order pizza, break the kids into groups with a leader at each group, and chat about a topic or question they had.
What started as one conversation over pizza quickly became something much bigger: the foundation for what is now known as aPizzagetics.
From then on, our leaders began laying out the formation and process of these events, constantly making adjustments after every meeting, seeking to improve the method, and make these events more engaging, interactive, and meaningful for every attendee.
Today, aPizzagetics is an interactive night where students and young adults wrestle through real questions about God, the Bible, and life, together in a group setting. Through discussion, role-play, and hands-on activities, they’ll build critical thinking skills, learn how to find biblical answers, and gain confidence in talking about what they believe.
More Than a Slice and a Sermon
Most youth events involve sitting and listening.
aPizzagetics is different.
There are elements you’d expect in most youth gatherings—food, social time, and teaching—but it’s how they work together that makes it more interactive.
Sure, pizza is on the menu, but it’s also a part of the experience.
There’s something about sharing a meal that puts people at ease.
Pizza is familiar, relaxed, and communal, making it the perfect setting to talk about life’s biggest questions without feeling like you’re sitting in another classroom.
We’ve discovered that one of the best ways students learn a process better is if they are the ones doing the work, rather than being lectured about it.
Where most youth events typically have the adult or leader delivering the content to the students in a lecture style, at aPizzagetics, leaders are more the facilitators guiding the conversation, while the youth engage in group discussion to:
- help them think through a common topic
- hear different perspectives
- practice answering questions for themselves
This simple philosophy has given these youth the opportunity to gain real skills and a stronger understanding of their faith in real time.
What Happens at an aPizzagetics Event? (Besides Eating Pizza)
No two aPizzagetics events are exactly the same, but they all follow a similar flow.
Most gatherings last about 2½ hours, taking place from 6:30 to 9:00 p.m. at a local church or community space. Throughout the evening, students move between conversation, teaching, group discussion, and hands-on activities as you wrestle through one big question about God, the Bible, or life.
🍕 Grab a Slice + Get Comfortable
The night always starts the same: with pizza (gluten-free options available, too)!
Each student is invited to grab a slice, spend time meeting others at their table, and jump into a fun icebreaker.
With that collaborative and energetic tempo set, we transition into teaching.
💭 Wrestle With One Big Question
Each event focuses on a single common question, rather than trying to get through 10 different topics in one night.
Throughout the evening, everyone follows along with an interactive slideshow that guides the discussion, from up front sharing and individual processing to table processing and big group feedback.
Rather than simply being told the answer, students move through four phases that help them build a thoughtful, biblical response themselves:
- Phase 1: Think deeply about the question and learn to find assumptions, define terms, and think about the various personal backgrounds of the person asking.
- Phase 2: Find Biblical content that responds to this question through passages and stories and discussing as a group.
- Phase 3: Uncovering an individual understanding by writing personal responses from the discussion and thinking, then debriefing together.
- Phase 4: Refine together by learning from the larger group and shaping an even stronger, ideal response.
This process has been called The Ambassadors Forum’s “secret sauce” — our unique recipe for helping students think through big questions in a different way!
🎭 Practice Responding In Real-Time
One of the most unique parts of aPizzagetics is the chance to practice real conversations before you have them in real life.
Throughout the evening, leaders model conversations through live role-play, showing how they would thoughtfully respond to difficult questions. Students are also invited to step in and give it a try themselves.
Not ready yet? That’s okay.
Don’t worry, you won’t be put on the spot and forced to share with the group. There will be plenty of opportunities to contribute to the conversation, but you can also choose to just observe and listen without pressure.
Questions We’ve Wrestled With Together
Everyone has questions (including the speakers) that they are still searching for the best answer to.
Some are about God. Some are about the Bible. Some are about faith, doubt, culture, or just trying to make more sense out of what they believe.
What we’ve learned is that the best way to grow in faith is to join together with fellow travelers and journey together.
At aPizzagetics, we’ve discussed question like:
How can God punish people who’ve never heard of Jesus?
Why doesn’t God reveal himself to me?
Why do Christians believe in Heaven and Hell?
How do we know the Bible is true?
By the end of the night, most students realize something simple but powerful: they are not alone in having questions.
Plus, they gain skills to think more critically about their questions and realize they have the ability to formulate biblical responses to some of the toughest ones, together.
Join an Interactive Apologetics Event for High School Students and Young Adults
aPizzagetics is one of the few learning environments that students say, “that was a lot of fun!” after working hard to develop a response to a question.
Once students have experienced an aPizzagetics event, they realize how helpful and engaging the night is and they come ready to engage and learn.
If you’re a young adult who wants to find answers to your questions, or you know someone who would really enjoy some pizza and meaningful discussion, you’re invited to check out upcoming aPizzagetics events near you and join in with The Ambassadors Forum.
