Can you
understand
The Bible?
Founder | Austin Woodruff
As a new missionary, I met with a married couple who was interested in my missionary work. They were members at a local church, and leaders there, for decades. Sitting across the table, I shared how the Lord had called me to dedicate my life to the work of the Great Commission. The wife stopped me and asked, "What is the great commission?" A little shocked, I paused, opened my Bible, read Matthew 28:16-20 , and taught this couple about the mission Jesus has given all Believers. What seemed like Christian basics to me was completely new information to them.
Maybe you relate to this as someone who has sat on my side of the table, or maybe you hear Christians talking about stuff that you feel clueless about—perhaps even embarrassed to ask what they mean. I encounter this on a regular basis, almost weekly, and so do many other Christian leaders. There seems to be an underlying problem.
In recent years many research projects have begun to shine light on this problem. The majority of people struggle to read the Bible, let alone understand what it means, resulting in a slow drift away from a close relationship with Jesus. People need more than just a reading plan to actually understand the Bible and their relationship with Jesus.
Even though most Christians believe the Bible is God’s Word, knowing how to understand it seems out of reach. We know that consistent Bible engagement is the greatest predictor of Christian growth and maturity. So if people don’t understand the Bible, they don’t grow and mature in their relationship with Jesus.
Christian leaders and pastors see this problem first hand. The research shows that pastors are regularly giving out Bibles, reading plans, and other resources to their congregations. Which is good! Yet that alone is not solving the problem. The number of people confused about the truth is only growing as Christians slowly drift away from their relationship with Jesus and confidence in Biblical truth.
(Research: LifeWay Research, Barna Group, Center for Bible Engagement)
So what is the solution? Show people how to understand the Bible when they read it.
But this is no small task! People go to seminary for that! Yes. But people also go to culinary school to be chefs—but that doesn’t mean normal people can’t learn how to cook. Teach someone the basics of cooking so that with a simple recipe book they can cook for themselves and their family.
To translate: teach people how to study the Bible and show them where to start. This is why we have built Red Letter Basics. We teach you the basics of Bible study and give you the “recipe book” with a helpful starting point—the “red letter” words of Jesus—as you venture into the whole of Scripture.
Start here: Learn how to understand the Bible
If you want a clear starting point, we’ve built a simple training pathway to help you gain confidence as you read the Word.
Since Our Launch (2022 – Present Day)
Red Letter Basics exists to
Mission
Help others know and listen to Jesus.
Vision
See every Christian confident in their ability to know and understand the truth of Jesus in his Word.
Your generosity is what propels this ministry forward to help more people know and listen to Jesus.
What We Believe
History of Red Letter Basics
See the Impact
Meet the Team
Austin Woodruff
Founder & President-CEO
Austin has been in vocational ministry since 2015 serving Jesus through aiding underground church planting, leading a variety of college and young adult ministries, and discipling and training up Christian leaders. In 2021 he took the leap to found this ministry based on his original book, Red Letter Basics, What does Jesus say?
Austin is married to his beautiful wife, Sarah, since 2019. Together they serve in their local church through the college and young adult ministry where Austin also serves as a deacon.
Chance Brown
Staff Team and Theological Team Member (2024 - Current)
Chance Brown serves as staff and a theological team member at Red Letter Basics, where he focuses on Bible training, discipleship, content creation, and theological leadership. With years of ministry experience across youth, college, and church settings, Chance recently earned his Master of Theological Studies degree from Shepherds Theological Seminary and is passionate about understanding and sharing the Word of God.
Chance is married to his beautiful wife, Dani, since 2024. He and Dani are committed to a lifetime of ministry, partnering with others to strengthen the Church and raise up faithful disciples.
Nick Alsop, ThM
Theological Team Member (2023 - Current)
Nick has been a believer since 1978. He has a keen interest in the Biblical Languages and has studied them for more than 35 years with a ThM in Bible Translation from Dallas Theological Seminary.
Nick led the theological content team at FamilyLife from 2000 until 2018. Then he joined the Josh McDowell Ministry team to produce theological curricula for areas of the world with no access to seminaries, Bible schools, or training materials for new believers.
Matthew Tingblad, MDiv
Theological Team Member (2023 - Current)
With a Master of Divinity from Talbot School of Theology, Matthew has a passion to grow and strengthen the church with a firm grounding for the Christian faith. He serves as a speaker and author at Josh McDowell Ministry, offering a unique approach to tough biblical questions by integrating theology and philosophy into apologetics. Matthew has encouraged thousands to grow in a rock-solid conviction that God is real, God is good, and God is worth it.
Dr. Bo Thompson, DMin
Theological Team Member (2024 - Current)
Bo Thompson has been married to his wife, Stacie, since 1992. Together they have three adult children. Bo earned his BA in Bible from Columbia International University (1984), his Master of Theology from Dallas Theological Seminary (2002), and Doctor of Ministry from DTS (2022). He has served on church staffs since 1984 and currently serves as Lead Pastor of Rhea’s Mill Baptist Church, McKinney, Texas.
Terry Spinelli, ThM
Theological Team Member (2024 - Current)
Terry Spinelli has served in ministry leadership for over four decades: 16 years with Campus Crusade for Christ, 9 years as Senior Pastor, and 19 years with East-West Ministries International, where he currently serves as Director of Field Development. After earning his BS at Penn State, he completed his ThM at Dallas Theological Seminary. He has lived internationally in Russia, India, and Vietnam, gaining extensive cross-cultural experience.
Board of Directors
Our board provides governance, accountability, and strategic support for the mission of Red Letter Basics.
Austin Woodruff
Founder & President-CEO
President and CEO, Red Letter Basics
Celina, TX
Preston Richard
Director & Vice President
President and CEO, ProducerPR
Knoxville, TN
Colin McCaslin
Director
Digital Strategies, East West Ministries International
Sunnyvale, TX
David Pine
Director
Sr. Manager of Product Support, FinThrive
McKinney, TX
