Alan Highers shares how debates didn’t have to be hostile—many opponents became friends, and even called him the best debater they ever faced.

Alan Highers recalls his debate with Mr. Brown at Poplar Springs—a moment when even a doubtful elder was won over by the power of clear, respectful discussion.

In this special conversation, Brother Alan Highers shares some of his experiences in public debates throughout the years, including one unforgettable story involving a rattlesnake.

At just 19 years old, Alan Highers faced his first debate against the seasoned L.H. Brown under a packed tent in Poplar Springs, Tennessee.

Alan Highers reflects on the three great men who shaped him as a debater—Guy N. Woods the logician, G.K. Wallace the master of simplification, and W. Curtis Porter the rebuttal expert. Their influence helped prepare him for a lifetime of defending the faith.