Cliffe Knechtle

Cliffe Knechtle (born May 20, 1954) is an American evangelist and pastor. Known as the founder of public apologetics ministry Give Me an Answer, he is the senior pastor of Grace Community Church in New Canaan, Connecticut.

Since the late 1970s, Knechtle has held open-air question-and-answer sessions on university campuses across the United States, and has continued this work alongside pastoral ministry since 2001.

Since the 2010s, recordings of his dialogues attracted large audiences on digital platforms like YouTube, TikTok, and Instagram. By 2025, Christianity Today reported his ministry had more than two million followers on TikTok and Instagram and over 900,000 subscribers on YouTube.

Early life and education Knechtle was born in New York City on May 20, 1954 to his father Emilio Knechtle, a Swiss-American businessman, and his mother Ann Johnston, who worked as a nurse. They married in 1950. Cliffe is the eldest of six children, and is named after his maternal grandfather. He attended St. Luke's School in Connecticut.

He attended Davidson College in North Carolina and later earned a Master of Divinity from Gordon–Conwell Theological Seminary, graduating in 1979. His style emphasized dialogue with students on issues of faith, ethics, and philosophy, rather than confrontational preaching.

In 1991, recordings of his campus events began airing on television as part of the program Give Me an Answer, which reached audiences in the United States and abroad.

Knechtle founded Grace Community Church in New Canaan, Connecticut, in 2001 and has served as its senior pastor since. and a convocation address at Liberty University in November 2024.

In August 2024 and February 2025, Knechtle and his son Stuart appeared with Charlie Kirk on podcasts and on The Charlie Kirk Show.

Knechtle held Q&A sessions at Harvard University in April 2025.

In August 2025, Knechtle appeared on The Tucker Carlson Show.

Personal life He is married to Sharon Knechtle, with whom he has three children.

Publications Give Me an Answer That Satisfies My Heart and My Mind: Answers to Your Toughest Questions about Christianity (Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press, 1986). Help Me Believe: Direct Answers to Real Questions (Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press, 2000).