Christian Worldview week impacts students and faculty alike
Posted by The Skyliner on March 25th, 2009Kellan Mayfield
Staff Writer
Last week, the annual Christian Worldview Conference took place at North Greenville University. The conference was organized by Dr. Tony Beam, director of the Christian worldview center, who chose the theme for the conference, “Christian Worldview Under Fire.”
This year, Christian Worldview Week featured many keynote speakers who delivered relevant messages on faith and apologetics. Dr. Daniel Akin, president of the Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary, spoke in chapel Monday morning. Wednesday’s chapel was led by Barrett Duke of the SBC Ethics and Religious Liberty Commission in Nashville, Tenn.
To complement these services, two bonus chapels were also held. Monday night, Matt Barber of the Liberty Council in Lynchburg, Va., shared a message on the dangers of society’s gradual acceptance of homosexuality. Tuesday night’s chapel was led by Michael Johnson, a lawyer with the Alliance Defense Fund in Scottsdale, Ariz., who delivered a strong message regarding the ACLU’s continuous campaign against the Gospel.
All of the chapel services featured music led by Geof Kimber, a worship leader from Australia.
“I really liked Tuesday night’s bonus chapel, where the speaker spoke on the current battle in the courts with the assault on marriage. It really struck me on how change can be harmful rather than beneficial to the world that we live in,” Wayne Hope, sophomore mathematics, said.
Geof Kimber of Papua New Guinea leads North Greenville University students in a night of worship during the Christian Worldview week, March 16th through the 18th. Bonus chapel services were offered to all students while speakers addressed issues in today’s society. (Photo by: Joseph Huntley/ The Skyliner)
Dr. Steve Crouse, vice president for campus ministries, believes the mission of Christian Worldview Week was conveyed clearly and accurately.
”The purpose of the week,” Crouse said, “is to expose students to the need for a biblical worldview if we, as believers, are to impact our culture for the cause of Christ. Some believe that all we need to do is love people and share the gospel. Certainly those things are important in living out the Christian life, but we must also seek to influence our culture and deal with issues like corporate sin, cultural godliness and social injustice.”
Crouse expressed concern that many students at NGU and other Christian universities fail to see the need for defending the faith in the public arena, stating that it is our duty as God’s followers to defend our right to religious liberty and the privilege to share the Gospel.
“I believe that a biblical Christian worldview is foundational for believers to be change agents in the world,” Crouse said. “I have been aware of these issues for many years. The conferences help me keep up-to-date with current issues and debates that are attacking the advancement of the gospel. It helps me to be proactive through how I vote and how I influence elected officials and hold them accountable.”
Many students were also deeply affected by the conference and the messagesthat many believers need to hear in order to defend their faith.
“I thought that it was eye-opening and it made me realize that I need to stand up for what I believe in, even though my beliefs may be unpopular. Our society and culture will oppose me and persecute me for my beliefs, but I still need to hold to the moral standard the Lord has given me,” Katherine Shaw, freshman psychology, said.