Saturday, February 15, 1997

79th Annual series kicks off today

By BRIAN BETHEL / Staff Writer

Abilene Christian University's 79th annual Bible Lectureship series kicks off today with the dedication of two important campus icons, then hits full force Sunday.

A bevy of speakers and special topics will ruminate on the event's theme, "Faith Under Fire" - which specifically highlights the clash between Christianity and humanism in the modern world.

"The focus is on a single savior with a single message," said Bill Young, director of church relations and Lectureship. "From that savior the battle is pitched in having a faith that survives in a world of change."

DEDICATION, GROWTH AND HONOR

Esther Sowell, an Abilene mother and grandmother, will be honored Saturday by her family and Abilene Christian University with the naming of the 82- foot-high rotunda in the school's Biblical Studies Building.

The rotunda will be dedicated during a 1 p.m. ceremony.

Sowell, a longtime resident of Corsicana, is being honored as "a godly Christian mother and grandmother whose spiritual influence nurtured her family in the ways of the Lord, encouraging them to lives of faithful service and commitment to Christ," according to the plaque that will grace the structure.

Following, the rotunda dedication, ACU officials will conduct a unique "indoor groundbreaking" for the Margaret L. and William J. Teague Special events center.

The 1:30 p.m. ceremony in Hart Auditorium of the Biblical Studies Building will usher in the construction of the 43,500-square-foot, $3.5 million facility brought about by anonymous donations.

William Teague served 10 years as ACU's president. He and his wife, Margaret, were both graduates of the college.

The building will provide the university with a large, multipurpose room seating 1,500, conference and meeting rooms, offices for the director of athletics and members of the coaching staff, offices and work areas for the athletic training staff, locker rooms, a catering kitchen and storage areas.

In addition to the dedication ceremonies, the Parents' Association Luncheon will honor parents of the year David and Beth Phillips.

From Fort Worth, the Phillips family will be honored at noon in the Campus Centers' east dining room.

Their daughter, Marijoy Phillips, is a junior communications major at ACU.

The award is given to recognize parents for the time and support they have given their own children as well as other young people and ACU.

Sunday, Alumnus of the Year Ira Hill will be honored at a noon luncheon in a day that culminates with the official opening lecture of the series at 7 p.m.

Numerous other awards will be given throughout the week.

FAITH IN CRISIS

The heart and soul of ACU's lectureship is the series of seven theme lectures that binds the event together.

Each is delivered by a biblical expert and will deal with different facets of the theme topic.

In literature describing the event, Dr. Royce Money, ACU's president, described the event as a "special time of year" that gave participants an opportunity to gain "new energy and new knowledge of God's plan for us and His church."

All of the lectures are in the college's Moody Coliseum.

A table of scheduled topics, presenters and times is as follows:

--- Randy Harris, "Proclaiming Truth in a Pluralistic Society," 7:30 p.m. Sunday.

--- Gayle Crowe, "Responding Faithfully to Cultural Trends," 9:45 a.m. Monday.

--- Prentice Meador, "When the Nuclear Family Goes Boom," 7 p.m. Monday.

--- Michael Lewis, "Making Boomers and Busters into Builders," 9:45 p.m. Tuesday.

--- Jack Reese, "Faith Under Fire: Facing Serious Challenges Within," 7 p.m. Tuesday.

--- Grady King, "A World That Seeks for Signs," 9:45 a.m Wednesday.

--- Landon Saunders, "Declaring Christ as the World's Only Savior," 7 p.m. Wednesday.

Saunders' lecture closes the event for most participants, who come to the ACU campus from all points. About 8,500-10,000 listeners are expected.

Hundreds of thousands of dollars are funneled into the local economy from lectureship participants' activities.

SPECIAL TOPICS

In addition to the main lectures, a variety of special symposiums and classes are scheduled throughout the week.

Topic choices range from classes for women - "Preparing for Life's Storms" and "Nurturing Faith Through Praise" are examples - to biblical text classes, such as "The Moment of Mystery When God Changes Your History" and "The Conflict of Faith and Experience in the Old Testament."

Such special classes will be given daily at 8:30 a.m., 11 a.m. and 3:30 p.m.

Special feature classes/topics will be given at 2 p.m daily, such as "Faith Under Fire in the Workplace" and "Faith Issues of Fertility Medicine and Genetic Engineering."

In addition, a variety of lunches, concerts and other activities will keep lectureship-goers busy.

After the lectureship ends, the university will host the 13th annual Conference on Youth and Family Ministry, focusing on fathers' roles in spiritual development.

That event will begin Thursday, ending Friday.