TheRealIssue

Issue#1, Mar 2004

Conferences

National Faculty Leadership Conference
"Called to Make a Difference" is the theme of a national conference for Christian faculty. The National Faculty Leadership Conference (NFLC) will be held in Washington, D.C., June 24-27. The conference, sponsored by Christian Leadership Ministries, will bring together faculty from around the country and the world to collaborate, network, receive encouragement and be equipped on matters of faith in the academy. A call for papers has been issued in 14 academic tracks. Dallas Willard will be among the keynote speakers. Visit WWW.NFLC.US for more information and registration.

C. S. Lewis and Ethics in a Post-Enron Age
The Second Austin C. S. Lewis Conference entitled "C. S. Lewis and Ethics in a Post-Enron Age" is a one-day Saturday conference to be held at The University of Texas at Austin on April 17, 2004. The conference considers the challenge of living consistently in the complexities of our everyday lives by exploring Christian thought through the writings of C. S. Lewis and others.Visit www.CSLewisAustin.org for more information.

International News

Christianity courses lead students to Christ
In Taiwan, university students can now choose from elective classes such as “Introduction to Christianity,” “The Bible and Life,” and “Christian Thought and Western Civilization.”

The classes are a result of efforts by Christian professors at a major university in Chung-Li to introduce biblical concepts to their students in a credible manner. Approximately 2000 students at six different schools enroll in these classes each year. Because of the issues being raised, after-class conversations about knowing Christ personally often occur. An estimated 10 percent of the students who take these elective classes end up becoming Christians.

Two other courses, offered in the engineering school at another university, serve as pre-evangelistic outreaches. “Engineering and Life” and “Engineering and Social Change” attract an average of 500 students each semester.

The Christian professors teaching these engineering courses make a point to let the students know about their Christian beliefs on the first day of class when they introduce themselves. The course material provides the faculty with numerous opportunities during the semester to share their personal testimonies of how Jesus Christ changed their lives.

In addition, the professors invite students to optional discussion times with Christian professionals from the community one hour before the start of each class. During these times the community guests can directly share the gospel and invite students to receive Jesus Christ into their lives.

Praying professors expand outreach
What began as a simple prayer for more lab equipment turned into a movement of prayer among faculty in Taiwan.

In 1990, a professor at the country’s top university found himself without the proper equipment to do his mechanical engineering research. The professor asked his colleague, who was also a follower of Jesus Christ, if the two of them might pray together regarding this need. Over the next few years a growing number of mechanical engineering professors, graduate students, and university staff continued to gather regularly for prayer.

In 1995, God impressed upon these professors the need to unite the various Christian campus organizations for prayer on behalf of the university. On November 15, the anniversary of the university’s founding, the first annual “Born to Love” prayer meeting was held. Each year since then the faculty have held a similar campus-wide prayer event.

The professors’ commitment to prayer also inspired other faculty at other universities in Taiwan. At one university, the Christian professors sponsored an annual Christmas party as an outreach to the faculty. An average of 20 guests would come each year. In 1999, these professors decided to begin praying three months before the holiday event. That year more than 90 people attended, including the president of the university and three deans. Since then, each Christmas season has been preceded by prayer and has now become a time of rich spiritual harvest for the Christian faculty.