Following the call of Christ means living as a bold witness, but just how many ORU students can really share their faith? Have they examined their beliefs enough so that they will stand the test of time and trial?

The Christian Worldview Committee, led by ORU faculty, was created 10 years ago to help students examine and solidify their beliefs. They provide resources to faculty for incorporating worldview discussion into the classroom and invite speakers to give talks on campus.

Committee chair and English professor Barbara Law said the group’s purpose is to challenge students to examine their faith.

 

“Our mission is to teach students what a Christian worldview is and then teach them to apply it,” said Law. “We want students to be challenged to understand their worldview.”

The group of 15 faculty members meets on a monthly basis to discuss how to impact the ORU campus.

Assistant professor of drama Chris Martin, who is in charge of the committee’s public relations, said the group tries not to limit a Christian worldview to one denomination or perspective.

“Our purpose is not to say, ‘this is a Christian worldview,’ but rather ‘here are the variety of them,’” said Martin. “It’s prudent for students to discover what a Christian worldview is for them while in college.”

In addition to challenging students to understand their faith, the committee provides resources for faculty to bring worldview topics into the classroom.

Martin said the group hosts an all-faculty retreat at the start of each year to instill worldview as a focus in the classroom.

“We help faculty embrace worldview in their classes,” said Martin.

The committee hosted its second spring worldview lecture March 24 and 25 in Zoppelt.

The event attracted hundreds of students, faculty and visitors to hear guest speaker Steven Bouma-Predeger, a professor at Hope College in Holland, Mich., share his insights about living as a Christian in a secular world.

The three lectures on topics regarding Christian worldview, the care of creation and homelessness will be available on oru.edu.

Students had differing responses to the lecture.

Junior English major Jasmine Wilder said she appreciated the insights she gleaned from the lecture.

“I was really happy ORU brought this here,” said Wilder. “It’s good to have things teachers have said expanded on. It’s another way of opening your eyes to how much of a worldview you have.”

Freshman writing major Sarah Thompson said she enjoyed the lecture but wishes it could have gone deeper.

“The lecture was very broad and I wish he could have been more direct, but I understand the difficulty with the time restraint,” she said.

Senior international business major Amber Fouts said she finds it is important for students to ask questions about their faith.

“I think it’s really important for us to analyze our worldviews from a Christian perspective, especially when we come to college,” said Fouts.

Law said she hopes to attract more student involvement in upcoming semesters.

“We want to do things interesting to students that will mold and shape their worldviews,” said Law.

“Students can come to the faculty meeting by contacting me. We’d love students to come to share their worldview ideas.”

Faith - Faith C