EDITOR’S NOTE: BP Ledger carries items for reader information each week from various Southern Baptist-related entities, and news releases of interest from other sources. The items are published as received.
Today’s BP Ledger includes items from:
California Baptist University
Campbellsville University
Calif. Baptist students hear proponents for Obama & Romney
RIVERSIDE, Calif. (California Baptist University) — Nationally syndicated radio talk show hosts Hugh Hewitt and Leslie Marshall verbally clashed Oct. 10 at California Baptist University, debating the 2012 presidential election, the economy, foreign policy and domestic policy.
Regarding the economy, Marshall spoke from a liberal point of view regarding President Obama’s attempts toward “working from the middle class out.” She went on to say that people would vote as a result of how they “feel” about the nation’s deficit rather than based on specific numbers.
Hewitt, from a conservative perspective, addressed Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney’s private sector experience and the 50 percent unemployment or underemployment rate college graduates have faced under the current administration.
“President Obama does not trust the private sector,” Hewitt said. “Romney does because he is from the private sector.”
During a discussion of foreign policy, Marshall, whose son was adopted from Pakistan, said she favors withdrawing U.S. troops from the Middle East.
“Are [Middle Easterners] hating us more because we are there?” Marshall asked.
Hewitt, however, criticized President Obama’s self-proclaimed foreign policy attempts to “lead from behind,” preferring Romney’s plans to be a “quiet but determined strength.”
When the discussion turned to social issues such as abortion, Marshall attacked Romney for switching views after deciding to run for president as a Republican.
“As a Democrat, I consider choice of what I do with my body something the federal government shouldn’t be involved in,” Marshall said.
Hewitt countered Marshall’s position, taking the side of the nation’s Roman Catholic population.
“It’s the wrong thing to do in America to tell Catholics they have to sterilize patients in their hospitals and provide the morning-after pill,” Hewitt said.
The discussion ended with a question-and-answer session for audience members.
The day also featured a live broadcast of the Hugh Hewitt Show during which CBU students had the opportunity to participate.
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Campbellsville campus revival: 20 professions of faith
By Tanner Royalty & Lucas Pennington, student newswriters
CAMPBELLSVILLE, Ky. (Campbellsville University) — Twenty students made professions of faith at Campbellsville University during a chapel service and three-day campus revival with evangelist Neal Hatfield, director of the Uplands Reach Conference Center. Many more made decisions to rededicate their lives to Christ, Ed Pavy, director of campus ministries, said.
“Jesus Christ, who exactly is he?” Hatfield asked at the Campbellsville University weekly chapel service Oct. 3. “He is factual.”
Hatfield quoted Paul’s writing in 2 Timothy 1:12: “That is why I am suffering as I am. Yet this is no cause for shame, because I know whom I have believed, and am convinced that he is able to guard what I have entrusted to him until that day.”
Paul knew, believed, and was convinced of everything Jesus said and did.
“The work of Jesus is a fact,” Hatfield said. There were many witnesses, and His work continues today. He said, “Look at my life, and the radical way I was changed. That is something that can’t be denied. You can’t meet the Son of God and walk away the same. He changes lives.”
Hatfield also said the cross and the tomb are factual. “Thousands of people died on the Roman cross, so we know of its existence. There is also an empty tomb that exists today where Jesus was once laid,” Hatfield said. “Dig deep, search and try to uncover the factual evidence of Jesus Christ and you will.”
Hatfield said Jesus’ love is a fact. He used John 3:16-17 to reveal this: “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him.”
He said we cannot earn our salvation, and even if we could that we wouldn’t. Hatfield said, “Christ loves me in spite of what I’ve done…embrace the facts.”
Hatfield also spoke throughout the week in a campus revival, focused on bringing CU students closer to God.
On Thursday evening, Hatfield asked students if they knew for sure they were a man or woman of God’s Word. He focused on how a person may think he or she is going to go to heaven after death, but how some of them people haven’t completely accepted God into their hearts.
Hatfield said, “The saddest thing is knowing someone who thinks they are on their way to heaven but in reality they are on their way to hell.”
He said in order to be accepted into God’s Kingdom you have to not only believe in Jesus Christ but you have to repent to Him. You have to accept God into your heart and let Him know your problems and ask Him for help.
Hatfield gave a real-life example of one of his own family members who hadn’t truly given herself to Jesus Christ. His daughter-in-law, Becky, always thought she was going to heaven but never really thought any further than that until his son witnessed to her and she accepted Christ into her heart.
Hatfield said he “believes pride will send a multitude of people to hell” because people with pride are not fully giving themselves to Jesus Christ; their pride is so strong they don’t repent or ask forgiveness for what they have done that is of sinful nature.
Hatfield said, “Know with great confidence that you have eternal life.”
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