They’re coming back! This weekend thousands of visitors will make their annual trek to Henderson for the 76th Annual Bible Lectureship at Freed-Hardeman University. A total of 125 speakers and song leaders will lead sessions this year.
This year’s theme is “The Behavior of Belief: Faith and Life in James to Jude.” “The program is based on the seven brief New Testament books known as the ‘General Epistles,’” Dr. Billy Smith, dean of the FHU School of Biblical Studies, said. “They emphasize the kind of life that is produced in the one whose faith is firmly rooted in God and His inspired word. Behavior is the proof of one’s belief,” he concluded.
The lectureship is being dedicated to the life and work of Clarence DeLoach, a minister for more than 60 years. A dinner will be held in his honor Tuesday evening, Feb. 7, at 5 p.m. in the auxiliary gym of Brewer Sports Center. Tickets to the DeLoach appreciation dinner are $12 each and may be ordered by calling 731-989-6769.
The FHU Alumni Singers under the direction of John R. Hall will present a program Thursday evening, Feb. 9, at 8:30 p.m. in Loyd Auditorium. They will pay respect to several people in the Church of Christ fellowship who have made contributions to the church’s worship in music, according to Hall. The works of Tillit S. Tedlie and L.O. Sanderson will receive particular attention. In addition the program will honor the life and work of Kelley Doyle who, Hall said, “spent his entire career teaching young people to love good hymns.”
The five-day event will begin at 7 p.m. Sunday evening in Loyd Auditorium with congregational singing. Dennis Michael Crowder will give the initial address at 7:30 p.m. His topic, “Living by Faith,” will focus on James 2:20. Lectureship will close with Friday morning’s chapel address, set for 10:30 a.m., by Jay Lockhart. His topic is “Loving God and One Another” from I John 4:7-21. Sandwiched in between will be 146 individual lessons.
Special sessions will be conducted Monday and Tuesday for youth workers. Wednesday will also feature sessions designed for Bible school teachers.
A complete schedule of this year’s lessons and speakers may be found at fhu.edu/lectureship. Those interested may also register and submit questions to Open Forum at the site.