A Unique Opportunity

Let me ask you two favors. First, please read this email carefully and prayerfully consider this unique opportunity. Second, please forward this email to other faculty that you might know of. They might be local, or at another university, or at a Christian school or in your discipline. Thanks so much.

Have you ever thought about the question, "What does my relationship with God have to do with my calling as a professor?"

Dr. Don McDonald testifies: "In the process of gaining my Ph.D., I lost my belief in God. I say 'belief,' not 'faith,' because my loss ran deeper than simple loss of confidence.... I lost belief that any god even existed. I never thought it could happen to me. After all, I had been in the ministry for 17 years. Later I thought there was no way I could ever believe again. I was wrong on both counts."

How did Dr. McDonald begin his journey back to God? Surprisingly, among a group of committed believers at a secular professional conference. Imagine how such a discovery of like-minded fellow scholars -- many from within your discipline -- in a decidedly Christian atmosphere could affect your professional and spiritual life.

That's just one of the benefits you will gain from attending God and the Academy: Charting a Course for the New Millennium, a conference designed exclusively for you, the Christian academician. In fact, this event is unique in other ways:

Intentionally designed to promote collaboration within disciplines - although scholars from all disciplines from Anthropology to Zoology will be invited, members of your own discipline will be slotted special time to meet together. What's more, through an integrated worldwide computer network, you will be connected to those fellow scholars from that time on. Discover common research interests, collaborate in ministry. Together, you will leave with the ability to help make inroads for Christian truth in your discipline;

Workshops targeted to meet your unique needs in the university - on subjects like effectiveness in research, publishing, teaching, grant requests, tenure and more;

Perspectives on worldview - you will draw from the knowledge of experienced teachers in areas like how to develop a better worldview filter, how to answer basic questions of faith, cultural and philosophical assumptions and a host of apologetics questions. You will leave better prepared to "give an answer for the hope within";

World renowned scholars from several nations, including the Rev. Dr. Alister McGrath of Oxford and Dr. J. Budziszewski, U. of Texas, will address you and your colleagues in plenary and workshop sessions;

A larger purpose - beyond personal and professional development, you will leave as part of a movement to help give truth a hearing in the academy in the new millennium. You can participate in You will leave able to make a difference through your special calling as a scholar!

But can you really expect to make a difference? Dr. Mike Atchison, head of biochemistry in the department of animal biology at the University of Pennsylvania, had his doubts. Yet each year, he faithfully offered a simple two-sentence statement in class on how his Christian faith shaped his thinking. Unknown to him, a woman in his class was married to the publisher who was considering the text for Dr. Michael Behe's still unpublished book, "Darwin's Black Box." When the publisher wondered aloud about the plausibility of Behe's thesis, she suggested he should call her Christian prof, Dr. Atchison, for his opinion. His encouraging review was pivotal in the publisher's decision to go ahead and publish. The rest, as they say, is history.

God has placed you intentionally in a place of influence. God and the Academy can help you realize your full potential as a scholar and an ambassador of Christ. With the encouragement of experts and colleagues, you can see your career take on new meaning and be part of helping bring hope to higher learning in a new millennium.

In addition, there will be practical tools that will equip you to be effective in ministering to your colleagues and students. These are the proven tools that Christian Leadership Ministries have developed over the years.

Basic information:

Dates: June 21-25, 2000
Location: Georgia Institute of Technology (Georgia Tech), Atlanta, Georgia
Sponsored by: Christian Leadership Ministries and Ravi Zacharias International Ministries
Early Registration Deadline: March 21, 2000 (also cancellation and transfer deadline)
Event Web site: www.clm.org/chartthecourse
Email: clm@clm.org
Phone: 972-713-7130 or 1-800-989-7130

We hope to see you there.

See Don McDonald's personal story.
See Dr. Michael Atchison's story.

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