By Sarah Carlson, Arts Editor

The 87th annual Bible Lectureship will open Sunday night with the first of seven keynote speakers, Billy Wilson of Glasgow, Scotland, in Moody Coliseum at 7 p.m.

Lectureship’s theme is “Since You Have Been Raised With Christ,” and Dr. Mark Love, director of Ministry Events, said after a theme is established by a committee, members brainstorm possible speakers and approach them almost a year in advance.

He said the committee looks at who could best preach material related to the theme and is known for their preaching ability and being good with the text. Various factors are considered, such as the size of churches the men preach at, their ethnic and social backgrounds, the variety of locations where the men are from as well as their age range.

“It’s not just enough to be a good speaker,” Love said. “We want to know if these people are going to represent the text well.”

The speakers are approached in about April the year before Lectureship. After