By Mallory Sherwood, Features Editor
Songs echoed throughout Moody Coliseum on Sunday as more than 2,300 people gathered for the opening night of the 87th annual Bible Lectureship to worship with ZOE Group and listen to Billy Wilson, guest lecturer from Glasgow, Scotland. Guests also heard two important announcements regarding Lectureship and the university.
Wilson, the preacher at Castlemilk Church of Christ in Scotland, opened his lecture, titled “He has rescued us,” by singing the first stanza and chorus of O Holy Night.
The song should be musically to Christians what Acts 2:38 is to us spiritually, Wilson said.
“This song should make the hairs on the back of our neck stand up,” he said. “… We were lost in sin; we had a noose around our neck and the chair kicked out beneath us, and then a thrill of hope came, a star of light. A child was born.”
This child became our hope even though we didn’t deserve it, and we have hope even when we are too ashamed to come before him, he said.
“A heavenly bloodhound has sought you out; he is bent on your rescue.”
Wilson concluded his lecture by reminding the audience again of this child born long ago.
“God tore the heavens apart to get to us,” he said, and the only significant thing about our rescue is our rescuer.
“We know this,” Wilson said. “A child was born. The child, he saved the world. True story.”
Dr. Royce Money, president of the university, said Wilson’s lecture is the “most important true story we’ll ever hear.”
After the lecture, Money announced that Lectureship will be moved to the third week of September beginning in 2006 because the university desires to integrate Lectureship with the rest of campus and to integrate faith and learning, which is at the heart of the mission of ACU.
Also, Dr. Jack Reese, dean of the College of Biblical Studies, announced the Jo Ann Walling Halbert Institute for Missions now has the opportunity for full-time staff to serve the students and nurture an interest for missions. He introduced five full-time mission coordinators in areas of the world such as Asia, North America and Africa.
The institute’s goal is to train and send 200 men and women to plant churches in the next five years with four church-planting movements on each of the continents, Reese said.
“We ask that you will help, pray and support these people that will raise up men and women to share the Gospel throughout the world,” Reese said.
Gerald and LoweAnn Elliot, guests from Winnsboro, drove to Abilene to attend Lectureship, as they have for many years. Gerald Elliot said Wilson made a positive presentation, and the couple is looking forward to the rest of the week.
Ryan Bowman, senior communication major from Orlando, Fla., also attended the lecture on Sunday.
“Wilson was a great speaker and a great guy,” he said. “I came because I like a little diversity, and even though I am African-American, I think we can all share something together through the word of God, no matter what race or color you are.”
“We are gathered here to celebrate that Christ is alive here and leading His church,” Money concluded.
“Billy Wilson helped to begin this rich week of messages that will remind us that we are people of the resurrection.”
