The
eorgetonian G
February 11, 2015 Volume CXXXV Issue 3
Georgetown alumnus speaks at Chapel
Dr. Nik Ripken spoke on the “hardest task” followers of Christ have in the world By ANDREA BELLEW
his lecture, he explored what reading those Old Testament getting their world news from the hardest task facing today’s passages one after another as “secular media.” He said that Christians is; he also explored people claim some of the most he is concerned about ChrisOn Feb. 10, the Danford where Christians stand in terrific things on the planet, tians reliance on secular media: Thomas Memorial Lecture consideration of the Islamic “There’s little sense that we series featured Dr. Nik Ripken State/ISIS, Syria and other open the Word of God and as its speaker. Dr. Ripken types of challenges for today through the power and the earned his B.A. in religion (Georgetowncollege.edu). spirit of God, and through and history from Georgetown He started off his lecobedience to what we find College; then, he went on to ture with some humor by in the Word of God, that pursue both a Master’s Degree commenting on Pastor Alan we interpret what is going and Doctorate of Ministry. Dr. Redditt’s introduction of on in the world by looking Ripken and Ruth, his wife, him: “It’s not often that you the world in the eye and have worked with the Inter- get to hear your funeral having a conversation with national Mission Board and speech before dying.” Then those people rather than just the Southern Baptist Conven- he made the disclaimer that talking about them.” Source: Facebook.com tion for 30 years. They have the audience would “have to He started talking more Dr. Ripken said the hardest task missioned in Malawi, South decide whether it’s a lecture, in depth about what he is “going out to engage the world.” Africa, Kenya, Somalia, Ger- a sermon or a personal testifaced in Somalia. In 1991, many, Ethiopia and the Middle mony.” there were 150 Muslim conHe explained they claim they are right to do verts. They were persecuted that he became a them in the name of Almighty and killed until about 1997, Christian shortly God.” He said one of the things which is when those 150 conbefore going to col- claimed to be right is wiping verts had dwindled down lege. He commited out entire civilizations. to four. These last four were his life to Christ in He also remembered “fall- shot in the head and hid in a cheese factory in ing in love with the God of the an unknown location, so the Owen County, KY Old Testament.” He brought bodies were not there for the which is where he up the Bible story where God funeral. From 1991 to 2013, The Georgetonian/ ERIC BALMER is from. He started and Abraham discuss the every believer who was killed GC alumnus, Dr. Ripken talked of persereading the Sco- destruction of the cities Sodom received a funeral without the cution of Christians around the world. field Bible after and Gomorrah. He liked the bodies present. In Feb. 2013, a coming to Christ, idea of a God where Abraham convert’s body was finally able East, as well as others places which he claimed set him could argue and bargain over to receive proper burial and be (Georgetowncollege.edu). back about twenty years in his saving the souls of others. part of the funeral. The topic for his lecture progress as a Christian, and He said that he has realHe discussed what Chriswas “The Hardest Task.” In he commented, “I remember ized churches in America are tians should be doing about News Editor
Inside
this issue
Georgetown under financial warning page 2
May Primaries are fastly approaching page 3
Excessive exercise is harmful page 4
the Islamic State/ISIS, Syria and the other challenges today. He asked many rhetorical questions that reflected what he felt Christians should be doing, such as, “Where are our modern–day Abraham’s bargaining for souls of Sodom and Gomorrah?” and “Are we giving those who are captured [in lives full of hatred and without knowledge of God’s love] a choice?” He says Christians need to go out into the world and tell people what the “response of love” is. He emphasized that Christians are supposed to love their neighbors as they love themselves. The hardest task seems to be going out to engage with the world as missionaries, instead of staying at home talking to other Christians about problems, but he says that Christians need to remember that the hardest thing is really sending people out into the “wolves” until change is made. According to Dr. Ripken, Christians are sent out as “sheep among the wolves,” which is a biblical reference because God “is always a sending God.”
“Connate” showing in Wilson Gallery page 8