by Kelli Blackshear | Feb 22, 2012 | News Slider
Slavery. It’s a term that may remind some of their middle school social studies class, the Civil War, or figures like Abraham Lincoln and Harriet Tubman. What may shock people is that slavery still exists. Not only that, but there are more slaves today than ever in history. People all over the world, including in the United States, are victims of slavery in its various forms including domestic slavery, bondage slavery and sex slavery. Lipscomb students interested in exploring this issue and helping eradicate slavery have the opportunity to get involved. Every Thursday night at 7:30 a group that ranges from five to 15 people meets to discuss this very question. They are known as the International Justice Mission, a chapter of the Washington-based IJM. This is the third year IJM has been on campus and is being led by Cooper McCullough. His time as IJM president has had ups and downs. “My stint as president has been both encouraging and discouraging. Some of the ideas that we’ve brainstormed, as well as the genuine passion I’ve seen in people, has been amazing,” he said. “Discouragement can creep in, though, when I feel like I’ve done a poor job providing people an outlet to combat injustice or when people make it clear that their passion for justice won’t translate into action.” Among the successes are IJM fundraisers. McCullouogh said that some of the organization’s big past events have included a dance party, bake sale, prayer vigil, student recorded album, concert and several chapels/documentaries. He said the meetings begin with “good news,” which is usually a story of rescues by IJM, and a prayer to...
by Kelli Blackshear | Apr 12, 2011 | News Slider
The sights and faces he encountered during a class trip to Washington, D.C., still excites freshman Zac Rediford. “Coming to college I never imagined one of my three-hour class credits would come from a five-day trip to Washington, D.C.,” Rediford said. “I probably learned more about the path I’m pursuing on this trip than I ever would sitting in a classroom three days a week.” Rediford was one of the Lipscomb students who visited the nation’s capital as part of a course Lipscomb offers called Introduction to American Law. This opportunity is part of the Institute for Law, Justice and Society, an undergraduate academic program that focuses on how to use law and the legal system to implement social change. The Institute is fairly new and was established by Dr. Charla Long, director of LJS. This program is unlike many others because it offers various forms of hands-on experience and practical learning. A unique aspect of the program is “Education for a Cause.” This is a project that spans over the entire semester and Lipscomb is the only school in the nation to incorporate it into their curriculum. Each student chooses a specific social cause of significance and works throughout their educational career to eliminate or improve the cause. Prior to the D.C. trip, the class attended three meetings in which they learned about important political figures they might encounter, how to maneuver through the city with the Metro system and the sites they could expect to visit. A few of the sites the class went to included the Capitol, the White House, the Supreme Court, the International Justice Mission headquarters,...
by Kelli Blackshear | Mar 30, 2011 | News Slider
It was “The Fight” at the beginning, says John-Michael Elder, explaining a new on-campus worship experience. The sophomore Bible major from Franklin, Tenn., says “The Fight,” as it was deemed at the start, began as “a small group of guys studying the Bible and sharing experiences of the Spirit.” “The small gathering led to thoughts of making something bigger where more people, girls and guys, could come,” Elder said. That new worship gathering he and his close friends started at the beginning of the semester now is called “Fridays at 5,” and meets every Friday at 5 p.m. in the Ezell chapel. “We share in a worship experience with music and someone who shares a word,” Elder said. ” This isn’t definite yet, we’re still playing around with it. Nobody here is a preacher; we’re just digging in [the Word] together.” Elder noted that the worship group is open to everyone. “We all have different perspectives which God uses to open new perspectives for others,” Elder said. “We all come from different places so it’s cool to hear everyone’s story.” The leaders don’t have specific goals for numbers they want to reach or what the group should look like. Right now, Elder said , their objective is to follow where God is leading them. That is, after all, how it began when he had the vision for the group. His friend Steve Graham, junior Bible major from Iowa, helped him make it a reality. Cameron Gilliam, sophomore exercise science major from Mt. Juliet, is an integral part of “Fridays at 5,” helping to lead the group in worship. As a Christian-affiliated University, Lipscomb...
