by Emily Snell | Oct 13, 2011 | News Slider
Katie Davis faced a dramatic life transformation nearly five years ago, and now at age 22, as the mother of 13 Ugandan children, she is changing the world one life at a time. Davis spoke at The Gathering on Thursday Oct. 13 to tell her story and the stories of people she has met and to encourage students to walk in obedience to God’s call. During her senior year of high school, Davis went on a Christmas break mission trip to Uganda. Her heart was so deeply touched by the people she encountered that she had to go back to the East African nation and care for them. “I wanted to do something, even if it was small,” Davis said. Davis established Amazima Ministries in 2008, in order to help more children by partnering them with sponsors around the world. The organization “feeds, educates, and encourages orphaned and vulnerable children and the poor in the country of Uganda.” A $300/year sponsorship provides some medical care, school supplies, three meals a day and spiritual encouragement. When Davis began Amazima, which means “truth” in Lugandan, she said she expected to have a couple dozen children involved. In January 2008, there were already 150, and now the ministry has more than 450 sponsored kids. Davis has adopted 13 AIDS orphans, some of whom have special needs. “God created this family out of brokenness,” she said. Davis said most people hear her story and either think she is crazy or extraordinary. But she says she simply obeys the commands Jesus gave. “I’m just a normal person,” Davis said, “and in these little ordinary...
by Emily Snell | Oct 13, 2011 | News Slider
“Occupy” protests are taking place in Nashville, across the nation and even worldwide as people voice their concerns about corporate corruption in politics. The Occupy Nashville movement made its first appearance in Music City on Thursday, Oct. 6, when several hundred protesters led chants and gave speeches for an hour and a half in Legislative Plaza. On Saturday, Oct. 8, about 150 people congregated at Centennial Park for an informational meeting to determine further efforts to support the worldwide protests, which began on Wall Street on Sept. 17. Late Sunday, another 35 people gathered in Legislative Plaza. Lipscomb’s Clay Smith, a senior from Troy, Tenn., majoring in Spanish education, went to Thursday’s protest to document the activity and to hear participants’ perspectives. “I’ve been following what’s happening on Wall Street,” Smith said, “and I wanted to see what that would look like in other cities. “I think that a lot of people’s frustrations come from the fact that a lot of government agencies have gotten bail outs, but the average person hasn’t been helped much by it.” Smith believes America was founded on accountability and the right of the people to confront the government when it does something wrong. “I think it’s always important for us to hold the government accountable,” he said. “I think it’s a good thing for people to be talking about.” Smith said he thinks the protesters hope the government will take them seriously, just as it takes corporations seriously. He said many people are upset by the idea of “corporate personhood” and think the government has lost focus on the nation’s true citizens. “I...
by Emily Snell | Oct 7, 2011 | News Slider
Lipscomb University’s 120th birthday was Wednesday, and students recognized the event just like they would celebrate a friend’s birthday. Lipscomb in Motion hosted the “birthday extravaganza,” which took place in Bison Square from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Students enjoyed chocolate cupcakes and free drinks. Some played “pin the beard on David Lipscomb” while others made music with brightly colored kazoos (another freebie at the party). There was music, balloons, streamers, a piñata and, of course, a birthday cake with 120 candles. In 1891, David Lipscomb and James A. Harding established Lipscomb University. According to the lipscomb.edu, both men believed Bible study was critical to the foundation of education. Since then, the school—originally called Nashville Bible School, then David Lipscomb College, and now Lipscomb University—has taught Bible classes for all full-time students. But both men wanted the university to be more than a seminary. “We aspire to stand in the front ranks of the great educational institutions of the world,” Harding stated. Today, this conviction is still evidenced in the university’s mission “to integrate Christian faith and practice with academic excellence.” To read more about the university’s history, click here or visit this page for an in-depth look at Lipscomb’s...
