This summer’s reading assignment for entering freshmen at Charleston Southern University is the student edition of “The Case for Christ,” by Lee Strobel.
As an atheist, Strobel viewed Christianity as “nothing but superstition and wishful thinking” until his wife announced she had become a Christian. The positive changes in his wife’s life intrigued and motivated Strobel, a Harvard law graduate and legal editor of the Chicago Tribune. For almost two years, he committed himself to researching both the case for and against Christ and chronicled his evidence in the book.
Rick Brewer, CSU’s vice president for planning and student affairs, said recent studies from the Barna Group reveal that less than one-half of 1 percent of young people have a Christian worldview.
“The foundation for understanding Christian worldview and faith integration is understanding who Jesus is,” said Brewer. “This book will help students who may not come with a good context and understanding of Christ and Christianity. For others, it will reinforce what they already believe.”
For incoming freshmen, the book will be the focal point in new student orientation, freshman seminar classes and also in residence hall Bible studies. It’s not unusual for schools to require summer reading, but the model that will be used at CSU offers the opportunity to engage not only incoming students, but all resident students and campus leadership.
Campus minister Clark Carter is creating online training for residence hall staff, engaging them in dialog as they walk through the book together. Also, lunchtime book discussions will be offered several times during the summer and will be available for faculty and staff.
On Nov. 11, Strobel, a teaching pastor at Saddleback Valley Community Church, will be on campus to speak at convocation and spend the day in a variety of seminars. – CSU