Students read for inspiration and a steak dinner Photo by Daniel Dubois Senior BradIrwin catches up on his daily Bible reading. Many accepted President David Burks' and Dr. Carl Mitchell's challenge to read the entire Bible in one year. Some fell behind but worked hard to get back on track. At the beginning of 1998, President David Burks and Dr. Carl Mitchell challenged students to read the Bible from start to finish in one year. As a reward for reading, a steak dinner would be shared with all those who finished the chall enge. "For several years Carl and I have given this challenge to the students," Burks said. "However, this year there has been an overwhelming response from the students." More than 1600 students and faculty responded to the chall enge. "It's unreal to think that all 1600 will actually complete the reading," Burkssaid. "Even if only a hundred or so fini sh, we will still have done something that is very good." Although a majority of the students fell behind, many of them stayed on pace to finish. "I was behind for a while, but then I spent some time and caught up," senior Alan Martin said. "I've taken the route of reading the Bible chronologically wi th the Daily Bible. You really get to see how some themes can run throughout the entire Bible." Although it was a struggle to find time to read daily, encouragement from those who were also trying was welcome. "I try to keep a couple of days ahead of the schedule. I also try to encourage other people whom I know are also trying to read the entire Bible," David Allen said. Dr. David Cole tri ed to encourage those that he knew had taken the chal - lenge. "We all try to hold each other to some level of accountabili ty, " Cole said. "Any time I see someone I know who is also reading, I try to ask them how they 're coming along. It's really an effort for all of US," ''You just have to be motivated and not get too far behind," Dr. Lambert Murray said . "Some nights you may struggle with a couple of chapters with li}ts of names and places, andother nights you might read 20 chapters because you feel it's something you can relate to. " Many of those who read the Bible had a favorite story that appli ed to their lives in some way. "I'm always struck anew by the attitude of the prophets in the Old Testament," Cole said. "Their devotion to serve God and be a representative is always an encouragement." Although the steak dinner was an incentive, all understood the value of reading the entire Bible. "Those that take the chall enge develop a di scipline that will help them to know what God 's wi ll is for our lives, and it helps develop their values," Burks said. "A steak dinner is a small price to pay, because if even one student can finish the year learning more about God, then we will have done something good. " - Philip Murphy Keeley Hutchison - Antioch, Tenn. Heather Irwin - Indiana, Pa. Jason Jackson - Longview, TellaS PatrickJackson - Broken Arrow, Okla. Annika Jacobs - Houston. Texas Jason Jacoby - Fleming, Ohio Alex Janes - Bolingbrook, Ill. Jami e Jennings -Jonesboro, Ark. Leanne Jett - Hendersonville, Tenn. Bert l obe - Schaumburg, III. Michelle Johns - Nuhville, Tenn. Alex Johnson - Chattanooga, Tenn. Bridget Johnson - Columbia, Tenn. Danna Johnson - Sherwood, Ark. Kyle Johnson - Carrollton, Texas Tim Johnston- Searcy, Ark. Brad Jones - Yorktown , Va. Jenny Jones - POCcahontu, Ark. SO PHOMORES 97 •
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy NTc5NA==