2018-2019 Yearbook

American Studies Institute continued the Distinguished Lecture Series with two experts on the 2018-19 Harding Read. D uring World War II, an Oxford professor made a series of 15-minute radio broadcasts that touched the U.K., those broadcasts were soon turned into a book that touched the world, eventually it earned a top spot on Christianity Today's list of most influential books for evangelicals, and in the 2018-19 school year, "Mere Christianity" touched the Harding campus as the Harding Read. C.S. Lewis' apologetic work "Mere Christianity" seemed the obvious choice for the third Harding Read to President Bruce Mclarty who expressed deep appreciation for Lewis' ability to confront Christianity's most difficult questions and make the answers accessible. McLartywanted Harding students to experience and understand the timelessness of Lewis and his work. "[Lewis] wrestles with some big issues that we need someone to help us with, and yet he can be so common and down to earth," McLartysaid. "He helps us find the words to express what we want to express, what we long to express, and what we need answers to, and so I thought both in terms of coming to faith, and then, having reason for Christian behavior and decided that all of us living in this time would find that C.S. Lewis is incredibly relevant." After announcing "Mere Christianity" as the Harding Read at the end of spring 2018, McLartybegan working with the American Studies Institute (ASI) to find a Lewis biographer who could present in conjunction with the university's focus on Lewis for the 2018-19 school year. According to McLarty,Lilly Scholar, Lewis biographer and Professor of English at Asbury University Dr. Devin Brown was a godsend, and Brown's close connection and friendship with Lewis' stepson Douglas Gresham was a serendipity. President of ASI senior Olivia Womack could not have been more thrilled when Brown and Gresham were announced as guests for the ASI Distinguished Lecture Series for fall 2018 and said that having them on campus shed a new light on the life of Lewis and his legacy. "The biggest impact was the wisdom chat they brought," Womack said. "They provided new insights and perspectives on C.S. Lewis and renewed the campus-wide conversation about the life of this influential Christian." Lewis' influence in the lives of both Brown and Gresham began when they each read "The Chronicles ofNarnia: The Lion, The Witch, and The Wardrobe." Brown recalled being enthralled by the novel at 16 years old, and Gresham remembered feeling the same way until he met the man behind the tale. "I met Jack when I was eight years old and was horribly disappointed," Gresham said. "As an American boy, I [expected] everyone in England to be riding horses and wearing silver armor, and I was being taken to meet this great man who knew Aslan personally. ... I expected him to be at least dressed in silver armor. Ofcourse, he was nothing of the sort..He was a stooped, balding, professorial looking gentleman. I was really quite disappointed, but then, his enormous personality took over, and I realized that I'd suddenly gained a new and possibly very valuable friend, and of course, he turned out to be the most valuable friend I've had in my life after he became my stepfather." Brown discussed the importance of Lewis as a man who was able to speak to and connect with all people. He mentioned how Lewis sent a copy of "Mere Christianity" to an Anglican, a Roman Catholic, a Greek Orthodox and a Methodist before publishing the book to ensure that it would not offend anyone in those particular branches of Christianity, and none of the priests had any complaints. "'Mere Christianity' seems to speak to everybody," Brown said. "For [Lewis] to say, 'I'm going to write something, not what Anglicans believe or what Catholics believe, but what all Christians believe.' I mean, it's a pretty radical move to say, 'hey, this is what unites us, not what divides us."' Gresham remembered the man who turned from literacy hero to stepfather to trusted friend. He recounted stories of Lewis' quick-wit, his intimidating Scrabble-playing skill, his eidetic memory, his wisdom and his boisterous laugh, but for Gresham, the most important parts of Lewis were his courage and love. "He was an incredibly brave man, not only on the battlefield, but also the way that he handled my mother's death took immense courage, far more than I will ever have," Gresham said. "He was also enormously charitable. You have all kinds of love; his book "The Four Loves," is all about charity, and he understood it and lived it." Brown believed that Lewis' legacy of love and charity would not soon be forgotten. "This man, who many consider to be the greatest Christian writer of our time, continues to live on in the books that he has left behind," Brown said. story by Morgan Taylor 259 I ASI

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