Freed-Hardeman University prepares for virtual Bible Lectureship

As Freed-Hardeman University prepares for this year’s Bible lectureship, they look forward to presenting it virtually during the covid-19 pandemic.

For over 80 years, this has been a tradition of the faith-based institution.

“For 85 years, the first full week in February has been a time that we’ve welcomed people at least recently from around the world,” said Doug Burleson.

Burleson, an associate professor at Freed-Hardeman, says a pandemic could stop the tradition.

“There have been wars and depressions and now pandemics that have happened, and yet we still try to do this in a way that you know hopefully blesses our community,” said Burleson.

According to Burleson, about three thousand people come to campus to witness the lecture. Students and staff close by can attend in person, but those who live elsewhere domestically and internationally can tune in online.

“We’re streaming everything for our off-campus guests. yeah, we wanted to protect the pride as we call it ‘protecting the pride’ as we call it here first, and then uhh think about those guests. We’ll miss having them here, but for their safety and the students’ safety, we were trying to be thoughtful about that too,” said Burleson.

Guests who tune in and attend the lecture will focus on regaining their overall purpose in life.

“Money and work and possessions and all the things that we appreciate aren’t really the first thing, so just felt like a really timely opportunity to talk about that and regain our purpose in Christ.”