This fall season has brought a bounty of opportunities for outreach in new fields. After a refreshing vacation, which included a meeting with RTB friends and supporters in the Bay area, Hugh jumped back into action with a Skeptics Forum at Palisades Lutheran Church here in southern California. Organizers were thrilled with the large turnout, especially with the number of faculty and students from nearby UCLA who came to listen and ask questions. A group of youth leaders afterwards declared, "This is the message our young people need!" They're looking into possibilities for a large-scale youth convention.
Next came the taping of a new series of Reasons to Believe television shows for Trinity Broadcasting Network and Paul Crouch's interview of Hugh on Praise the Lord. The excitement generated by their discussion of the latest spiritually-relevant scientific discoveries sparked plans for a new media venture: a regular "science update" featuring late-breaking developments in research and describing how these developments link with biblical revelation.
As Hugh addressed a Christian Businessmen's Committee training conference in Green Lake, Wisc., other RTB speakers led outreach endeavors closer to home. Marj Harman was the keynote speaker for a family retreat sponsored by First Presbyterian Church of Monrovia (Calif.). Her theme, "The Heavens Declare God's Glory," was carried out not only in her talks but also in two star-gazing sessions through Hugh's 10-inch telescope. Kevin Westley used the telescope, too, at a "star party" for Rolling Hills Covenant high schoolers and friends.
Then came another "astronomical" event. Dr. Robert Schuller invited Hugh to be his interview guest for the Crystal Cathedral worship services and the Hour of Power television program (aired October 8). In seven minutes, Hugh answered questions about how he came to faith in Christ and about the factual, scientifically compelling basis for that faith. Dr. Schuller used his unique gift of expression to convey wholehearted enthusiasm for RTB's outreach potential. His staff kindly alerted us to prepare for as many as 2,500 phone calls and letters; so we did. Without this running start we might never have kept up with the actual response: at latest count, some 16,000+ calls and 1,000+ letters, all requesting further information and expressing keen interest. We thank God for the dozens of volunteers who helped us prepare mailing packets so that we could survive this blessing.
While Tadd Sutton, Janet Kobobel Grant, and Sheila Cherney coordinated the response effort, Hugh made his first trip to the University of Michigan to participate in a Veritas Forum evangelistic lecture series. The spiritual openness of students and faculty proved far greater than anyone anticipated at this reputedly Gospel-resistant campus. Many people from surrounding communities attended, as well, and you can read one man's story in our 1995 year-end letter.
Progress continues on several long-term projects, including Hugh's book on God's extra-dimensional capacities. Now nearing completion, the book should be ready for release in July 1996. The script for our "Journey Toward Creation" video has been drafted, and editing is underway. We still need more funding for this project, and we are trusting God to provide. Our "Cosmos and Creator" series for secular television moves forward with Dr. Alex Metherell's preparation of a vital communication tool that will be used in obtaining a network's commitment to air the programs once they are produced.
Look for an update on our World Wide Web site and the long-awaited comic book project in our next field report. We've encountered some obstacles with each of these endeavors, but these difficulties are being addressed. Our E-mail address appears on the "Calendar" page.
Here are more details on events described above and other ministry activities:
RTB volunteers and their families gathered for a Saturday afternoon of food, fellowship, and fun at Finkbiner Park in Glendora, Calif. Northern California donors and guests met with Tadd, Hugh, and Kathy for dessert and a ministry update at Peninsula Bible Church, Palo Alto. Our southern California support team also enjoyed a dessert meeting with the Rosses and the entire RTB staff and board at Cal Poly Pomona. While Hugh was in Michigan for the Veritas Forum, he and Tadd took the opportunity to meet with our friends and supporters from the southern Michigan and southern Ontario region.
Marj Harman gave four science-and-Scripture talks and, with husband Mike's assistance, two star-viewing sessions at Monrovia First Presbyterian's family camp near Lake Hughes, Calif. Hugh led three plenary sessions and two workshops for a Christian Businessmen's Committee regional conference at beautiful Green Lake Christian Conference Center (near Oshkosh), Wisconsin.
Open Forum for skeptics continued its bi-monthly luncheon meetings at the University Club, Pasadena, Calif. A review of up-to-the-minute scientific discoveries once again drew a large crowd and keen interest.
At Palisades Lutheran, in Pacific Palisades (Calif.), Hugh gave a brief overview of scientific evidences for the biblical God, then launched a lively and lengthy dialogue with the audience. Pastor Robert Schuller interviewed Hugh about his life and ministry for both the 8:30 and 11 A.M. Sunday worship services at the Crystal Cathedral in Garden Grove, Calif.
Large, attentive audiences heard Phil Johnson, Os Guinness, Fritz Schaeffer, Eleanor Stump, and Hugh during the Veritas Forum series at the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor. To the organizers' surprise, those who asked questions of Hugh jumped quickly past the science issues and onto their theological implications.
Hugh was interviewed on two secular syndicated programs, "Lowell Lundstrom Live," and the CBS-NBC affiliated "Kevin McCarthy Show" produced in Dallas. The latter stirred a flurry of phone calls to our office from people wanting more information about RTB. In addition, Hugh was interviewed by George Wallace of WNIV in Atlanta.
Sixteen new programs were taped for the Reasons to Believe series on Trinity Broadcasting Network and its affiliates. In these episodes, Hugh explores a wide range of apologetics tools available today and ways to use these tools. The Hour of Power program that included Hugh's interview with Dr. Schuller aired globally on 170 stations. This weekly broadcast is reportedly the most widely-watched church service in the world.
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