I'm in Minneapolis this week with thousands of other chemical engineers. It's been a very busy week filled with some small and large miracles along the way. On Tuesday morning, I obtained a real boost in my desire to be a better witness for Christ while attending a 6:30 am Christian fellowship breakfast, one of the highlights of each Annual Meeting of the American Institute of Chemical Engineers (AIChE). Professor Lisa Bullard, Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering at North Carolina State University, was the speaker. She shared experiences in which she has been able to help struggling students in rebuilding their faith, and offered ideas on how professors can stand as witnesses of Christ while respecting the rules and pressures of the secular organizations that employ them. Inspiring! She also got the group very involved in sharing. One professor shared his approach of simply letting students know at the beginning of each semester that he is a Christian and would be happy to talk privately with anyone struggling with their faith. Another professor whom I really respect and admire said that he regrets the quiet, bashful approach he took to Christianity over much of his career. In the past 5 years, this bold witness for Christ has decided that there's no need to be ashamed of Christianity and has been much more open and frank about his faith and says life is so much more fun that way.

Students need to know that it's possible for intelligent, respected professors to also be devout Christians. The smug anti-Christian attitude that pervades academia needs bold refutation by living witnesses for Christ. I was inspired by the Christian professors and other engineers who were at this breakfast, sharing their experiences and desires to witness for Christ and bless the lives of students who need Christ more than ever in the soul-numbing atmosphere of modern universities.
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