Vol 59, No. 3 100 Campus View Drive • Lincoln, IL 62656 Spring 2003

SEMINARYLectureshipMarch 16 – 17, 2004 featuring Dr. Paul L. MaierDr. Paul L. Maier is The Russell H. Seibert Professor of Ancient History at Western Michigan Universityand a much-published author of both scholarly and popular works. His novels include two historicaldocumentaries: Pontius Pilate and The Flames of Rome, as well as a theological thriller that became a #1national bestseller in religious fiction: A Skeleton in God’s Closet. A sequel, More Than a Skeleton, willappear this fall.Dr. Maier’s non-fiction works include In the Fullness of Time, which correlates secular evidence from the ancient world impingingon Jesus and early Christianity; Josephus—The Essential Works, a new translation/commentary on writings of the first-century Jewishhistorian; and Eusebius—The Church History, a similar book on the first Christian historian. Several million Maier books are nowin print in a dozen languages, as well as over 200 scholarly articles in professional journals.Dr. Maier lectures widely and appears frequently on national radio, television, and newspaper interviews.Theme:“History, Archaeology, and Christianity”Schedule: Tuesday, March 16, 20049:30 a.m. Comparing the Evidence: Sacred and Secular Hargrove ChapelNoon – 1:00 p.m. Question and Answer Session Restoration Hall(call for sack lunch reservations by March 10)R49Wednesday, March 17, 20049:30 a.m. Fresh Perspectives on the Life of Jesus R49For more information or for lunch reservations, please call the Seminary Office at 217-732-3168 or e-mail bshelley@lccs.edu.Trends and TidbitsMany current indicators are adding to the blessings of the last five years. Yet we recognize thatwhere we go from here requires us to seek God’s will and assistance, and we find these wordsfrom Joshua 3:4-5 most appropriate at this time: “ . . . since you have never been this way before. . . consecrate yourselves, for tomorrow the Lord will do [even more] amazing things among you.”Rejoice with us in these additional highlights:• Lincoln Christian Seminary enrollment reached a record 311 this fall, up 23% over last year,with a record enrollment of 114 new seminarians.• The College graduation rate of 52% last spring was the highest recorded (compared to 38%ten years ago).• ACT scores for entering freshmen this fall (2003) remain high at the 67 percentile nationally.• The number of college majors in General Ministry and “Bivocational” Missions has doubledover the last five years.• The number of Seminary graduates engaged in ministry at graduation was 100% thispast spring.• The number of College graduates engaged in ministry at graduation was 80% (50% onchurch staffs).• Endowments and investments are up 81% in the last five years and are now at $7.1 million(vs. $3.3 million five years ago).• Alumni giving is up 64% over the last five years.• Church giving is up 14% over the last five years and up 19% over a year ago.10