Lubbock Christian University (LCU) hosted the 13th Annual Lanier Theological Library Lecture on Tuesday, September 24. The featured lecturer, Dr. Amy Orr-Ewing, presented “Winsome Witnesses to Faith: C.S. Lewis and Dorothy Sayers” to an audience from across the south plains.
“Dr. Amy Orr-Ewing was a tremendous blessing to our campus!” shared Dr. Jeff Cary, Dean of the Alfred and Patricia College of Biblical Studies. “Not only did she inspire us with two premier examples of winsome witness (C. S. Lewis and Dorothy Sayers), she herself served as a winsome witness to all in attendance. She challenged us to be informed, gracious, and articulate witnesses to Christ.”
Dr. Orr-Ewing’s lecture explored the deep impact that both Dorothy Sayers and C.S. Lewis had on their world during and beyond their lifetimes. She focused what she called Sayers’ and Lewis’ “winsome witness to faith,” or their ability to powerfully and truthfully bring the real power of Christianity to their wider cultures.
Dr. Orr-Ewing is an international author, speaker, and theologian who addresses the deep questions of our day with meaningful answers found in the Christian faith. She holds a Ph.D. in Theology from the University of Oxford and is the author of multiple publications and books including best seller “Why Trust the Bible,” “Where is God in All the Suffering,” and “Mary’s Voice: Advent Reflections to Contemplate the Coming of Christ.”
Travelling internationally, Orr-Ewing is a regular speaker across university campuses, businesses, parliaments, churches, and conferences, as well as on TV, radio, and podcasts. She previously served as President of the Oxford Centre for Christian Apologetics and is an honorary lecturer at the University of Aberdeen.
Thanks to the generosity of former Lubbockites Mark and Becky Lanier and the Lanier Theological Library, LCU has hosted the lectures the previous twelve years, providing engaging scholarly and informative presentations to the Lubbock community. In addition to hosting the Dead Seas Scrolls exhibit on campus as part of one lecture series, a variety of thought-provoking topics have been covered over the years.
"I grew up in Lubbock—I graduated from Coronado High School, graduated Texas Tech School of Law, and some of my undergraduate here at LCU. I loved when great national speakers would come in—it was a nice bit of exposure that you don't always get in Lubbock," Lanier explained. "So, when LCU gave us a chance to help find some of those people and bring them in, I found it to be a thrilling opportunity."