Dear Friends,
This week I was lecturing at several Ivy League universities at the invitation of Christian Union (a Christian ministry to the Ivy Leagues and Stanford University). Shireen was able to travel with me and she added much-needed life, embracing these young people. Her warmth complemented my sterner, more direct demeanor, which can be overwhelming to the soft-hearted.
Tuesday: Harvard; Wednesday: Yale; Thursday: Dartmouth; and Friday: Princeton. The lecture was entitled “A Scientific Challenge to the Proposals on Life’s Origin. Could the Bible Be True?” We will post one of those lectures on my YouTube channel soon. After dealing with the origin of life research and how, scientifically, we are clueless about life’s origin, I gave a presentation on the evidence for the resurrection of Jesus Christ. At the conclusion, I challenged them to pray regarding Romans 10:9, embracing the Lordship and resurrection of Jesus. I have gotten many follow-up emails. For example, here is one:
Dear Professor Tour, My name is ___________, and I am a first-year student concentrating on physics and mathematics at Harvard University. I attended your talk on Tuesday, and I greatly appreciated your arguments towards demonstrating that science truly has no absolute argument for the origin of life, and evidence in support of the resurrection. I am writing this because I am a Christian and a believer who is convinced of the truth of Christ and of the love that God has for us. However, there was something you said at the end that has stuck with me: “You may never get the opportunity to hear a message like this again.” The truth of this statement weighs heavily on me because that is the reality for many people. Many of those in the audience may never hear another argument like what you put forth ever again… Although I feel so deeply called to study the universe around me, I have begun to realize that ministry on this campus is more important. There is a desperation and a hunger in this school that is masquerading underneath all these feelings of ambition and success that must be answered. Furthermore, I know I currently lack a lot of credibility, experience, and perhaps the proper training to spread the word as profoundly as possible, but the little I have, I am willing to give up to God and let him take care of the rest. Even if, in three years from now when I graduate, all that I may be able to claim is that God let me plant a few seeds or water what was already planted, I know it will have been more than worth it. What I ask of you is for your advice and, of course, prayers. I have talked to some of the mentors at my local church about this, and I do plan on talking to my senior pastors about it. And of course, I will continue to pray and seek God’s guidance. But I can’t deny this desire I feel God is putting in me to use both what I learn as an aspiring physicist and a believer for the service of others. Even if all you can offer is encouragement, I will appreciate it immensely. Thank you for your time, ________”
Here was my reply:
Dear ________,
Thank you for sharing. Do not let this passion for souls diminish. Fan it. Watch this 1-minute video:
Billy Graham’s Secret to EvangelismI suggest you read two books. They are short, easily read, and even in Audible format:
The Gospel Focus of Charles Spurgeon
The Evangelistic Zeal of George WhitefieldYou must finish your college degree and use your degree as a lever to approach and share with people. I leverage my position as a research professor to talk to people who would never otherwise hear the gospel. After reading these two books, pray that your passion for souls increases.
Every day, read the Bible slowly and meditatively. First ask the Lord to speak through his word. Then read John 1:1. Read it again. Read it again. Now read it in parts and ask God to speak to you as you ponder each part of John 1:1. Then read John 1:2 the same way. Do this every morning for 20 min, start reading where you left off the day before. You might only do 6 verses in day 1. That is fine, then start on verse 7 the next day. Read from John through Revelation that way. Never go a day without reading the scriptures, and you shall have an abundance to share. Joshua 1:8-9, Psalm 1, Psalm 119: 97-100, Psalm 112:1-2, Deu 17:14-20.
Keep me posted 1-2 per year. I will be interested to see your passion for souls grow.
God bless,
Jim Tour
I pray that a generation of young scientists and professionals will be raised up with a passion for souls. The world needs to hear from regular people, not just pastors and professional evangelists, about the goodness of the Lord Jesus.
John 4
34 Jesus *said to them, “My food is to do the will of Him who sent Me and to accomplish His work. 35 Do you not say, ‘There are yet four months, and then comes the harvest’? Behold, I say to you, lift up your eyes and look on the fields, that they are white for harvest. 36 Already he who reaps is receiving wages and is gathering fruit for life eternal; so that he who sows and he who reaps may rejoice together.
God bless,
Jim Tour
