Worldview Weekend to draw big names
Actor Kirk Cameron, evangelist Ray Comfort, a radio executive and a former basketball player are scheduled to speak at Northcliffe Baptist.
By JEAN JOHNSON
Published October 8, 2005
SPRING HILL - For the third consecutive year, Northcliffe Baptist Church will be the lone Florida host for Worldview Weekend on Oct. 21 and 22.
The annual Christian event, which began in 1993, will take place in about a dozen states. The motto: "Think and Live Like a Christian."
The weekend is designed to "equip Christians to battle the forces fighting their faith and to develop a biblical knowledge that will help build a strong foundation for life," according to a brochure.
Aware that Florida had never been invited to host the event, Northcliffe Pastor Jerry Waugh contacted Worldview Weekend four years ago, and the church's participation was accepted.
Morgan Burburan, 27, a member of Northcliffe, said she is looking forward to the event.
"It's a wonderful opportunity to hear speakers offer the biblical view rather than the secular, worldly view. It gives one an opportunity to hear and learn the meaning behind Christianity, to get new information and find out what's going on in the political world," Burburan said.
"It's great for Christians to have the opportunity to learn about what is out there, other philosophies and belief systems."
This year Northcliffe's speakers are to include host Tim Wildmon, vice president of the American Family Radio Network; actor Kirk Cameron, known for his work on the TV series Growing Pains and in Left Behind: The Movie; and Mark Cahill, a former Auburn University basketball player who says his passion "is for the entire world to know Jesus Christ."
Cahill speaks to about 30,000 people every year at Sunday morning worship services, summer camps, retreats, schools, colleges and youth conferences as he challenges his audience to go out and reach the lost.
Also on the slate is Ray Comfort, whose ministry has been widely recognized and who has written extensively on apologetics, including for Billy Graham's Decision magazine.
Chuck Merkle, 67, a member of Northcliffe since 1978, has supported Worldview for two years and is again looking forward to it.
"It reminds us about what we are supposed to be doing as far as the church and the world," he said. "I believe the Bible is literal. I don't take anything away, and I don't add anything to it."
A hospice chaplain for eight years, Merkle has taught fourth- and fifth-grade Sunday school for the past seven or eight years and did some children's church until three years ago.
"I was called to the ministry a long time ago, didn't listen and never thought I'd wind up at hospice," he said. "It has been a wonderful ministry for me."
Although the host church is welcome to choose its speakers, Waugh said it usually comes down to availability.
"We try to invite speakers on creationism, who talk about the hot topics of today, issues that society is struggling with and to provide a biblical response to those issues or topics," he said.
"We try to get someone who not necessarily knows religious lingo, but someone who can say why we believe what we believe based on what the Bible says."
Although Northcliffe has had visitors from as far away as Georgia for Worldview Weekend, Waugh would like to see more Hernando County residents take advantage of the opportunity. Each year, Northcliffe has entertained more than 900 guests, and this year Waugh hopes to bring in 1,000, considering the interest Kirk Cameron should draw.
The response of the congregation has been good, and attendance continues to climb, said Waugh, who has been pastor of Northcliffe for more than 19 years and continues to watch his church grow.
With an average age of 45, Northcliffe "really has all age groups represented," Waugh said.
"So it's not predominantly youth or middle age or senior adults. It's a good feeling because it reflects our community, which is getting younger as it becomes a bedroom community of Tampa since the parkway was built."
IF YOU GOWHAT: Worldview Weekend
WHEN: 6:45 to 10 p.m. Oct. 21 and 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Oct. 22
WHERE: Northcliffe Baptist Church, 10515 Northcliffe Blvd., Spring Hill
ADMISSION: $45 for adult track; $35 for student track. Recommended for ages 12 to adult. No child care is available.