The seminar

was based on McDowell's new book and global campaign, "Beyond Belief

to Convictions," and was presented in partnership with Fayetteville's

New Hope Baptist Church and Christian radio station J93.3.

McDowell pointed

out research that shows that what a person believes translates into behavior.

In today's world, an adult's concept of what it means to believe in something

is radically different from that of a youth.

McDowell stated

that the majority of our young people even the brightest and best, and

those attending good Christian schools believe that the act of believing

makes things true. Today's adult generation believes that truth exists

independent of belief: truth is discovered. Today's youth believe that

truth is created and that all truth is individual, personal opinion: your

belief creates the truth.

McDowell reminded

his audience that when the parents of today were young, the culture supported

the values and beliefs that were taught in churches and Christian homes.

He explained that we need to raise our children differently than we were

raised, because the culture is different. Today's culture seeks to destroy

what is taught in churches and Christian homes. McDowell suggests that

in order for our youth to understand truth, they need to see its effect

on people's lives.

In addition

to the evening seminar, McDowell spent over 3 hours in a youth seminar

for the students and guests of Landmark Christian School. McDowell met

with Landmark's eighth through twelfth grade students and guests from

home schools and area sister schools. His seminar was a rousing success

in the minds of the students.

What sets Josh

McDowell apart from other speakers, according to the students? He speaks

the truth. He tells it like it is. He connects. One Landmark senior said

that he appreciated the fact that McDowell "speaks to us, not at

us."

McDowell told

a personal and moving account of his own youth and eventual conversion

to Christ after high school. McDowell stressed how his alcoholic father

prompted much anger towards God on McDowell's part. Arriving at college

a confirmed atheist, McDowell began to search for the truth about the

Lord and the authenticity of the Bible. McDowell claims that the authenticity

of the Bible was "evidence that demanded a verdict," and the

Holy Spirit drew McDowell to the Lord. As McDowell shared these evidences,

he provided the students with many of the apologetic answers that they

were searching for.

In his "Why

True Love Waits" session, McDowell frankly and honestly spoke of

the reasons God created sex, the worldview misconceptions which lead to

abuses of this gift, and some of the ramifications of premarital sex.

His passion for the purity of our youth was clear as he exhorted the students

to remain pure, to seek to love in the way God has designed, and to make

their dating relationships ones in which both partners come away encouraged

and inspired to love the Lord more.

McDowell definitely

connected with the Landmark students. Many asked their parents to purchase

them books at the evening seminar so that they could learn more from his

clear communication. One student commented, "Josh McDowell was very

frank with us. We needed that. We needed to hear what he had to say."