The Charge
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11th October 2023
Christian Speaker Abdu Murray visits UCF as a guest speaker
Loud chattering filled up in the Key West Ballroom as swarms of students shuffled in to get to their seats before the speech started.
Christian Speaker Abdu Murray visited UCF as a guest speaker for Campus Crusade for Christ at the "Delusional & Dangerous" event, on Thursday in the Student Union. Abdu Murray is not only a Christian speaker but he is also the author of five books. Murray also hosts a podcast called The Defense Resets.
Murray said his speech addressed some questions that society has about Christianity. Murray said the speech is to show why it’s important to discuss the controversial beliefs of Christianity.
“These discussions are so important because it allows not only a speaker like me, to give a presentation, that allows people of different views to come together and have a voice," Murray said. "So, that's why we want questions, not just the speech, we want question and answer, we want question and response."
In the first part of his speech, Murray addressed the question that society has on Christianity being true.
“One of the things that's being a part of the cultural milieu right now is that religious belief in general, but Christianity in specific is just as well-meaning maybe, but it's just wrongheaded," Murray said. "You know, there's no real intellectual basis behind this kind of thing. I want to respond to that challenge and say that it does does have an intellectual basis.”
Christian Speaker Abdu Murray visits UCF as a guest speaker for Cru 3
Students find their seats for the "Delusional & Dangerous" event held by Campus Crusade for Christ on Thursday night in the Key West Ballroom of the Student Union.
During his speech, Murray talked about society's assumption that Christianity is a white male-centered religion.
“People often perceive Christianity as a religious movement to be dangerous, maybe a white male-centered religion," Murray said. "And what I want to do is challenge the idea that it's a white male-centric religion and say, no, this is a religion that speaks to the dignity of all people regardless of ethnicity and speaks to the equality of men and women as well."
Murray said he wanted to speak at UCF because of the student population being diverse and influential.
“You’re going to find a lot of influence in a place where there's a diversity of opinion," Murray said. "There's a diversity of experience. There's a diversity of ethnicities, there's all kinds of these kinds of things.
"So, what better place really to offer the credibility of the gospel message of the Christian message than a place that allows for other worldviews to have a place at the marketplace of ideas."
Karly Knipe, Campus Crusade for Christ vice president and junior advertising/public relations major said she wanted to help host the event and answer people's questions about Christianity.
“We wanted to have an event that answers people's questions about Christianity and them having a safe space to answer those questions and ask hard questions,” Knipe said.
Knipe said she was pleased with how the event turned out, she was amazed by how many people showed up to the event. There were 250-300 students that attended.
“I thought it was amazing how many people showed up, believers and nonbelievers alike!" Knipe said. "I was blown away that so many people are interested in faith."
Knipe left the event feeling more informed about Christianity than before and was surprised by Murray's speech, she said.
“I came in knowing that Abdu Murray was a great lawyer and speaker, but my expectations were exceeded," Knipe said. "He did an amazing job presenting facts in a logical, clear way and I think everyone left feeling more informed about Christianity."
Julia Gibbs, senior political science major, learned at the event how to answer the hard questions about Christianity.
“I learned how to defend faith well and how to answer the hard questions people have about Christianity,” Gibbs said.
Gibbs also said that the discussion about Christianity is important to her.
“I think they're important to me because I mean, I do believe that Christianity is the truth and the foundation and that we were created by God to worship, and serve the Lord," Gibbs said.
Gibbs said she wants people to be able to experience the love and acceptance Jesus creates for us and be able to share it with others.
Gibbs said her personal experience with Christianity has helped positively transform her life.
“Having a personal relationship with Jesus has changed my life in the sense that I always have someone guiding me," Gibbs said. "Someone has given me that peace and that joy and that love and also just knowing that I can have like an eternity with Jesus like just means everything."
Christian Speaker Abdu Murray visits UCF as a guest speaker for Cru 2
Sho Harold asks questions to Abdu Murray during the Q&A portion of the "Delusional & Dangerous" event on Thursday.
Gibbs said she learned at the event a greater depth of God and learned how to respond to difficult questions people have about Christianity.
“I think I learned the even greater depth of the love of God he has for his creation," Gibbs said. "Abdu was able to express that so well. I also learned how to respond to some difficult and very valid questions that people have of Christianity."
Eric Pederson, team leader of Campus Crusade for Christ, said the organization has a significant impact on UCF students.
“We've seen countless lives transformed," Pederson said. "And I've seen it impact students. Again, in all areas, they start growing spiritually, and then it affects their relationships, and they start learning how to have healthy relationships with other people and affects their motivation for academics."
Pederson said, the impact of Campus Crusade for Christ on UCF students leads to them forming communities by inviting other people they know into the Christian community.
When students grow in their religion and faith they start to invite their friends which grows Campus Crusade for Christ into a bigger community, Pederson said.
Daniella Hernandez, Campus Crusade for Christ president and senior writing and rhetoric major, said the biggest takeaway from this event is to be able to reflect that God's love is to care about people's questions.
“My biggest takeaway is that God cares about people’s questions, and a huge way to reflect God’s love to people is to care about their questions," Hernandez said. "Tonight, God’s love for everyone was on display as Abdu Murray communicated the truth and grace of God."
Hernandez wanted students who attended to have a clearer picture of god than before.
“I hope that everyone walks away with a truer picture of who God is—the God who is truth and grace,” Hernandez said.
