Anne Graham Lotz films video series with LU students

Anne Graham Lotz leads prayer during one of the filming sessions on Thursday.

Anne Graham Lotz, the second daughter of the Rev. Billy Graham, was at Liberty University today to record a video series to accompany her new book, “Magnificent Obsession.”

About 75 Liberty students participated as audience members today. The videotaping continues on Friday.

This is Lotz’s second visit to Liberty. She was here on Dec. 2, 2009, to speak in convocation.

For the last 30 years, Lotz has traveled the world teaching the Bible in arenas, prison cells, stadiums, sanctuaries, seminaries and even the United Nations. She hosts a radio program that is heard on more than 700 outlets worldwide. “The New York Times” has named her one of the most important communicators of our time. She is a best-selling author of 10 books, including her signature book, “Just Give Me Jesus.”

Her new video series is being filmed in an intimate setting, in what Lotz calls a “Town Hall” style Bible study, at the new Thomas Road Baptist Church fellowship hall. The two-day schedule includes five, two hour-long sessions that correspond with the chapters in the book, which is about how to build a friendship with the Lord, modeled after the Old Testament patriarch, Abraham. Each session opens and closes with prayer and musical worship and includes a highly interactive question-and-answer period. About 50 TRBC members are joining the students in the live audience. Participants are each given a complimentary hardcover copy of Lotz’s book as well as worksheets corresponding to each discussion.

Lotz said she wanted the experience to feel more like a “spiritual retreat” rather than a video recording.

In one of today’s sessions, Lotz discussed the relationship between Lot and Abraham and how we need to learn to let go of what we desire as humans to leave room for what God has in store for our lives.

“If you insist on what you want, He may let you have it, and you will just get less than what He would have given you,” she said.

Lotz was appreciative of Liberty’s involvement in the video series, and at one point congratulated an LU student who shared her views on relying on God for future uncertainties.

“Amen, that was beautifully stated and you are exactly right,” Lotz told her. “That’s one reason why I wanted to hold this on a college campus, to get the viewpoint of someone beginning their life journey.”

The book is available at major bookstores across the country and the video series will be made available later this year.

• Lotz and her husband, Dr. Dan Lotz, reside in Raleigh, N.C. For more information about Lotz and her outreach, AnGeL Ministries, view her website.