Dead Sea Scrolls update Touching our ancient past

Over a year ago we began to see the attractive billboards along our highways: The Dead Sea Scrolls are coming to Charlotte. It was true. Charlotte's Discovery Place had been chosen over many competitors to host this new historic exhibit of the Dead Sea Scrolls.

Why are the Dead Sea Scrolls causing such a stir in the Charlotte area? Why do hundreds of thousands of us sense some kind of connection with them?

In the last few months I regularly have given lectures in churches and synagogues scattered around the city that have drawn crowds of 300, 500, even 800. My topic: What do the Dead Sea Scrolls mean to us today?

The Biblical Archaeology Society has planned a seminar here in March, and it is filling up. World-class scholars are flying to Charlotte to lecture as part of the Discovery Place Dead Sea Scroll program during the 100-day exhibit. Busloads of visitors are coming from all over the country.