By ALLISON BRINKERHOFF
allison@du2.byu.edu
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is approximately 10.5 million members strong and BYU students can be influential in furthering international growth, Lee H. Radebaugh said.
Radebaugh, the director of the School of Accountancy and Information Systems in BYU's Marriott School of Management as of May 1998, will address the student body for the first time at the Devotional today at 11 a.m. in the Marriott Center.
Radebaugh joined the BYU faculty in 1990. He is the KPMG Peat Marwick professor of accounting and co-director of the BYU-University of Utah Center for Business Education & Research, one of the only 26 CIBERs across the country.
Radebaugh will encourage BYU students to actively participate in the international expansion of the church. Students need to be preparing to do so, he said.
Radebaugh will encourage the importance of being ready and willing to serve as missionaries around the world.
'Are you studying a foreign language? Are you developing multi-cultural skills?' Radebaugh will ask.
He will also discuss the importance of studying abroad.
'That opportunity allows students to learn to appreciate a diverse culture. Take advantage of the program and be more aware of the challenges people face in other cultures,' Radebaugh said.
Radebaugh will also address the issue of temples around the globe.
'The increase in the number of temples worldwide has a likely impact for increasing church growth,' he said.
Radebaugh will also discuss the positive attributes of increased growth around the world.
'Among the approximate 10.5 million members, about 5.5 million of these reside outside the United States,' he said. 'We are bringing the gospel to more people around the world and creating a greater good for people everywhere.'