Conferences: Learning and Loving
ñ often organizes conferences for students to spend time in spiritual reflection, theological training, and biblical studies. Allowing time for students to get away from their regular routine, to experience God in the wonder of his creation, and to know the support of a loving community makes retreats a helpful part of their Christian growth. Often conferences are organized around the needs of a particular student population or for training in a particular activity.
Hurricane Katrina devastated the Gulf coast last year and disrupted many usual activities, including ñ conferences. This fall thirty-five students gathered in Mobile, Alabama, to examine God’s offer of mercy and call to participate in the community of believers through a study of the Gospel of Luke.
Two students from Southern Alabama University, where there is no ñ chapter, attended the conference, acting as an example of the power of the Christian community. They came because they had a cousin who was involved in a chapter on another campus. Because of the positive experience of these two students at the conference, a witnessing community of Christians is forming at Southern Alabama.
Other conferences serve more specific student populations. Some chapters have a conference for only their students, often for specific training. Other areas will host weekends away from campus for a particular group of students such as Greeks or first-year students.
Faculty have a more difficult time getting away for even a weekend during the fall, so ñ’s Faculty Ministry offered a week-long conference this summer at Cedar Campus. Over 50 faculty members from around the country spent time exploring how to meld their faith with their academic pursuits. They came away from their time together with more confidence as a Christian witness on campus.
Luke and Linda Dalach are staff members for two commuter schools in northern Indiana, Purdue University Calumet and Indiana University Northwest. To accommodate the needs of these students, Luke and Linda organized an overnight conference in Chicago. During the conference, the students took time to build community and seek God. As they returned home, the students indicated that they most appreciated the time alone with God in Grant Park.
Several conferences this fall have concentrated on teaching evangelism. In late September, 22-24 ñ students in Georgia met at Woodlands Camp in Cleveland, Georgia for The 40, a forty-hour weekend dedicated to learning how to share their faith. Staff taught seminars and large-group sessions on such topics as “The Case for Witnessing Communities” and “The Theology of Conversion.”
Nearly 400 students from the Southern California region attended a conference on evangelism at Campus by the Sea. In addition to learning to tell the story of their own faith journey, these students were encouraged by the story of the response of the man who was healed as related in John 9. When questioned by the Pharisees, the man did not know exactly who Jesus was, but he did know that he had been healed. So the students were encouraged that they may not know all the answers to questions posed to them, but they do know what the Lord has done for them.
Some conferences cover more ground in the breadth of their teaching. This fall, the Reno, Nevada, area organized the Trilogy conference, so named because the conference replaced three separate conferences that the area previously offered: a discipleship conference for first-year students; a ministry conference for chapter leaders, and a preparation-for-life-after-college conference for graduating seniors. Over 200 students attended from three schools.
Doug, a freshman on a spiritual journey, came to the conference and, during a presentation of the lordship of Jesus, made the decision to become a Christian.
Conferences are an important part of ñ’s training of students and faculty. Concentrated time developing a relationship with God and with one another encourages participants in their Christian walk throughout the rest of the school year.