One of my all time favorite events is just one year away. It is the National Collegiate Ministries Summit in Nashville May 2-4, 2018. It is an event for campus based, church based College Ministers, and any who work with students. The Summit is moving from downtown Nashville to a new location at First Baptist Church, Hendersonville with hotels in the area that are cheaper than downtown Nashville.
Speakers for the plenary sessions are Ben Stuart, Russell Moore and Tom Ricter. Stuart is the pastor at Passion City Church in Washington and former speaker at the weekly Breakaway event at Texas A&M that drew 5,000 students each week. Russell Moore is the President of the Ethics and Religious Liberty Commission, whom you see on the national news interview programs commenting on faith and politics, and Tom Ricter is pastor of First Baptist Church, Cullman, Alabama. Some more special speakers are in the process of being confirmed....more on that as it develops.
With 500 to 600 College Ministers together, some of my favorite and most helpful things has been the connections with people and getting to pick their brains on an individual basis. It has a real practical "workshop feel" with Mega seminars with well known College Ministers where they not only speak but do Q and A. At the previous Summit in 2015 one of the most popular sessions were the Affinity Groups that helped connect people to others who work in very similar situations. All of us want to talk to and learn from those who have similar questions......and pains that we do.
A favorite aspect of Summit for me has always been that it is SPOUSE FRIENDLY. The early registration cost is $125 (by January 15, 2018) and a spouse can be registered for just $60. The registration fee includes two meals on Thursday.
Here is the Schedule:
WEDNESDAY
1:00 Registration Opens
2-3 Early Bird Mega Seminars
3:15-4:15 Early Bird Mega Seminars
5:45-7:15 Howdy Party with Food Trucks available for Dinner Purchase
7:30 Plenary Session
THURSDAY
9-10:15 Plenary Session
10:15 Break
10:45-11:45 Mega Seminars
Noon - Lunch at FBC (included in registration fee)
1:30-2:30 Idea Labs
2:45-3:30 Affinity Groups
Free Time
5:30 Dinner at FBC (included in registration fee)
7:00 Plenary Session
FRIDAY
9:00 Plenary Session & Large Group Time
Noon-Dismiss
While Summit is put on by Baptists and lots of Baptists come, it is "Non-Baptist friendly". Last year I met a variety of College Ministers from different backgrounds that added to the wide variety of thoughts and approaches that benefit all of us.
The Summit is a gathering of the College Ministry Family that is encouraging, restful, challenging and affirming to those who do the high calling of ministry to and with college students. I look forward to visiting with you there. I will post some more information as we go along about Mega Seminars, etc. You can register at Lifeway.com/events. See you next year!!
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