BIRMINGHAM, Ala. (ABP) – “An antiphonal choir sings two parts in a musical conversation,” according to David Burroughs. And that is the idea behind a new conference designed to give young adults a forum to explore and discuss the call of God.
“Our goal is to expose this college generation to the multiple ministry and mission possibilities that are before them and assist them as they chart their course for Christian service,” said Burroughs, president of Birmingham-based Passport Inc.
The Dec. 29-Jan. 2 conference, called “Antiphony,” is sponsored by the Cooperative Baptist Fellowship Global Missions and the Samuel Project, a partnership between Baptist Theological Seminary at Richmond and Passport, which specializes in summer camps for youth.
“We will be singing God's song, listening for God's voice and having antiphonal conversation about what we are hearing,” said Burroughs.
This is the first CBF-sponsored conference for college students.
“The whole emphasis on interaction and dialogue is unique,” said Amy Whipple Derrick, CBF associate coordinator for Global Service Corps and student missions. “There are so many voices calling out to us from the world, and we need to discern what God is calling us to do in response.”
Guest speakers for the event will include Colleen Burroughs, executive vice president of Passport, a national non-profit with a student-missions focus, and Julie Pennington-Russell, pastor of Calvary Baptist Church in Waco, Texas. Also leading in worship will be recording artist Ken Medema.
But organizers say the highlight of the event might be the daily “chat rooms,” small break-out sessions to explore various ministry and lifestyle options.
“The opportunity for a college student to sit 10 feet from Brent Walker and have political discussions with him is amazing,” said Burroughs. Walker, executive director of the Baptist Joint Committee for Religious Liberty, will host a “chat room” titled “Prerequisite-Compromise: Living a Christian Life in the Political World.”
Others include “Witnessing to Britney: What Do We Have to Say to Pop Culture?” with Oteil Burbridge, bass player for the Allman Brothers Band, and “Buy! Buy! Buy? Christian Vocation in a Consumer-Driven World,” with Cliff Vaughn, filmmaker and culture editor for EthicsDaily.com.
“I think we're taking students very seriously with this conference,” said Nick Foster, Samuel Project director and camp coordinator for Passport. “So they're going to be pushed a little bit, challenged.”
The conference will be held at the Wynfrey Hotel in Birmingham. The $150 cost includes conference fees, a New Year's Eve party and lodging.
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— Based on reporting by Lisa Jones and Ashley Grizzle of CBF.