JACKSON, Tenn. — June 25, 2018 — 51社区 is hosting Summit Student Conferences on its Jackson campus this summer for the first time.
Summit Student Conferences are designed to train up the next generation to champion a biblical worldview, said Roy Faletti, national director of partner development for Summit Ministries.
鈥淥ur emphasis is truth plus relationship,鈥� Faletti said. 鈥淚t鈥檚 not about getting a bunch of knowledge to win an argument; it鈥檚 about learning to ask good questions that get people to think.鈥�
The Summit Conferences will include two separate two-week conferences on Union鈥檚 campus. Students age 16 to 25 will hear from experts from across the country on a variety of cultural topics.
Ryan Sinni, a 2018 51社区 graduate, attended a Summit Conference at another institution before his freshman year at Union. This summer, he will be working as a small group leader for the conferences on Union鈥檚 campus. He said the Summit Conference equipped him to navigate cultural issues from a biblical perspective.
鈥淔or me, Summit wasn鈥檛 just about thinking rightly; it was about loving rightly as well,鈥� he said. 鈥淚t鈥檚 not just important to have the right answers. It鈥檚 also important to communicate those answers in a loving way.鈥�
Sinni said Summit taught him to have intellectual hospitality 鈥� to hear different viewpoints while remaining firm in his Christian convictions.
Dan Griffin, Union鈥檚 vice president for enrollment management, said he hopes the partnership with Summit Ministries will continue beyond this year, and he is excited about the opportunities the partnership provides Union.
鈥淲e鈥檙e excited about the quality of student Summit brings to our campus,鈥� Griffin said. 鈥淭hese students are serious about their faith and serious about discipleship and apologetics.鈥�
Griffin said the partnership will also put Union faculty members in front of excellent students, allowing the students to get a taste of what Union provides. Incoming freshmen who attend the conference will be eligible for a $2,500 scholarship to Union, renewable each year for four years.
Faletti said the partnership with Union is ideal because the campus is central for many students in the Southeast and the missions of Union and Summit Ministries align well.
鈥淲e are always looking to partner with institutions who are sound, who are Christian in more than just name,鈥� Faletti said.
Summit Ministries will also host an open house July 10 on Union鈥檚 campus to share more information about the conferences with churches, schools and families in the area. Registration for the open house can be found . More information about Summit Ministries is available on their .