The Power of God’s Story and the Power of Community

Over the course of a few mornings, a group of people gathered around a large table to talk about Summit. Our goal was to spend time praying about, wrestling with, and discerning where God was leading us as we considered the theme for Summit 2024. This was a task that this group was passionate about, and while there was laughter, fellowship, and true joy in seeing each other once again, under all of that excitement lay a foundation of purposefulness. Yes, we were tasked with developing a theme for Summit, but more importantly, we wanted to be faithful to where God was leading us.

Over the course of the previous Summits, this group believed that God was guiding us on a journey—one that started with personal healing and a personal recapturing of faith as each of us processed the pandemic in our own way toward a place of connection as we were reminded of God’s call to seek and embrace community. 

Seeking Hope, Finding Joy (Spring 2022)
Abide with Me (Fall 2022)
Living Word (Spring 2023)
Holy Discomfort: Our Journey toward God (Fall 2023)

And as this group pored over Scripture and listened to the leading of the Spirit, we saw that God was challenging us to reflect on what it means to be inextricably linked as a community of Christ-followers, even in these incredibly difficult times, and how the narrative of Scripture speaks to this collective experience time and time again. 

More specifically, though, we were drawn to the parables. We kept coming back to the different ways that Jesus would challenge people through his use of parables, and how we learn more about ourselves and the kingdom of God through each element or figure within a parable. And thus, it became clear: our theme needed to embody this. It needed to challenge us to be a community of believers. It needed to awaken insight and move us to action. It needed to reflect not the “I” but the “we” of the Gospel. It needed to remind us of the power of the stories of God.

Woven Together: The Power of Biblical Narratives (Fall 2024)

And so as we look forward to Summit this fall, we are excited for you to experience the different ways that each of our ministry communities will envision this theme. Much like the previous Summit, we will be focused on the areas of adult formation, children’s ministry, Hispanic ministry, missions, and preaching. We are also introducing a ministry community centered around rural churches that will examine ways that rural churches can intentionally join in the work of God within their towns. Whether you serve formally in ministry or not, you are welcome to take part in any of the ministry communities.

As Summit has continued with this new vision that focuses on specific areas of ministry, it has also maintained a bit of the traditional lectureship model with its general interest communities. The two general interest communities, led by Bible scholars, are intended to create opportunities for participants to immerse themselves more fully in Scripture. While these are envisioned as more broadly appealing, anyone is welcome to attend. This year, Summit will feature both an Old Testament and a New Testament general interest community. The Old Testament community will explore the book of Exodus, and the New Testament one will illustrate the parables found in Luke 13.

In addition to the times spent in smaller communities, we will come together as a larger group to hear our keynote and devotional speakers reflect on the parables of Jesus and how we are interwoven into the story. Likewise, noted scholar and author, Dr. Anna Carter Florence, will serve as this year’s Anchor Point plenary speaker. She will examine the powerful stories of the women in Jesus’s genealogy and the wisdom they bring to the church today. As each interprets our theme in their own unique way, we believe you will be richly blessed. 

Lastly, for many Summit guests, some of the most uplifting moments are the ones spent in worship. We are thrilled to have United Voice Worship leading us as we lift our voices to God. From praise to proclamation to time in the Word, we hope Summit will be an opportunity for you to be encouraged, renewed, and equipped.

Registration opens on Aug. 5, and we hope you will make plans to attend Oct. 16-18. Additionally, check out the Summit website to find out more about our Community of Women Ministers dinner, chaplaincy lunch, and pre-Summit preaching workshop with Anna Carter Florence. Until then, “May the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all” (2 Cor 13:14).

Many blessings,
Jennifer