From June 28 – July 1 approximately 900 LCMS youth, and their adult leaders, gathered together on the campus of Vanderbilt University, in Nashville, TN, for one of three Higher Things conferences to take place this summer. The theme for the conference was Bread of Life, based on the Jesus’ Bread of Life discourse in John 6.
Beginning with an opening Divine Service, over the four-day conference, participants attended 6 breakaway sessions, 4 plenary sessions, 2 Divine Services, Matins, Vespers and Evening Prayer each day, and in the evening, enjoyed a host of fun activities in the rec. center at Vanderbilt. Rev. William Weedon, Director of Worship and International Center Chaplain for the LCMS was one of the featured plenary speakers.
High school students were given a chance to experience a bit of dorm life, ate in the dining halls, walked miles upon miles, and were the recipient of faithful teaching and preaching, all the while bearing witness across the campus to Jesus Christ, who is the Bread of Life. Mid-South District congregations from both Tennessee and Arkansas were represented, along with youth from 116 congregations, 27 states, 2 countries and 82 pastors. Read more about this year’s 2016 summary at http://blogs.lcms.org/2016/higher-things-summer-conferences.
Next year’s conferences, in celebration of the 500th Anniversary of the Lutheran Reformation, will take up the theme: Here I Stand. To find out more about the conference, check out www.higherthings.org.
Dates and locations for next summer’s conferences are as follows:
June 27-30 – Trinity University (San Antonio, TX)
July 4-7 – Mars Hill University (Mars Hill, NC)
July 18-21 – Montana State University (Bozeman, MT)
July 25-28 – Valparaiso University (Valparaiso, IN)
Contributed by — Rev. Gregory R. Truwe
