Corban Talks

In a culture where conflict is avoided and disagreement is feared, followers of Jesus have the opportunity to lead courageous and loving conversations. Nathan Geer, Corban’s Dean of Students, will lead our community in a discussion on how to approach and embrace conflict and disagree well.

Ronnie Brooks is a man of many hats. He currently serves as the pastor of To God Be the Glory Ministries, a local church, and is a beloved mentor to students and staff at McKay High School. Drawing on his many years of multicultural leadership experience, Pastor Brooks will speak on 1 Corinthians 9:19-23, with a message titled "A Heart for Reaching”.

Jennifer Roth has been part of the pastoral staff at Salem Alliance Church for 8 years. During that time she has been involved with building relational leadership teams, creating programs to meet the needs of the community, and personally engaging with individuals. As a communicator, Jennifer has been speaking to various Christ-centered communities for over 15 years. Jennifer is a native Oregonian who lives near Silverton with her husband of 21 years, Jeff, two of their three children, and their adorable dog, Lucy.

Dr. Preston Sprinkle is a New Testament and Early Judaism scholar and a New York Times bestselling author who has written several books, including People to Be Loved: Why Homosexuality is Not Just an Issue. He currently serves as the president of the Center for Faith, Sexuality & Gender, an organization focused on helping Christians engage in questions about faith, sexuality, and gender with theological faithfulness and courageous love. Friday after chapel students can eat lunch with Dr. Sprinkle in the dining hall and ask questions.

Dr. Tim Baker is the senior pastor at Bethany Baptist Church in Salem, a Corban board member, and a Corban alumnus. Dr. Baker will share his pastoral heart with the community as we embark on a new year at Corban.

As Corban's President, and a proud Corban alumnus, Dr. Nord will give context for our annual theme (“Take Heart”) by discussing what it means for our community to "Speak the Truth in Love". Come and be encouraged to live courageous lives for the Kingdom of God!

Dr. Cornman serves as Corban's Provost, having recently joined our campus this summer. He has brought with him a wealth of knowledge and experience in Christian Higher Education and, most importantly, a fervent heart for the Lord. Dr. Cornman's message is a timely reminder of where our help and hope are found.

On the first Friday of our first week together, we will declare in unison the greatness of our God through musical worship. Ben Pearson, Associate Dean of Community Engagement, will help set the direction for the chapel program by expanding on the university theme for the year: Take Heart. Come be refreshed in the Lord’s presence and worship the One who alone is worthy of our praise.

At Convocation, we dedicate the new academic year to Jesus Christ. Traditionally, this event is an annual highlight, with a procession of shofars, bagpipes, faculty in academic regalia, and a commissioning program encouraging the community to commit the upcoming efforts to the Lord. All students receive a commemorative key-chain for attending!

As the academic year ends, we invite you to join us in a final time of collective fellowship and worship. Like Dr. Nord, SGA will focus our attention on the faithfulness of God, who has provided "a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, to an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, kept in heaven for you" (1 Peter 1:3-4).