Tiffany is the pulpit minister of a church with an open pulpit. How does this work? What are the benefits of equipping a variety of voices from within the congregation to preach the Sunday sermon? These and other questions, like, "How do I convince my elders that I'm not taking a week off if we open the pulpit?" will be answered in this session that has applicability for church members, church leaders, and preachers alike. There will be time for questions, as well as handouts on logistics of an open pulpit for churches that do and do not have a hired pulpit minister.

While reading the Bible for information is important, the story of the Bible is meant to help us experience the living God. We will learn five spiritual practices that give us a more holistic understanding of the Bible and, most importantly, draw us deeper into the presence of God. For anyone who leads small groups or teaches Bible classes — or who wants to breathe new life into their own Bible study — these practices will help the Bible come alive in whole new ways.

The church of the future is going to look a lot like the multi-ethnic, multi-cultural church of the past. And the churches that have a future will recognize this sooner than later -- Rick Atchley. 

One result of the financial insecurity of the last several months has been an increase in the number of homeless and at-risk families. We will explore what steps we as the church can take to help our neighbors in need. We will talk about the difficulties of dealing with mental health issues, systemic struggles faced by our friends as well as finding the balance between helping and hurting.

The weekly observance of the Lord's Supper has long been a key identity marker of Churches of Christ, yet even as the practice has been forcefully defended as an essential ordinance of the church, for many believers the spiritual power and purpose of communion have been mysteriously reduced. “When Jesus Comes to Dinner” will explore the Bible’s and the ancient church’s rich and multifaceted understanding of the Eucharist with a call to restore its fuller meaning. The session led by Leonard Allen and Darryl Tippens will invite participants to join in crafting fresh language for creative communion services.

Are differences polarizing your relationships with family, friends, or co-workers? Are you struggling to interact with others and make sense of situations when you don't see eye-to-eye? This workshop will equip you to categorize types of differences and identify the varied relational impacts amidst these dynamics. Having named the relational landscape, you’ll learn to apply a framework for emotional-relational health that will empower you to maximize relational connection and satisfaction among polarized relationships. Hosted by the Boone Center for the Family.

As campus ministers, we generously give students our time, emotional energy, and wisdom, and our life with God. Our lives with God must be constantly refreshed with the Divine Life. When they aren’t, we are weary, burdened, and burnt-out, and our families and ministries suffer along with us. “Campus Ministers’ Waters of Life” is time to renew in the abundant waters of God. We will look at the soil of our souls, the care they need, catch a vision for more of life with God, and pray for one another. When you register for this workshop you will be sent a full listing of additional campus minister refreshment opportunities during Harbor, including a beach prayer time, spiritual direction, and daily spiritual practices. May this be a time of deep soaking in God’s living water.

A message by Jason Locke.

Our Covid experience over the past two years has confirmed what we had already guessed: all children need resilience. This presentation by Holly Allen builds a bridge between resilience studies and children’s spiritual formation, showing how spirituality intersects with most of the protective factors resilience scholars have suggested. It will also demonstrate four ordinary ways parents, grandparents, teachers, children’s ministers, and others can nurture children spiritually—ways that also foster the resilience children need to face the common troubles of childhood and to persevere when facing more serious adversities that may come their way.

The story of Jonah tells the tale of a prophet locked in a controversy with Yahweh, the God of Israel. The heart of the controversy is Yahweh's love. Jonah find's God's love to be scandalous not because he has received it but because Yahweh carelessly pours it out upon the enemy not only of Israel but God's own self. Jonah is in full rebellion against love.