Summer Celebration: a family festival of faith and fellowship

Chris Pepple | 

Summer Celebration returns to the Lipscomb University campus July 1-3 with the theme “Rivers of Living Water: The Savior andthe Spirit in John’s Gospel.” In addition to the full and exciting programs for children and teenagers that include devotionals, classes, games, and service projects, Summer Celebration offers more than one hundred practical and inspiring sessions for adults. Daily sessions offer instruction and insight on a variety of topics including: the Word and worship, spiritual formation, church leadership, marriage and family, medical evangelism and today’s economic challenges.
 

Highlights include:

  • Worship with thousands – congregational singing led by Ken Young, Murray Sanderson, Jerome Williams, Randy Gill and Keith Lancaster;
  • Keynote speakers: Buddy Bell, Mike Cope, Rich Little, Rubel Shelly, James Waugh and John York;
  • Speakers such as Leonard Allen, Sara Barton, Steve Diggs, Virgil Fry, Randy Harris, Harold Hazelip, John Mark Hicks, David Jones, Earl Lavender, Emily Lemley, Mark Love, Randy Lowry, Rhonda Lowry, Cassandra Martin, Chet McDoniel, Patrick Mead, Jerry Rushford, Scott Sager, Chris Smith, Terry and Charlotte Smith, Tim Woodroof and others;
  • ACAFEST ’09 – an international a cappella singing festival, featuring more than a dozen singing groups from around the world, plus a praise and harmony workshop;
  • Sessions and worship in Spanish. 

Surviving and serving in the current economic climate

As we gather this year for Summer Celebration, many will bring with you worries and concerns over the troubling economic times we face. Several special features at this year’s Summer Celebration are specifically designed to assist individuals affected by the current economy, while other sessions will provide help for churches wanting to effectively minister to those who are struggling. 

Reclaim Tomorrow, Lipscomb University’s new professional resource center (located next to Allen Arena), will be open during Summer Celebration providing practical sessions and valuable assistance for those in career transition.

In addition, the class schedule will offer a variety of sessions on money management and helping those in financial distress. Steve Diggs will offer two sessions from his popular No Debt, No Sweat seminar.  Turney Stevens and Doug Sanders will each lead sessions discussing practical ways churches and church leaders can put words in to action by helping those who have been hit hard by the recent economic downturn.


ACAFEST: the international a cappella singing festival

Summer Celebration is the home for ACAFEST – an annual event that celebrates and promotes a cappella music.  ACAFEST highlights include: 

  • Concerts every day by some of the best singers and artists in the field of Christian a cappella music;
  • Class sessions on a broad range of musical topics designed to inform and inspire;
  • Praise and Harmony Workshop led by Keith Lancaster;
  • AVB Reunion Benefit Concert – 2 p.m., Friday, July 3, Collins Alumni Auditorium. Order tickets online. 

Medical Evangelism Workshop

This year, Summer Celebration proudly features the Medical Evangelism Workshop.  Led by Roger McCown and Steve Sherman, this four-session workshop will help practitioners and church leaders grapple with the why’s and how’s of medical evangelism. The workshop will cover these and other important topics: 

  • Grasping a Biblical framework and defining appropriate goals;
  • Distinctive roles in long-term projects;
  • Keys to effectiveness in short-term projects;
  • Knowing when to stay, when to modify and when to leave. 

If you are involved or interested in missions, you won’t want to miss these informative and challenging sessions. Make plans to learn how to make a greater impact for Christ in the world through medical evangelism today.
 

Family Fun

Join us for a family picnic, inflatable games, live entertainment and spectacular fireworks on Friday night, July 3. The fun and fellowship await you at this economical mini-vacation for the entire family. Register online today.