In the summer of 2022, our oldest son, Ezra (16) got to do something new and exciting when he attended a Summit Ministries Christian Student Conference in Colorado. He went with one of my dearest friend’s sons (who is one of his closest friends as well), and the two of them proceeded to have an absolute blast at Summit’s two-week-long conference full of classes, activities, and lots of opportunities for getting to know likeminded teens.
(Here he is with the good friend he traveled there from Texas with…who also happens to be the son of one of my dear friends)
Summit’s mission is to provide students with a biblical framework with which to approach the toughest questions of culture and Christianity that they encounter in today’s constantly-changing and ever-more-anti-biblical social climate. And while many of the topics they address–including challenges to the existence of God, “hot topic” social issues like abortion and transgenderism, faith and politics, and being able to give a reasoned and gentle answer for your Christian beliefs–are all things we discuss frequently at home, Ezra said that both the classes and the discussions with peers were helpful in forcing him to better elucidate why he believes what he believes.
Summit has a particular emphasis on logic and Christian apologetics with multiple classes that help students understand how to recognize logical fallacies and ad hominem attacks but also formulate responses that are full of truth, grace, and clear biblical thinking.
(Ezra enjoyed getting to know the guys in his specific Bible study group)