College Student Seminar & Retreat

Faith Builders invites you to attend the College Student Seminar & Retreat, scheduled for July 1-4, 2010. This event offers encouragement to college students through workshops on current challenges to the Christian worldview, opportunities for small group discussion and prayer, and informal interaction with others who have walked or are walking a similar path.

The Seminar (Friday) is a one-day conference on “Developing a Christian Mind,” with a focus this year on a Christian approach for impacting the various religious beliefs encountered among friends and professors in college, including Judaism, Islam, Buddhism, Hinduism, atheism, and others.  There will be lectures with speakers presenting the functional world views and basic tenets of these faiths, followed by discussion toward a compassionate yet inspired and compelling Christian response to these religions.   Breakout sessions will include discussion of real-life experiences in relating to friends of other faiths (or no faith), including successful and non-successful ways of communicating the Word of truth.  Seminar speakers include Steven Brubaker, Stephen Russell and Chris Stoltzfus.

The Retreat (Friday evening-Sunday afternoon) is a weekend for young people in college to engage peers and mentors with their questions and struggles. It’s a safe place to discuss and think about college experiences and our Mennonite heritage.  Activities include small-group discussions, thought-provoking sessions, panel discussion of issues, organized recreation, and times for relaxing and visiting.  Frank Reed from Manheim PA will be the guest speaker for the retreat. 

Faith Builders hosts both events at the Castle, a turn-of-the-century mansion built by an oil baron, now turned into a retreat center. The Seminar will cost $58 per person, including meals, seminar expenses, and Thursday overnight lodging. The Retreat will cost $134 per person, including meals, retreat expenses, and lodging for Friday and Saturday nights. Students registering for both events will receive priority. 

Those attending previous years have said, “So refreshing to hear these subjects from a biblical perspective!” “Topics were very appropriate to what I have faced in college.” “The small groups were challenging, life-giving and a safe environment.” “Very helpful to have the input of older people to our questions and feelings.”

College Student Seminar/Retreat on the FBlog

Updated 02/23/2010