The School of Theology has received a grant of $600,000 from the Lilly Endowment to establish the Seattle Pacific University Youth Discipleship School, a one-week summer intensive that seeks to encourage high school students to grow in their Christian discipleship. Students will experience components of identity formation through classroom instruction from theology faculty, the practice of worship and other spiritual disciplines, onsite contextual application of faith to contemporary real-world issues, small and large group community-building, and recreational opportunities unique to the Pacific Northwest. It will also feature a weekend follow-up retreat at Camp Casey in the fall. The grant covers four years.
SPU is one of a number of schools across the country that are participating in Lilly’s High School Youth Theology Institutes initiative that is funding programs at a select group of private four-year colleges and universities. The grants are part of the Endowment’s commitment to identify and cultivate a cadre of theologically-minded youth who will become leaders in church and society.
Mike Langford, associate professor of theology, discipleship, and ministry, will be the principal investigator of the grant and will serve as the executive director of the project. The program is expected to launch this coming summer.
Posted: Thursday, December 24, 2015