Higher Things will join Lutherans around the world commemorating the 500th anniversary of the church’s Reformation at four youth conferences next summer:
- June 27-30 — Trinity University, San Antonio, TX*
- July 4-7 — Mars Hill University, Mars Hill, NC
- July 18-21 — Montana State University, Bozeman, MT
- July 25-28 — Valparaiso University, Valparaiso, IN*
* indicates conference will be deaf-friendly.
Registration will open at hereistand2017.org on November 1, 2016.
The all-inclusive registration starts at $355/person, which covers 3 nights on-campus housing, 9 meals, and all conference programming. Frequently asked questions are covered in the downloadable registration packet.
Each of the four conferences will run Tuesday through Friday afternoons and have similar schedules, with specific times for worship, Bible studies, and planned free time entertainment.
The ‘Here I Stand’ conference theme is based on Dr. Martin Luther’s response at the Diet of Worms when asked if he recanted of his 95 Thesis hung on the Wittenberg church door that started it all.
Luther said, “Unless I can be instructed and convinced with evidence from the Holy Scriptures or with open, clear, and distinct ground and reasoning—and my conscience is captive to the Word of God—then I cannot and will not recant… Here I stand. I can do no other. God help me. Amen.”
“The Higher Things motto echoes next year’s conference theme,” said Conference Executive Sandra Ostapowich. “Here I stand. Dare to be Lutheran. We’ll look at how we’re saved by grace alone, through faith alone, in Christ alone.”
Capacity is limited to 1000 attendees at the Texas conference, 500 in North Carolina, 600 in Montana, and 950 in Indiana.
“Get ready to register early so you have less chance of standing in a waiting list line!” Ostapowich said.
Higher Things is a Recognized Service Organization of The Lutheran Church — Missouri Synod that holds annual youth conferences and assists parents, congregations, and pastors in cultivating a distinctly Lutheran identity among youth and young adults. The 2017 conferences will be the 35th-38th conferences Higher Things has held since its beginnings in 2000. To learn more about Higher Things, visit higherthings.org.
