Earlier this week The University of Findlay announced that it had received “a $400,000 grant from Lilly Endowment Inc. to finance free, annual week-long summer institutes, beginning in 2016, for rising 10-12th grade students who are interested in learning more about their faith, and how it intersects with and informs other aspects of their lives, including career choice” (you can read the entire press release here: http://newsroom.findlay.edu/the-well-uf-to-host-summer-theology-institutes-for-high-school-students/).
This is the fulfillment of a long-term dream of mine and an answer to prayer as well. Pastor Matt Ginter, associate director of Campus Ministry and Shawn Graves, Ph.D.; assistant philosophy professor, have been integral to the development of this opportunity. The UF is calling this program “The Well” and will be holding the first of four annual institutes from Sunday through Friday, July 10-15, 2016. They will be accepting fifty applicants to participate. The food, accommodations and activities will be fully funded (participants will have to provide their own transportation to and from Findlay).
More details about the specifics for the 2016 institute as well instructions as to how to apply will be available in January. I would also encourage you to contact Pastor Matt Ginter at [email protected] if you have questions or would like more information. We would love to see a number of CGGC students get to be a part of “The Well” this coming summer!
Here’s why I’m so excited about this opportunity. We make hundreds of decisions on a daily basis, but there are a few decisions that have far reaching and life shaping consequences. Those decisions usually come in our early-in-life years when we answer these type of questions: “What am I going to do to earn a living? Where am I going to live? Who am I going to marry?” Too often these questions get answered without the slightest bit of reflection or too little guidance from our faith. I believe The Well will provide an incredible opportunity to help our young leaders get a much clearer sense of their identity in Christ and what that means for them as they try to answer some of the “big” questions that life presents.
I want to encourage you think about some of the young people in your circle of influence. Do you know a high school freshman, sophomore or junior who might benefit from a fully funded week on the campus of The University of Findlay? Do you know a young person who would benefit from a week of being challenged to think deeply about their faith in Christ and how that impacts the decisions they make about their vocation calling? Do you know a young person who may be wrestling with a sense of vocation and would benefit from a week-long experience designed to help bring clarity around such issues? Please take the step of reaching out to that young person and let them know about “The Well” or put them in touch with Pastor Matt to receive more information. This is an incredible opportunity to invest deeply into the lives of some of our young people!
Christ’s Peace,
Lance