Communities 2025

More information coming soon!

The Chosen has become a worldwide phenomenon, both encouraging Christians in their faith and providing opportunities for non-believers to encounter Jesus afresh through excellent storytelling and the powerful medium of film. This year at Summit, we will encounter the show in a conference environment—with fans of the show, presentations by a variety of individuals, and good conversations all around. Our lineup of presenters will feature professionals from the world of theatre and film, as well as theologians and biblical scholars, including a New Testament professor involved with the production of the show. We will spend time in Scripture, talk about how we use imagination and creativity in our faith and in reading the Bible, and of course we’ll watch and discuss scenes from The Chosen itself!  Our time at Summit will be extraordinarily rich, and we hope you will join us.

Facilitated By: David Kneip and Dawne Swearingen-Meeks

The promise of the gospel is that the Spirit of God dwells within us, yet we are also called to walk in the Spirit—pointing to a dynamic partnership between God’s Spirit and our willing cooperation. But what does it actually look like to walk with the Spirit in everyday life? In this community, we will explore how churches can equip adults to encounter the Holy Spirit through personal experience, growing understanding, participation in God’s mission, and shared discernment. Together, we will reflect on how to recognize and respond to the Spirit’s presence and leading.

Facilitated By: Steven Carrizal and Rachel Howell

As an active manifestation of God's presence in the world, the Holy Spirit acts in our lives to guide, strengthen, and transform us. The Spirit is our Comforter, Counselor, and Advocate, giving us strength in times of weakness and wisdom in times of uncertainty. At this fall's Summit, we invite you to participate in a renewed experience with the Holy Spirit as we seek to deepen our relationship with God and reflect the image of Christ in the world.

Facilitated By: Omar Palafox and Alejandro Ezquerra

When we read the Bible from cover to cover, never once do we encounter a “JV (or junior) Holy Spirit.” So why do we often treat the spiritual formation and faith journey of our children and teens this way? If God spoke to a young Samuel in the temple (1 Sam 3), who is to say God won’t also speak to our youth today? We invite those whose heart is ministering to the youngest generations (children and teens) to join us as we wrestle with these questions and learn from Eli the priest—who encouraged Samuel to recognize and respond to the voice of God. Together we will explore how to create safe intergenerational spaces for believers to truly encounter the Spirit of the Living God. Come ready to be nurtured, encouraged, and maybe even a little challenged, as we grow in community with one another and the Holy Spirit.

Facilitated By: Kaya Coleman and Kevin Barnett

You are invited to join us as we explore what it means to encounter the Holy Spirit in our lives and ministries. We encounter the Spirit of the Living God every single day. The Spirit is alive in the Scriptures. The Spirit is alive in our churches. And as we preach and minister, the Spirit is alive in each one of us. We will explore the ways that the Spirit is at work through Scripture, the ways that we are spiritually formed through Henri Nouwen’s “From Solitude to Community to Ministry,” and how this encounter with the Spirit can be a part of our preaching process. We invite you to join us for a time of renewal as we engage in our own spiritual formation. Let’s encounter and preach the Spirit of the Living God together.

Facilitated By: Cynthia Ownby and Nathan Burrow

Annie Dillard says, “This seeing business is risky.” What do you see happening in the world? What do you see happening in small churches (or rural churches)? Many of us see the trends. When we measure by the matrices of the secular world (nickels and noses), we are concerned or even anxious. As we gather at Summit, we will remember together the transcendence of God. Do we believe that God will do what God has promised to do? Is God at work in our own churches? What are we seeing? How can we put our congregations in the pathway of God to experience joy, hope, and encouragement? Can we learn to wait upon the Lord, to live patiently, confidently, and joyfully, even in the hardest spaces? This seeing business is risky! What are you seeing? Would you come share in this conversation with us? 

Facilitated By: Michael Harbour and Tiffany Dahlman