By all accounts, the inaugural Festival of Young Preachers was a smashing success. While none of the evaluations have been read and none of the first person accounts from the young preachers themselves have been written, it is possible to provide this snapshot of the event.
As for the 96 young preachers registered for participation: 93 made it in spite of the worst snow and freeze storm in a quarter century. Two were prevented by illness and only one–a high school student in Kentucky–could not manage the weather. But 93 young preachers plus our 3 keynote preachers made for a festival full of gospel proclamation.
The festival started on time and ended on time; the setup and signage made it spectacular; food was plentiful and delicious and I include the sack lunches and the Friday evening banquet; 26 exhibitors (including 1 we did not know was coming until they showed up!) were universally proactive in engaging the young preachers and thoroughly positive is evaluating the event; the volunteers were the eager, cheerful, helpful, and indispensible, coming primarily from St. Matthews Baptist, Middletown Christian, and Southeast Christian churches; sales of tee-shirts and young preacher videos generated more than $2000 in income without depleting our stores–email us if you want to purchase a tee-shirt or videos.
Our 3 plenary preachers could not have been more different: Kyle Idleman, of Southeast Christian Church, in jeans and sweater, eschewing the pulpit, telling the stories, and calling us to follow Jesus; Brad Braxton, a Baptist preacher from Chicago, taking the pulpit in suit and tie, filling the sanctuary with drama and daring speech, asking us to take from leaf from the tree of life to heal the nations; and Stephanie Paulsell, a Disciple of Christ minster on the faculty of Harvard Divinity School, donning her liturgical robe, telling the story of her visit to the Sea of Galilee, and calling all of us to launch out into the deep waters believing that just beneath the surface of our sight there are people eager to hear and receive what God has put in our hearts. Together they embodied how God uses different personalities and distinctive styles to minister to the Christian community.
Of course the real glory of the Festival was 96 young preachers, from as diverse backgrounds as you can imagine, speaking to one another, listening to one another, learning from one another, inspiring one another. It is the peer exchange that is so transformational, so wonderful, so powerful. “Open yourselves to each other,” I told them each morning. “You can learn from everybody. They can help you be more truly the person you are designed to be, to preach the gospel that only you can preach, to fulfill your vocation as a more spiritual, more sympathetic, more discerning person of God.”
The highlight was the installation ceremony of these young preachers. Not all were able to remain for the final ceremony but the vast majority who did were inducted with the presentation of a certificate, the reading of a covenant, and the receiving of a blessing offered by Dr. Lawrence Carter, Dean of the Chapel at Morehouse, College.
It was a good work God did among us last week. It was a thanksgiving and a benediction just to be a part of it all. God bless all who had a part in making it such a stirring success. My soul rejoices in God my Savior!!