Today is Monday, June 22, and when I opened the Lexington Herald Leader I found two articles of great interest to the Academy of Preachers.
First, the back page of the front section carries a full-page ad promoting the 2009 Inaugural Student Congress, sponsored by the Henry Clay Center for Statesmanship.
This Henry Clay center, I learn, is a partnership between the University of Kentucky, Transylvania University, and Ashland: The Henry Clay Estate. On this ad are the pictures with names and institutions of 51 young people from around the country, from a college or university in every state it seems. They are in Lexington for a one-week course entitled Global Statesmanship in a Changing World.
On the front page of the Region section is an article entitled, “Arts Boot Camp Enlists 225 Top Teens”. This is a three-week event sponsored by Governor’s School of the Arts held at Transylvania University here in Lexington. Of 1600 high school students who applied, 225 were selected. Centre College Art Professor Rolfe Powell said to them at the opening ceremony: “You’ve been chosen to be here because you’ve shown extraordinary potential in the arts.”
Both of these wonderful opportunities remind me of what the Academy of Preachers is trying to do with those young people who want to preach: indentify, network, support, and inspire them to pursue a vocation of enormous social significance. I applaud these opportunities for young people who aspire to careers in public service and art; and likewise I rejoice at the opportunities that the Academy of Preachers will open for young people who are called to preach the gospel of Jesus Christ.
The Festival of Young Preachers is the first event of its kind in the nation: bringing together men and women from all Christian traditions and giving them an opportunity to preach. I like to say, “We want to showcase these young people and tell them what they aspire to do is terrific.” Showcase is a good word, shorn of its overtures of performance and competition.
Do you know somebody, some young preacher, who would shine at a Festival like this? Help them get registered. All the materials are elsewhere on this web site. I look to see you in Louisville in January.