On the weekend of March 29th, we hosted our annual Founders Conference. Founders Conference is held each year at the Word of Life Bible Institute to help students catch the vision and see the hearts of the generations before them, and to provide valuable insight into our history as a youth ministry. Our founder, Jack Wyrtzen, was a huge proponent that “it is the responsibility of each generation to reach their generation for Christ”. Word of Life is still centered on that principle, and we want to continue to pass that focus on to each class of Bible Institute students. When students hear directly from alumni and from our co-founder, Harry Bollback, along with Don Lough, our Director, and Roger Peace, President of the Bible Institute, they have an opportunity to see the hearts of those who continually pour out their time and effort to share the Gospel of Jesus Christ.
Our speakers for Founders Conference were Chris Goeppner and Jarrod Jones, who each highlighted the conference theme “Forward”. The students especially connected with Friday night’s message, which focused on taking a step forward in victory when your faith is weak. They were encouraged to trust the Lord and listen for His small, still voice as they fought to go forth through trials. Each message, however, provided a unique challenge and encouragement as students’ hearts were opened through worship, nourished through the Word, and even gently prodded through prayer. We recorded each of the messages and have posted them on our Youtube page, to which we will provide a link below. If you were unable to attend Founders Conference, we would like to encourage you to listen to the messages and see what God will do in your heart!
Chris Goeppner was chosen as our Alumnus of the Year, a great honor bestowed upon men who have lived out the proponents of the Gospel and of Word of Life. Chris is a man of faith and a pillar in his community, and we are encouraged by all he is allowing God to do through his life.
We were also pleased to hold the dedication of our newest campus update, the Huskies Den and Recreation Center, on Saturday night. “The Den”, as the students call it, is a space on campus for them to gather together, relax, and share what God is doing in their lives. With ping pong tables, arcade-style games, a pool table, an air hockey table, and a foosball table, we are sure that the space will become a hub for discipleship, growth, and fun on campus.
God is working in this generation, and we are excited to be a part of all that He is doing. We are grateful for an incredible weekend full of faith decisions and challenges, and we are looking forward to what He’s going to do this summer at our New York and Florida Summer Camps!
