CU students attend National Festival of Young Preachers

02/20/2014

Representing Campbellsville University at the 2014 National Festival of Young Preachers in Indianapolis, Ind., were, from left -- Dr. John Hurtgen, dean of the School of Theology); Yves Jean Baptiste; Andre Morton, CU alumnus; Noah Blackburn; Aron Neal; Mitchell Monroe; Rick Raley; and Dr. Scott Wigginton, professor of pastoral ministries and counseling. (Photo submitted by Dr. Wigginton)

Representing Campbellsville University at the 2014 National Festival of Young Preachers in Indianapolis, Ind., were, from left — Dr. John Hurtgen, dean of the School of Theology); Yves Jean Baptiste; Andre Morton, CU alumnus; Noah Blackburn; Aron Neal; Mitchell Monroe; Rick Raley; and Dr. Scott Wigginton, professor of pastoral ministries and counseling. (Photo submitted by Dr. Wigginton)

 

Feb. 20, 2014
For Immediate Release

By Kevin Thomas, student news writer

CAMPBELLSVILLE, Ky. — Students of Campbellsville University's School of Theology attended the 2014 National Festival of Young Preachers in Indianapolis, Ind., in January. Yves Jean Baptiste, Noah Blackburn, Aron Neal, Mitchell Monroe and Rick Raley attended the conference as well as Dr. John Hurtgen, dean of the school of theology; Dr. Scott Wigginton, professor of pastoral ministries & counseling; and CU alumnus Andre Morton.

Wigginton said, “This was the fifth year for the Academy of Preachers to hold the Festival of Young Preachers. The first three were in Louisville, then last year in Atlanta, and this time in Indy. Campbellsville University has always had one of the largest groups to preach at the Festival.”

Some of the schools typically represented include: Vanderbilt Divinity School, Morehouse College, Wake Forest University School of Divinity, Carson Newman College, Liberty Baptist Theological Seminary, McAfee School of Theology, Central Baptist Theological Seminary, Candler School of Theology, Stamford University, Georgetown College, and Yale Divinity School.

The Festival of Young Preachers is a trans-denominational, one-of-a-kind event designed to showcase and encourage young people who aspire to be preachers of the Gospel. The Academy of Preacher's mission is to identify these young people while cultivating within them the conviction that Gospel preaching is a vocation of great social and spiritual significance and is worthy of their very best.

Students ranging from ages 14-28 from every Christian tradition (Evangelical, Protestant, Orthodox, Pentecostal, and Roman Catholic) are invited to dress and speak just as they would in their home environment.

The Academy of Preachers was launched on January 1, 2009 with a grant from the Lilly Foundation with a mission to “identify, network, inspire and support young people in their call to Gospel preaching.” Campbellsville University is one of the founding partners that support the work of the Academy.

Campbellsville University is a widely acclaimed Kentucky-based Christian university with more than 3,600 students offering 63 undergraduate options, 17 master's degrees, five postgraduate areas and eight pre-professional programs. The website for complete information is campbellsville.edu.