Just a few days ago I was sitting with 125 Young Preachers at the closing service of the Third Annual Festival of Young Preachers in Louisville, Ky. As we sat in the majesty of the Cathedral of the Assumption our hearts were full as all were challenged to go forth and proclaim.
YES the four days were amazing, an absolute “spiritual feast.” The Festival is the only place in the country where Young Preachers (14 – 28) come together and PREACH! Yes, all 125 of them preached in concurrent sessions. They came from 30 states and as many different Christian denominations. As Dr. Dwight Moody, founder and president of the sponsoring organization, The Academy of Preachers shared, “The best antidote for cynicism is being with passionate young people eager to preach the Word of God.”
We were a multi-color, multi-tradition, multi-generational body of Christ with the unifying purpose of Gospel Preaching. Each Young Preacher was required to have a mentor, preach from the text of the Sermon on the Mount and keep the sermon under 15 minutes. The Academy provided the venue, an evaluator, fellowship circles, daily worship services, workshops and opportunities.
“We are the generation that must pursue unity in the Church. Our job as preachers is to feed the hungry. Within the Academy we learn to share our different flavors of bread in answering that call.” – Gabreil Alemayehu, a new graduate of Boston’s Holy Cross Greek Orthodox School of Theology and member of the Academy of Preachers.
The hallways of the hotel were filled with the laughter of new friendships. I heard these phrases, “Wow, there’s no where else to experience this!” “I’ve learned so much about other churches.” “I now have friends from Christian traditions I’d never even heard of.” “This is SO encouraging!” “I learned I could preach to anybody, not just my own tradition.” “We’re not so different after all.”
I wish you could have been there. Whoever you are, you would have been blessed to hear fresh, young voices express their hearts and minds on the Beatitudes, or as Anna Kate McWhorter of Berea College and Louisville’s Broadway Baptist Church preached, “Radical Attitudes.” Sermons challenged the status quo and reminded us we’re all called to live out all of the gospel. KJ Webb of Baltimore and a student at Virginia Union University emphasized the “day by day” commitment of gospel living.
You’re going to want to keep an eye on our YouTube channel as sermons from the week are uploaded. Go ahead and check out the Academy Channel and hear sermons from last year based on the Ten Commandments. There are even books of sermons from the first two years available. One woman, an eager Academy supporter, excitedly bought a book to use for her Sunday School class discussion for the coming year.
The Academy is an organization, but even more it is a movement. A movement of God’s spirit reminding us the gospel is eternal and fresh with every generation! Next year in Atlanta…
