The annual Jubilee Conference in Pittsburgh is run by the Coalition for Christian Outreach (CCO). On Feb. 16-18, over 2,500 people from across the country came together for worship, teaching, and fellowship. 72 Geneva students and staff had the opportunity to attend the conference this year. To help offset the conference cost, over $4,800 was raised by faculty and staff, which made the conference much more accessible for the students who wanted to attend. The conference is designed intentionally to cultivate growth, helping students to grow in their relationship with God and their relationships with other students.
The conference’s main gatherings work through the gospel narrative: creation, fall, redemption, and restoration. Multiple speakers share testimonies and teachings. In the creation session, art history professor and author Elissa Yukiko Weichbrodt shared about the beauty of God’s creation and how humans are especially beautiful because we are made in the image of God. The following session featured missions pastor Ashley Anderson who shared a message on the fall, highlighting the brokenness brought into the world. Her teaching prepared students for the message on redemption given by pastor and author Claude Atcho, who reminded us that “into this decaying world, God has come down to set right all that we have broken.” The conference concluded with Abe Cho, senior director of training with City to City in NYC, speaking on restoration and the hope that we have for God’s restored kingdom on Earth.
Worship was a key element for the main gatherings, led by musicians Nikki Porter & Daniel Snoke. The time of worship encouraged attendees to embrace the fellowship of the conference and was conducive for personal reflection and community expression. Abby Martin ’26 found the worship to be her favorite part of the conference. “You can feel the presence of God in the room, and it’s super special to be able to gather together and just join in our love for Jesus Christ.” For a glimpse into the experience of Jubilee worship, the CCO has posted the Jubilee 2024 playlist on Spotify and Apple Music.
Between the main gatherings, students could attend a wide variety of workshops targeting elements of Christian life. Over the course of the weekend, over 60 workshops were offered. Some workshops focused on elements of personal faith, others gave insight into the work of evangelism, while others provided advice for navigating relationships. Erica Young Reitz, a Geneva alumna and author of After College, led two workshops looking at the transition from college to professional life. Many workshops focused on the integration of faith into one’s vocational calling. The vocational workshop for history was led by Geneva’s own Eric Miller, PhD, history professor and author. Throughout these workshops, students were able to dig deeper into topics of their choice and experience valuable conversations regarding faith and life.
Students also had opportunities for networking. In the main hall of the convention center, several exhibitors were gathered to provide information about ministry opportunities, graduate schools, and summer job opportunities. MAHE program director Henrique Alvim, PhD, professor Keith Martel, PhD, and director of graduate admissions Judy Willson represented Geneva College and provided information on our graduate programs. The exhibitors allowed for valuable networking opportunities for students in their free time.
Another blessing of the conference was the Hearts and Minds Bookstore. Each year, owners Byron and Beth Borger attend the conference, bringing with them hundreds of books on nearly every topic. Whether a new Christian or a lifelong Christian, a freshman or a senior, a Bible or an engineering major, there is a book for everyone. Byron provided several book recommendations during the main sessions, focusing on each area of the gospel narrative. Through their bookstore and recommendations, students are encouraged to learn and grow even after the conference is over.
Overall, the conference provided students with an amazing weekend of worship and learning. While only spanning a weekend, the conference provides a springboard for students to continue to learn and grow throughout the entire year. John Wilhelm, director of campus ministry at Geneva, says, “You absolutely should come to Jubilee 2025. If you are at all interested in what it looks like to engage in your faith more deeply, if you have questions about how faith and life integration occurs, if you are curious about who Jesus is and what that means for your life, if you want to make new friendships and be a part of a community that is coming together to worship the Lord, then Jubilee is for you, and we can make that happen.”
If you did not have the opportunity to go to Jubilee this year, then mark your calendar for Jubilee 2025 on Feb. 21-23. You definitely do not want to miss it!
Mattigan Burleigh '24
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