Summit Ministries

Many of us are lamenting that the days we spend here at Summit are waning. Every day brings a more intense learning curve of information, and during every speaker's presentation, we furiously scribble notes as they share all of their expertise. Of the dozen speakers that we've heard in the past ten days, Dr. Michael Bauman's topics (the meaning of meaning in a morally relative culture, major themes in C. S. Lewis' book The Problem of Pain, and the differing opinions of century–old church leaders Augustine and Pelagious) have had the most impression on me.

Dr. Bauman's presentation style initially seemed frustrating because he posed difficult questions about topics including absolute meaning and whether God is good despite pain and evil's presence in the world. He also challenged us to develop more in–depth answers than we initially provided (the often clichéd "Sunday School" answers). Over the span of even one hour of his presentation, however, we gained appreciation for his abrasive nature because, as he stated, if we didn't train to have a defense for every possible challenge to our statements of belief before encountering true opposition, we would experience utter embarrassment, and at a potentially higher cost than feeling flustered in Dr. Bauman's presence.

A point that Dr. Noebel has underscored during the session is that we get out of every experience exactly what we invest, whether it be disinterest or studious attention, positive enthusiasm or apathy. Observing the almost 200 students here, whose ages vary from 15 to 22, I believe that the many of us are investing attentive studiousness, and we are receiving bountiful amounts of knowledge in return. Every speaker shares, with earnest, their wisdom with us, and they are planting seeds in our lives. With our consistent attention and care, those seeds will grow to be well–grounded, deeply–rooted, strong trees that will bear witness to our peers, to our sphere of influence. Another of Dr. Noebel's "nuggets of wisdom" is: to be a leader, you have to be a reader. Aside from the binder full of speakers' handouts that we are provided upon arrival and the notes that we add to each of them as we hear their presentations, we receive (and most of us also purchase) additional literature from Summit's speakers such as Mark Cahill, Frank Turek, and Dr. Noebel, as well as other highly–recommended readings from premier authors such as C. S. Lewis.

As a result of these great books, and notes that we look forward to reviewing long after we leave the Summit, I think many of us, shudder at the weight of our luggage on the flight home! One thing that no one should underestimate, however, is the variety of clothing needed for a two–week foray in picturesque Manitou Springs. Afternoons spent playing sports, accompanied with the opportunity to play paintball, climb any number of mountains in the area, or go whitewater–rafting require a diverse array of clothing. Also, the temperature here has varied from about 45 to 75 degrees, sometimes with rain or strong wind. Versatility in wardrobe is key for anyone planning to visit the Colorado Springs area, but even more than that, one must be prepared for the wonderful variety of those that one will encounter while attending the Summit. Much like the college experience, students are here from most every state and even some other countries, and I believe it would be impossible for anyone attending the Summit to leave without having foraged new, lasting relationships with peers. This has truly been a memorable, meaningful experience, where most have reached new heights in both land elevation and intellectual prowess. I believe that any student approaching or attending college should consider attending a session.