April 18, 2022 — After two years of pandemic-necessitated accommodations, the Summit Youth Academy will be returning to the Southwestern College campus in the summer of 2022. The event in Winfield, Kan., is set for Sunday through Saturday, July 10-16. 

“This year we have a great opportunity for high school juniors and seniors (classes of 2023 and 2024) to come here and spend a week away from life’s normal distractions to focus on hearing God’s voice and answering God’s call,” says Wendy Mohler-Seib, director of the Summit. 

Now in its sixth year, the Summit Youth Academy recruits top high school students from churches in the region. Activities include seminars with nationally-recognized theologians, small-group study and reflection, and personal exploration of gifts, passions, and ways to serve the world. Cost is minimal, with most of the expenses covered by a grant. 

“We hope pastors, youth leaders, and other adults important in the lives of our youth will take this opportunity to nominate their students at https://summityouthacademy.org/apply-2/,” Mohler-Seib adds. “We have watched past Summit participants develop lasting relationships with others who share their desire to deepen their spiritual lives, as well as learning to hear God speaking and guiding them toward lives of service.” 

The week will include what Mohler-Seib describes as powerful worship services, quality educational experiences, quiet spaces for listening to God and one another, and space for lifelong friendships to emerge. Among the leaders will be: 

  • Southwestern College interim president Tony Crouch, who has recently released his book, “Letting God’s Word Speak: Lessons on Deepening Your Faith.” 
  • Dr. Jackson Lashier, SC associate professor of religion and head of the social sciences division, teaching a religion course.  
  • Rev. Ashlee Alley Crawford, Great Plains Conference clergy recruitment and development coordinator, who will offer a course on “Hearing God’s Call Through Scripture.” 
  • Rev. Dr. Peter Cammarano, pastor of Chapelwood UMC in Lake Jackson, Texas, leading participants through the Birkman Method to discern environments in which they thrive and how their strengths fit in various career fields. 

Summit participants will have the opportunity to choose from tracks in music and in mission. Those in the mission track will be led by SC Leadership professor Dr. Cheryl Rude and those choosing the music track will be under the leadership of Martin Rude. 

“We also have 10 Summit college leaders, all alumni of the Summit, who are excited to return and serve this year,” Mohler-Seib adds. “Each has said they are coming back because they want to give other youth the same quality experience they received when attending the Summit.” 

For more information on the Summit Youth Academy, visit summityouthacademy.org/. 

The Summit is a program of the Richard and Julia Wilke Institute for Discipleship, which is based at Southwestern College in Winfield, Kansas. It manages or supports a variety of educational programs — both online and on the ground at the college — that increase discipleship and Christian leadership skills.