November 4, 2024
by Greg Henson, CEO and President, Kairos University
What are you doing next summer? If you are interested in exploring creativity in preaching, you may want to consider making a trip to Green Lake, WI. In June 2024, Green Lake Conference Center launched καινός: Explorations in Creative Preaching. It is a project funded through the Lilly Endowment’s Compelling Preaching Initiative.
In Isaiah 43:19 we read, “Behold, I am doing a new thing; now it springs forth, do you not perceive it? I will make a way in the wilderness and rivers in the desert.” In the Septuagint, the Greek translation of the Old Testament, the root of the Greek word used to talk about something new is καινός (kainos). It refers to the concept of something being fresh, new, unused, or novel. Green Lake chose to use that word to describe their project because they are creating opportunities for people to explore, experience, and experiment with preaching. The project includes summer immersion experiences for young adults to explore preaching through workshops, practical experience, and coaching. In addition, two retreats will be offered each year. The first will be focused on Gen Z and preaching and the second will function as a preaching lab where participants can experience and experiment with alternative approaches to preaching.
Kairos is excited about this project for a number of reasons. Obviously, the topic itself is important. We are grateful that the Lilly Endowment is investing resources into preaching. We are also excited for the various ways we get to work with Green Lake Conference Center on this project. The director of the project is Heather Henson, who also serves as a Kairos affiliate faculty member and adjunct (pastoral ministries and preaching). In her role with the project, she not only works with a team to provide leadership for the project as whole but also facilitates a portion of the summer immersion experience, serves as a coach, and authors content used in the project. As an institutional partner, Kairos University is providing content, access to resources through its library of learning experiences, providing onramps for participants to continue learning with Kairos University, and collaborating on the two retreats each year.
That brings me to the first question I asked. What are you doing next summer? We are collaborating with Green Lake Conference Center to host a gathering on August 11-15, 2025. It will be hosted at Green Lake Conference Center. The week will include opportunities for pastors to 1) explore alternative approaches to preaching by participating in preaching labs; 2) be exposed to new ideas, and 3) learn from other preachers. In addition, the team of facilitators will lead discussions on preaching and offer insights to emerging methods. Kairos University students will have the opportunity to interact with faculty from the school and to participate in Reflection in Community Sessions.
For more information, check out this website or contact Heather Henson at hhenson@kairos.edu.