Scheduled March 7 at Immanuel Baptist Church and the City Center in Little Rock, Lead Defend and Lead Defend Foundations equip the next generation to defend their faith.
“This generation faces difficult questions. Bumper sticker theology doesn’t give the answers. Lead Defend and Foundations strives to equip students and young adults with the biblical answers and biblical attitudes needed to be salt and light in today’s culture,” said Arkansas Baptists Evangelism + Church Health Team Leader Warren Gasaway.
The event, a Cooperative Program ministry of the ABSC, features nationally known guest speakers, such as Greg Koukl and Dr. Walter R. Strickland II along with breakout sessions led by a variety of ministry leaders from Arkansas.
“Between the powerful main sessions and practical breakouts, Lead Defend has something to offer everyone. Lead Defend provides an environment that can strengthen the faith of believers and even help break down barriers to belief for unbelievers,” said Arkansas Baptists Baptist Collegiate Ministry (BCM) and Church Health Strategist Chris Larmoyeux.
Lead Defend is geared toward college and high school students and young adults of Arkansas, while Foundations is aimed at students in grades 6-9. Little Rock BCM Campus Minister Matthew Stubbs called Lead Defend “an incredible way for students to grow deeply in their relationship with Jesus and to communicate that with others.”
“This conference offers exceptional tools and strategies that can be used for students to defend their faith and to communicate the gospel efficiently to non-believers. If you are looking for a place where you can grow more in knowledge on the Bible and who God is, Lead Defend is a great place for you to attend,” he said.
University of Arkansas at Fort Smith (UAFS) Campus Minister Luke Dawson said the conference is “often one of the experiences our leaders point back to that exponentially grows their ability to practically follow Jesus — a day devoted to providing students tools for evangelism, apologetics, discipleship, and leadership.”
University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff (UAPB) BCM Campus Minister Matthew Hall said he can “think of no better opportunity to be trained think rightly and lead well as a disciple of Jesus than our Lead Defend and Foundations conference.”
“Christianity doesn’t exist in a holy huddle, but it is powerfully expressed in people who have a knowing faith and live it for God’s glory. Lead Defend and Foundations helps students do just that,” Hall said.
Early registration costs $35 per person. After February 6, the cost of registration goes up to $45 per person.
For more information and to register, visit absc.org/leaddefend.
This article first ran in the winter edition of Arkansas Baptist Life.