Christopher W. Brooks, senior pastor of Woodside Bible Church in Troy, Michigan, speaks in session one on Christianity and community.

Christopher W. Brooks senior pastor of Woodside Bible Church in Troy, Michigan, speaks in Session One about Christianity and community.

Session Three took place in a Southwestern Seminary chapel service. Ligon Duncan, chancellor and CEO of Reformed Theological Seminary, looked at faithful Christian leadership in higher education.

David S. Dockery, IACE president, welcomed representative from about 90 institutions and ministries to the Fifth Annual Conference.

Jim Davis, teaching pastor at Orlando Grace Church, joined Keller Center for Christian Apologetics program director Michael Graham in addressing trends related to the “dechurching” of America.

Christopher Yuan gave his personal testimony and revealed information about his new project, titled “Holy Sexuality and the Gospel.

Food Services at Southwestern Seminary provided meals during the conference, and also supplied snacks during breaks and a wide variety of desserts on Thursday night.

Robert Westervelt and the team from TG Three led a detailed discussion of strategic priorities for Christian educators.

Jurie Kriel, global director for the Lausanne Movement, talked about collaboration in light of the rapid advances in global knowledge.

Corban University provost Tom Cornman moderated a discussion about staffing, funding, and mission priorities. He was joined by Grace College and Seminary president Drew Flamm, Cedarville University vice president of marketing Janice Supplee, and Pat McLaughlin of the Timothy Group.

Davis and Graham said their research shows the critical age group among those leaving the Church is 13-30 years of age.

Sandy Willson, interim president of the Gospel Coalition, examined a biblical foundation for Christ-centered higher education in Session Two.

The 5th Annual Conference had 21 sponsors and partner organizations. Many presented information tables outside the conference meeting room.

Final numbers for the conference showed 165 attendees were present for at least one session during the three days.

Southwestern A Capella led worship in the chapel service and again prior to Session Five.

IACE membership has grown by 11 institutions in the past year. There are now 84 member schools and 33 ministry partners in the membership.

TG Three’s Nicholas Willis mentioned the 2023 revival at Asbury University, an event that brought more than 50,000 visitors to the campus in Wilmore, Kentucky.