1.24.12 
SEU's New Conference Designed to Inspire Students, Reach Community

By Southeastern University

Imagine more than 2,000 college students, high school students, and community leaders from Lakeland gathered together in one place to worship.

It's an image Andrew Gard can't shake, and he can't wait to make it a reality.

Gard, Southeastern University's campus pastor, and his team from Student Development have organized the university's inaugural Conference, scheduled for February 6-8 at the Polk Theatre in downtown Lakeland. The event builds upon the previous on-campus worship experience called Fire Fall, and Gard said moving Conference off-campus will help SEU reach the community.

"We want everybody to know that Southeastern is here and what we're about," he said.

The decision to expand upon Fire Fall was two-fold.

First, Gard wanted to create an event in the fall semester that opened students' eyes to the mission field. That was accomplished with Exposure in September, which allowed mission trip organizers a chance to reach and recruit students while they still had plenty of time to plan for the upcoming summer.

Second, Gard said he wanted Southeastern to engage the community and create an event that raised the expectations for worship and servant leadership. He said he believes that the kinds of moments created at Conference will help students focus even more clearly on Christ and inspire them to greater commitment and action.

Each night of Conference will feature a main message, with Gard speaking one night and Chad Veach and Mark Batterson on the other two.

Veach is a speaker, author, and generational pastor and intern director at Puyallup Foursquare Church in Puyallup, Washington. He also oversees the United Generation Ministry.

Batterson also is a renowned speaker and author, and serves as lead pastor of National Community Church in Washington, D.C.

Each evening will include worship led by Chase Wagner and the SEU Worship Team. Gard doesn't want to just stop with preaching and singing, though, and plans to implement a series of "Five Good Minutes" talks every night where church and ministry leaders from around Lakeland will appear on-stage and describe the work they are doing for God's glory.

He also plans to invite local elected officials, business leaders, and other community leaders on February 8 so that students and attendees can lift them up in prayer.

"We want to use this as a catalyst to get in our city and make a difference," Gard said.

The university plans to use vans and shuttles to help students get from campus to the Polk Theatre for Conference. There will be a service each night at 7:00 p.m., and services at 9:00 a.m. on both February 7 and February 8.

The event, based off this year's Love Out Loud theme at SEU, is free and open to the public.