Near the end of June 2010, forty-five minutes or so from the soaring Mackinac Bridge, the Midwest Faculty Conference convened at the Cedar Campus Conference Center by the rippling water of Prentiss Bay. The mix of older/younger, families/singles, faculty/spouses, and first-timers/veterans was energizing and fun. The energy was controlled by a carefully paced schedule affirmed by many comments:

“I appreciate the balance of teaching, rest & recreation that has been offered here,”

The plenary speaker was Dr. Ken Elzinga, the Robert C. Taylor Professor of Economics at the University of Virginia. His self-defacing and humorous style along with his humble, non-academic background and equally humble and transparent communication opened wide to those present the many possibilities of being wisdom, truth, authority, and grace to university students. As one faculty member related, “[the speaker is] an example we’d never encountered before, of an accomplished academic who valued being one of Jesus’ humble servants, who taught us and inspired us to be and do likewise – Amazing testimony and encouragement to us.”

The elective seminars comprised a wide variety with an ABC of subject matter from the ADF (Alliance Defense Fund), to Bach, to Chesterton. Other seminars sought to help improve lectures and handle life on the tenure track as well as demystify mystery writing and memoir writing. Guests described them as “a fringe benefit, a nice option for those with time and intellectual energy at the end of the day.” One participant related, “What a delightful choice of topics! Such variety. Felt free to skip but I didn’t want to.”

A highlight of the week for many was the ministry of the Women in the Academy and Professions who met often during the week to their great benefit and collegiality. In the words of one of the faculty women, it accomplished an “amazing job hosting and facilitating conversation between a very diverse group of women; having those daily meeting times for women shaped the week for me in a positive way. I’d love to see this, or something like it, as a standard part of this week. Christian academic women need safe spaces to gather, talk, pray, and encourage each other. Thanks.”

Some might insist that the best times were in small group Bible studies with other faculty.

“Loved our group”

The simple loveliness of location at Cedar Campus is more than a venue, serving as more than a background for an event. God’s creative handiwork seems to help create space in the mind and heart and ease people into relationships and community. For a gracious essay about the value of the time and place, please visit The Well.

Faces that were tired and worn with the cares of life in the academy became transformed by the end of the week, in some cases into almost unrecognizable faces of quiet peace and pleasure! The sound of laughter from the mouths of children and adults rises as the week progresses. As one professor expressed, “I have been blessed by being ministered to rather than almost always being the one leading/ministering, and I can’t remember the last time I felt that I had “permission” to rest and be refreshed for a whole week.”

God is a giver of good things. The InterVarsity Faculty Ministry is privileged to offer this regional conference to faculty on His behalf. We are blessed to enjoy comments like the following:

“What a gift! Thanks for all the hard work and prayer that went into this event. I thought the event well-organized and nicely-paced, full of variety and welcome flexibility. The Bible studies were rich; the plenaries relevant, inspiring, and challenging; the location glorious;”

“So appreciate the quality of the conference and the thought and consideration that went into every detail.” “I cannot express fully how much I enjoyed and appreciated this conference – it was just so well done from top to bottom.” “What more could you want!?”

We hope you can join us for the 2011 Midwest Faculty Conference. You, and your family as well, will be so glad you chose to come. To receive priority registration, please contact Nancy Vuolo.