The Gospel in Narnia and Middle Earth

Join us for a captivating two-day exploration of faith as depicted through the cherished narratives of C.S. Lewis and J.R.R. Tolkien. Dive deep with Donald T. Williams, PhD, a scholar finely poised between the realms of Narnia and Middle Earth, as we explore theological insights and the profound Gospel messages embedded within these literary masterpieces.

The Gospel in Narnia and Middle Earth

Date: Dec. 13-14, 2024
Location: Westminster Presbyterian Church, Kingsport TN
Preregistration Cost: Individual: $35, Family: $60. (Includes lunch.)

Preregister: click here

 

Featuring Donald T. Williams, PhD. Dr. Williams is Professor Emeritus of Toccoa Falls College, an ordained minister in the Evangelical Free Church of America, and a past president of the International Society of Christian Apologetics.  A border dweller, he stays permanently camped out on the borders between theology and literature, serious scholarship and pastoral ministry, Narnia and Middle Earth. He is the author of fifteen books, including Deeper Magic: The Theology behind the Writings of C. S. Lewis (Square Halo Books, 2016), “An Encouraging Thought”: The Christian Worldview in the Writings of J. R. R. Tolkien (Christian Publishing House, 2018), The Young Christian’s Survival Guide: Common Questions Young Christians are Asked about God, the Bible and the Christian Faith Answered (Christian Publishing House, 2019), and Answers from Aslan: The Enduring Apologetics of C. S. Lewis (DeWard, 2023).

Friday Evening:

7:00pm – 8:20pm – The Gospel in Narnia

8:30pm – 9:30pm – Roundtable: The Gospel in Lewis’ Writings

 

Saturday Morning:

9:00am – 10:20am – The Gospel in Middle Earth

10:30am – 11:50am – Tolkien’s Theology and Contributions

 

Saturday Afternoon:

1:30pm – 2:50pm – Lewis’ Theology and Contributions

3:00pm – 4:20pm – Roundtable: Was Lewis a Heretic?

 

Saturday Evening:

7:00pm – 8:30pm Hellbender Herald: Dr. Williams joins the hosts of the Hellbender Herald to discuss the relevance of Lewis’ and Tolkien’s writings to contemporary culture and politics.

Roundtable Participants:

Dean Walker is the Executive Director of the Geneva Institute of Christian Thought. He holds degrees in philosophy of religion (Th.M.) and Christian apologetics (MDiv specialization). When he is not challenging his students with impersonations of various existential philosophers, Mr. Walker enjoys exploring the local mountains and tending the responsibilities of homestead and family.

Steven Warhurst has served in pastoral roles at Westminster Presbyterian Church, Kingsport TN, since 2002. He has been married to his wife Susan since 1992. They have eight children and live on a four-acre homestead. Steven loves to teach the Bible and the Great Books of Western Civilization. He enjoys reading, chopping firewood, and hunting. When he grows up he wants to be a cattle farmer.

Wrestling with Wokeness Lecture Videos

Most of the lectures for the recent Wrestling with Wokeness Conference are available here:

Wrestling with Wokeness: Trust in the Truth – Rob Dykes:  https://rumble.com/v5byt8i-wrestling-with-wokeness-trust-in-the-truth-rob-dykes.html

Wrestling with Wokeness: God’s Speech and Human Knowledge – Dean Walker:  https://rumble.com/v5bz356-wrestling-with-wokeness-gods-speech-and-human-knowledge-dean-walker.html

Wrestling with Wokeness: Answering Cultural Marxism – Rich Lort:  https://rumble.com/v5bzf15-wrestling-with-wokeness-answering-cultural-marxism-rich-lort.html

Wrestling with Wokeness: Is Man the Measure of all Things – Paul Abbott Sr.: https://rumble.com/v5bzq1t-wrestling-with-wokeness-is-man-the-measure-of-all-things-paul-abbott-sr..html

Wrestling with Wokeness: Gender is Eternal – Dean Walker: https://rumble.com/v5bzsnp-wrestling-with-wokeness-gender-is-eternal-dean-walker.html

Wrestling with .Wokeness: Slavery and the Civil War – Nathan Tucker: https://rumble.com/v5c0138-wrestling-with-wokeness-slavery-and-the-civil-war-nathan-tucker.html

Wrestling with Wokeness: Fear God and Keep His Commandments – Paul Abbot Sr.: https://rumble.com/v5c09yy-wrestling-with-wokeness-fear-god-and-keep-his-commandments-paul-abbot-sr..html

Summer Conference: Wrestling with Wokeness.

How do we respond to the increasing challenges of living and breathing in a post Christian culture? What do we do with Gender Ideology, Racial Equity, Cultural Marxism, and the host of other social justice movements?

“Wrestling with Wokeness” is a workshop on engaging a woke culture.

Come to Roan Mountain in the Tennessee Appalachians and experience both the beauty of God’s creation and the truth of God’s Word.  This workshop will explore a number of important and relevant topics, including:

– Live Not By Lies: Why is no compromise with the truth important in engaging culture?
– Trust in the Truth:  What is our ultimate basis for knowing the truth and trusting it with our life?
– God’s Speech and Human Knowledge: What is the relationship between what we know and what God has said?
– Discerning Misinformation / Avoiding Scientism: How do we measure truth claims from government, science, media, etc.?
– Understanding America’s Foundations: Are the foundations of our nations solid and good? To what extent were they influence by a Christian worldview?
– Answering Cultural Marxism: How do we respond to Critical Race Theory (CRT), gender ideology, etc.?
– Is Man the Measure of all Things? Who are we and what does that tell us about our life in Christ?
– Gender is Eternal: What is the biblical basis for gender and what dos that tell us about our life in Christ?
– Slavery and the Civil War: To what extent is the United State defined by slavery and what role did western culture have in its practice.
– Fear God and Keep His Commandments: What is man’s all, his purpose, his duty?

Conference Details:

  • Date: June 27-29, 2024
  • Location: Fairhaven Ministries, Roan Mountain, TN
  • Cost: Student: $115, Adult: $185, includes lodging and meals (scholarships available).

Space is limited, reserve today.

Contact: dean.walker@genevainstitute.org, (919) 245-7016.

Speakers:

Rob Dykes has been pastor at Westminster Presbyterian Church in Kingsport TN since the beginning of 2021. Entering the ministry in 2013, he previously served at Presbyterian churches in Cardiff (Wales) and Charlotte NC.

He was born and raised in Scotland, spent many years in Wales, and relocated to the USA in 2017. He is married to Ashley and they have two children. Pastor Dykes earned a BSc Honors in Wales, and a MDiv at Greenville Presbyterian Theological Seminary in Greenville SC. He enjoys chocolate, reading, the outdoors, “soccer”, and golf.

Nathan Tucker has taught US History at the Geneva Institute. He specializes in tracing the Christian foundations of the United States through its history. He holds an M.A., Interdisciplinary Studies, degree from Liberty University and a B.S., Pre-Law, degree from Liberty University.

Mr. Tucker is married with five children and makes his home in Woodlawn, VA.

Dean Walker is the Executive Director of the Geneva Institute of Christian Thought. He holds degrees in philosophy of religion (Th.M.) and Christian apologetics (MDiv specialization).

When he is not challenging his students with impersonations of various existential philosophers, Mr. Walker enjoys exploring the local mountains and tending the responsibilities of homestead and family.

Christians in Babylon – Discerning the Truth: Swimming in a Sea of Misinformation

Join us on April 28 for this culturally relevant symposium on “Discerning the Truth: Swimming in a Sea of Misinformation.” This is the fourth of four symposia on challenges facing Christians in our culture. “Discerning the Truth” will explore the challenge of discovering the truth in a culture that obscures it. Can the Christian community learn to recognize the misdirection and outright deceit practiced by many who claim to speak the truth?

 

A symposium on an important issue facing Christians in our culture. The fourth of four symposia dealing with challenges facing the Christian Community. Special Guest Patrick Hines will be joined by Dr. Don Schanzenbach, author of “The Liberty Book,” Brent Bradley, Jay Adkins, and moderator Dean Walker.

For those who might have missed the first three symposia you may find the recordings here:

“Health Care and Life in Christ”

“Vocational Calling and Preparation in a Pluralist Culture”

“Discerning the Truth: Swimming in a Sea of Misinformation”

Christians in Babylon – Vocational Calling and Preparation in a Pluralist Culture

Mark your calendars for March 3! The second of four symposia hosted by the Institute this winter/spring. Don’t miss this opportunity to explore appropriate Christian responses to this growing challenge. Questions from the audience will be received after an initial panel discussion.

A symposium on an important issue facing Christians in our culture: Vocational Calling and Preparation in a Pluralist Culture. The second of four symposia dealing with challenges facing the Christian Community. Special Guest Dr. Richard Moyer will be joined by Dr. Don Schanzenbach, author of “The Liberty Book,” Brent Bradley, Jay Adkins, and moderator Dean Walker.

For those who might have missed the first symposium on “Heath Care and Life in Christ,” you may find the recording here: “Health Care and Life in Christ”

Health Care and Life in Christ (Christians in Babylon 1 of 4)

Mark you calendars for Feb. 10th! The first of four symposia hosted by the Institute this winter/spring. Don’t miss this opportunity to explore appropriate Christian responses to this pressing challenge. Questions from the audience will be received after an initial panel discussion.

A symposium on an important issue facing Christian in our culture: Health Care and Life in Christ. The first of four symposia dealing with challenges facing the Christian Community. Special Guest Dr. Dan O’Roark, author of “Coronavirus and the Leadership of the Christian Church: A Sacred Trust Broken,” will be joined by Dr. Don Schanzenbach, author of “The Liberty Book,” Brent Bradly, Jay Adkins, and moderator Dean Walker.

 

 

Spring 2022 Dual Enrollment Schedule

Class Monday (LA102) Wed. (BIB221)
1 1/10/2021 1/12/2021
2 1/17/2021 1/19/2021
3 1/24/2021 1/26/2021
4 1/31/2021 2/2/2021
5 2/7/2021 2/9/2021
6 2/14/2021 2/16/2021
7 2/21/2021 2/23/2021
8 2/28/2021 3/2/2021
9 3/7/2021 3/9/2021
Spring Break NO CLASS NO CLASS
10 3/21/2021 3/23/2021
11 3/28/2021 3/30/2021
12 4/4/2021 4/6/2021
13 4/11/2021 4/13/2021
14 4/18/2021 4/20/2021
15 4/25/2021 4/27/2021

Creation, Science and the Bible Retreat – Oct. 28 – 30, 2021

Please join us for a family mountain retreat & conference to see and learn about the beauty and design of God’s creation.  The retreat location is one of the most beautiful places in the southern Appalachian Mountains: Doe River Gorge Ministries Camp, Hampton, Tennessee!

Doe River Gorge | Western Carolina Botanical Club

This Christian family retreat will include lectures on creation, evolution, science and the Bible. Field trips in the spectacular Doe River gorge by way of a narrow-gauge railroad train will focus on the geology and biology of the river canyon. Telescope viewing will be done in the evenings, weather-permitting.  Live animal presentations will look at the creative work of our Creator God in birds and reptiles. Teaching will be appropriate for middle school ages to adults. Delicious meals, comfortable lodging and other activities are provided by this modern retreat center.  The cost of lodging can be subtracted for participants living near the camp and commuting.

Pre-registration information: 423.725.4010 (Brochure download)

Featured presenters:

David Rives of David Rives Ministries and Dr. Charles Jackson of Points of Origins Ministries.

David Rives with giraffeDavid Rives’ field experience in astronomy, paleontology and archaeology has made him an in-demand speaker on creation and evolution topics.  His powerful and inspirational delivery makes learning about Bible history and science fun and easy for audiences of all ages. His use of the ministries’ observatory-class telescopes has resulted in breathtaking astrophotography which has been featured in textbooks, scientific literature and shown to audiences around the world. Just as the heavens declare the glory of God, David Rives is proclaiming the manifest presence of God throughout the universe, throughout our world and most especially in the lives of those who know Him.

David’s weekly TV show “Creation in the 21st Century” airs to millions globally on TBN with interviews of leading creation scientists. He is a weekly news columnist on science and the Bible and is author of the books “Wonders Without Number” and “Bible Knows Best.”

Dr. Charles JacksonDr. Charles Jackson’s education includes a BS in Biology, a MS in Environmental Biology and a MEd in Science Education from George Mason University. He also has a Doctorate of Education in Secondary Science Education from the University of Virginia.  He has been teaching high school and college for over forty years in the life and physical sciences. Dr. J, as he is often called, has been speaking on creation science since the mid-1970’s and has spoken and debated on many campuses across the U.S. as well as in Canada, Croatia, Venezuela, Peru and Fiji. Dr. J appeared in the 2017 Christian documentary, “Genesis: Paradise Lost” and figures in a Christian Sci-Fi TV series “Quantum” (pre-production).  Dr. J’s knowledge, humor and engaging speaking style holds the attention of both young and old audiences.

Michael Maughon holding owlMichael Maughon performed in the Le Rêve show in Las Vegas before coming on staff at DRG in order to develop an Outdoor Education program. Michael uses his large collection of birds and reptiles to illustrate the Creator’s designs.

 

Immediately following the retreat is the Doe River Gorge Fall Festival which the conference participants can enjoy as well.  This open house includes a corn maze, train rides in the gorge, food and activities for the entire family.

Exponential – Gap Year Partnership with Doe River Gorge

Looking for a way to cultivate Christian foundation to enable you to engage your culture for Christ? Want learn to defend your faith, as you also develop character and leadership skills? Exponential at the Doe River Gorge may be for you!

The Institute is thrilled to be working with Doe River Gorge Ministries on their 2021-22 Exponential Program. This will be an action packed year with studies in worldview, apologetics, creation, bible, logic–all in a outdoor adventure setting where students explore the depths of their world along with the depths of their life in Christ.

Find out more here: https://www.doerivergorge.com/gap-year/

Philosophers and Revolutions – What is going on in the Western World?


What is going on in the Western World? Engage this two part presentation on “Philosophers and Revolutions” to discover some answers. Classes will be held on Tuesdays, March 30th and April 6th, from 6:30 pm – 8:00 pm at Westminster Presbyterian Church in Kingsport TN. Registration fee of only $15 per person ($25 per family). (Students currently enrolled in the Institute’s Western History Course attend for free.)  Contact info@genevainstitute.org for additional information.