College to host 3-D Jesus as the 2010 Anabaptist Vision and Discipleship Series

Posted on by Rachel McMaster

Marion Bontrager, Steve Dintaman, Meghan Good, Kevass Harding, Michele Hershberger and John C. Murrayby Rachel Schlegel

Hesston College will host its annual Anabaptist Vision and Discipleship Series conference Oct. 29 to 31. The theme for 2010 will be 3-D Jesus.

Conference participants will explore questions on individual perceptions of Jesus, such as “Do we emphasize certain aspects of Jesus and neglect other aspects in ways that distort who Jesus really is?” and “In our negligence, do we make Jesus into our own image instead of the other way around?”

“The goal of 3-D Jesus is to discover the whole of the story of Jesus,” said Michele Hershberger, Hesston College faculty member and conference coordinator. “We’ll look at his life, death, resurrection and ongoing work and presence in the church and the world as a continuous narrative, allowing that story to change us.”

Conference speakers are Dr. Steve Dintaman, professor of theology at LCC International University in Klaipeda, Lithuania, and Meghan Good, pastor of Albany (Ore.) Mennonite Church. They will help participants explore the consequences of what happens when Christians focus primarily on a single dimension of Jesus, such as his death or his role as a social critic.

A special feature of 3-D Jesus will be the use of teaching vignettes. Instead of workshops, participants will struggle with the challenging stories about Jesus through drama, modern-day parables, interactive teaching techniques, and small- and large-group discussions. Leaders for these vignettes will be Dr. Rev. Kevass Harding of Dellrose Methodist Church, Wichita, Kan., Pastor John Murray of Hesston (Kan.) Mennonite Church, and Hershberger and Marion Bontrager, both faculty members at Hesston College. Other features of 3-D Jesus include a dramatic presentation of the Sermon on the Mount and a banquet.

The Anabaptist Vision and Discipleship Series was started at Hesston College to help Christians from the Anabaptist tradition and others interested in Anabaptism more fully understand their faith. The conference is designed for any interested person, not just pastors.

A complete schedule, registration information and speaker information are available at www.hesston.edu/AVDS. Cost for registration before Oct. 1 is $100 for individuals or $75 per person if registered in groups of three or more. After Oct. 1, individual registration is $120, and the group rate is $85 per person. To receive regular updates, “like” the “3D Jesus” page on Facebook. For more information, contact Elaine Schmidt at 620-327-8290.